10 Foods You Can Eat Past The Expiration Date,

Wondering whether you should toss that cereal or jar of salsa? Here are 10 foods that are usually OK to eat past their sell-by dates.

You find a box of crackers in your pantry that's past its best before date – do you still dig in? In many cases, expiration dates are important indicators of how safe the food is to consume, but with certain items, it's used as more of a guideline. Here, we've rounded up 10 products that are fine to eat past the expiry date, so long as you take the proper precautions.

#Ketchup, Mustard and Relish

Condiments like ketchup, mustard and relish have a long shelf life. If your ketchup is unopened, it can be stored in the pantry for up to a year past its best before date. Once it's been opened, store it in the fridge and consume within six months. Yellow mustard can be stored unopened for up to 2 years past its date, or for a year in the fridge once opened. Unopened pickle relish can be kept in your pantry for up to 2 1/2 years, or up to nine months in the fridge after opening.

#Frozen food

If you don’t mind freezer burn, then frozen foods can be eaten long after their expiration dates. Freezing food is the easiest way to extend its shelf life, whether it be vegetables, pastries, or proteins. Go ahead and stock up on frozen pizza. You know you want to.

#Eggs

The Sell By date on that carton of eggs is mean tot help retailers manage turnover, not necessarily to manage freshness. Eggs can last up to 3 weeks past the use by date. If you’re unsure if an egg is still good, just try this trick.

#Cheese

If you think about how cheese is made and aged, you might be more apt to believe it's the kind of food that doesn't always go bad after its expiration date. Even if there is a little mold growing, consuming "expired" cheese is perfectly safe — as long as you cut off the mold.

#Cereal

While it may begin to get a little stale, cereal has a true shelf life long beyond its printed expiration date. Like many foods, if it is stored properly — in this case, in a cool, dry place — cereal can last months after the sell-by date.

#Canned Goods

The expiry date of canned foods usually indicates three years from when it's been shelved, but you can consume them past the date for up to four more years. Make sure to keep your canned goods in a cool, dry spot, and if there are any dents, rust or leaking, that's when it's time to ditch the goods.
#Bread

The best by date on fresh bread is assuming you're keeping your loaf sitting on the counter. But so long as you don't see mold growing on your grains, it should be okay to make that sandwich or French toast. If you want to extend the shelf life of your bread, store it in the fridge — it can last for up to two weeks — or keep it in the freezer.

#Yogurt

If unopened, yogurt is safe to eat for 1-3 weeks past its sell-by date if stored in your fridge immediately after purchase. It can also be frozen for up to two months, which could also be helpful with morning smoothie prep. A small amount of liquid in your opened container of yogurt doesn't mean it's gone bad. That's whey, which a simple stir will fix. If you see excess liquid pooling at the top and curdling on the bottom, it's time to toss that yogurt out.

#Pickled Items

Pickled cucumbers, peppers, beets or other vegetables are good for 1-2 years past their best before date, whether opened or unopened, and can be stored in the refrigerator or pantry. They may lose their crunch over time but are still safe to consume.

#Chocolate

Not everybody possesses the rare skill of wolfing down an entire bar of chocolate in one sitting. For the less gluttonous amongst us, have no fear: a bar of chocolate will stay good for 1 - 2 years, depending on the type of chocolate. It will however lose a little bit of its flavor, so the best is to use it in baking instead of consuming it raw.