Foods You Can Consume Even After They Expired

Every day, thousands of tons of food are wasted in our country, which is very serious considering two things: the number of people who do not have sufficient resources to feed themselves and that a part of the food we throw away is not always spoiled or can still be eaten after its expiration date. In response to this, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has suggested for some time that it is better to use “best before” instead of “expiration date.” This means that until that moment the product maintains all its organoleptic properties, but it is not harmful to health. However, there is a thin line between foods to which the rule applies and will only go rancid after the date, and those that do spoil and can cause anything from stomach aches to diarrhea and vomiting. According to El Confidencial, the problem with the best before date is that it is a very ambiguous concept. There are foods that we can easily tell are not good by their smell and texture, but there are others that it's better not to tempt because they can be misleading. In general, canned or pickled foods last quite a while after the stipulated date, while fresh foods like milk or sour cream can spoil within days. Here we leave you a guide on products that are not a problem; with all others, please be cautious: Egg Although its official consumption date is 21 days, if stored in the refrigerator it can last up to five weeks. If you doubt the freshness of an egg, just submerge it in a glass of water; if it floats, you should not eat the egg. Chocolate The large amount of sugar it contains works perfectly as a natural preservative, so it lasts a long time before it becomes inedible. Even when a whitish layer forms, it can be eaten without issue. Potato chips Thanks to their high salt content, they can be eaten even after their expiration date. The downside is that they will lose their firmness and will not be as crispy. Cookies Being such a processed product with a lot of sugar, they last quite a while without being a danger. The downside is that they become soft, but if you have a forgotten pack you want to rescue, pop the cookies in the oven for a bit and they will be ready. Honey In fact, natural honey never expires; you just need to ensure it doesn't get contaminated for it to last decades. Other jams and preserves take many years to become harmful to health. Canned foods If stored in a cool, dry place, they can last almost indefinitely. Just be careful not to apply the same rule to anchovies, as they do spoil since they are a semi-preserve. Sauerkraut, kimchi, and other ferments In fact, these foods are already spoiled when you eat them, so due to their fermented preparation, they will last a long time before they cause you harm. Bread As long as you don't leave the bread exposed and it doesn't mold, you can freeze it and it will last for a few years. As long as it is kept in a dry place, you can make breadcrumbs with it because it hardens so much that it's difficult to eat. Dry pasta Most dry products can be stored quite well in airtight containers for as long as you want. It may not be very fresh, but it won't affect your stomach. See full article.