How long after the expiration date is bread still good? (2024)

FAQs

How long after the expiration date is bread still good? ›

Store-bought bread will typically last five to seven days at room temperature, but can last one to two weeks in the refrigerator.

Bread can last around five to seven days after the best before date if stored and packaged at room temperature. If you store your bread in the fridge you can use it for up to two weeks past the best before date. Bakery bread can last up to two to three days after it is bought.

"It's safe to say 'days' but not more than a week for most refrigerated produce, months to years for canned and dry goods in the pantry, and I would say to not go past the date in the fridge for meat/fish/poultry, but they can last three months with good quality and if properly stored in the freezer," Jones says.

Key Takeaways. Expiration dates on food are not required by federal law except on infant formula. Dates on food indicate how long they will retain their freshness and best quality. Most perishable foods are good well beyond the "sell by" or "use by" date.

"Those expiration dates are on some egg cartons to make sure that retailers don't keep eggs on shelves past a certain date," Maloberti says. "However, eggs can be safely eaten two to three weeks past that date. Depending on where [you live], the expiration date may be labeled as Sell By, Use By, Exp. By or Best By."

Determining the safety of bread past its labeled date requires a simple examination. One should look for mold, which appears as discolored spots, an off odor, or changes in texture such as becoming hard or unusually moist. If these signs are not present, the bread, though potentially stale, is generally safe to eat.

There are many ways to use stale bread in recipes, including French onion soup or grinding stale bread into savory breadcrumbs for venison meatballs or stuffed bell peppers. Satisfy a sweet tooth with French toast with apples and pecan or a dessert like bread pudding and Apple Brown Betty.

Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.

"With an exception of infant formula, if the date [on your food] passes during home storage, a product should still be safe and wholesome if handled properly until the time spoilage is evident," according to FSIS. 1 You can tell if a food is spoiled if it has an off odor, flavor, or texture.

Sell-By Date: Refers to the last day a retailer can display a product for sale; typically a food is safe to eat for 10 days after the Sell-by Date if refrigerated properly. Use-By Date: Refers to the last day a product will maintain its optimum freshness, flavor, and texture.

Is it safe to eat bagged salad after use by date? ›

Quinlan said, “This is a quality issue, not a safety issue.” Bagged Salad: Quinlan said bagged salads “will physically deteriorate before they make you sick,” so you'll know at a glance if it's edible. There is at least one federally regulated item with an expiration date that really does matter: Infant formula.

Hydrate: Drinking plenty of water can help flush out toxins and alleviate symptoms of food poisoning. Staying hydrated is quite essential. Seek Medical Advice: If you experience severe symptoms or if you are concerned about your health, seek medical attention immediately.

A bag of commercially packaged, opened potato chips tends to maintain its quality for one to two weeks at room temperature. Many bags of chips are printed with a "sell by" date rather than a "use by" date. Sealed, a bag of chips can remain fresh for two or three weeks past the printed "sell by" expiration date.

To perform the float test, gently set your egg into a bowl or bucket of water. If the egg sinks, it is fresh. If it tilts upwards or even floats, it is old. This is because as an egg ages, the small air pocket inside it grows larger as water is released and replaced by air.

The FDA recommends consuming hard-boiled eggs within a week, and two weeks is well past that deadline. Since spoiled hard-boiled eggs can make you sick, it's best to be safe and toss out any leftover hard-boiled eggs that have been in the fridge for more than one week.

LONG LASTING: With a shelf life of 1 year, you can save on waste and slack out as you need it.

You can eat those even after 2 weeks if you've stored them properly. That date, as I interpret it, is the "best before" date. I usually store them in the freezer and warm them up when I want to eat. While they may not be as tasty as they were, they're still good.

A "Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management. It is not a safety date. A “Use-By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. It is not a safety date except for when used on infant formula as described below.

You might also see a code or “made-on” date on canned goods and other items. That's typically used for product recalls, Weber says. Most baked goods “can be safely consumed within two to five days of the sell-by date, if stored properly,” says Jo Natale, spokesperson for Wegmans.