You’ve probably been here before: you open your refrigerator and look at an item you bought awhile back just to see if the expiration date has passed. If it has, then you look at it, smell it, maybe even taste it to see if it’s still good. Well, there are certain foods you can do that with and certain foods you shouldn’t gamble with. Here’s 5 foods you should never eat past their expiration date.
1. Packaged Meat (chicken or beef)
Much of the fresh raw meat sold in stores like raw steaks, hamburger meat and packaged chicken cut on site, can be contaminated with Salmonella, E. coli, and other bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses, and should be consumed or frozen by the use by date. That’s to ensure bacteria has no chance to multiply. But even before the date, you need to be careful by making sure you cook your meat to the appropriate temperature. The greatest risk is posed by ground beef, says Levy, as it’s handled more during processing.
2. Leafy Greens
This goes for pre-made or pre-packaged salads, bagged, and loose leafy greens. Even though many of these are prewashed multiple times, studies have shown that they still have a tendency to carry bacteria like E. coli, as they’re handled so frequently, says Levy. Always wash these prior to eating, and don’t eat past the date, or once they begin to get slimy—whichever comes first.
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3. Soft Cheeses
Like deli meat, soft cheeses such as brie and queso fresco may contain Listeria, as well as E. coli—especially if they’re made with unpasteurized milk. And compared to harder cheeses, spoiled portions are harder to fully trim away. As a general rule, you should consume them by the use by date, or within 5 to 7 days of purchasing.
4. Deli Meat
Those hickory smoked turkey slices or ham that you love to eat are only going to last you about 3 to 5 days. Don’t wait for it to get slimy or smelly—by then it may already be too late. That’s because deli meat can carry Listeria, a type of bacteria that grows even in cold temperatures and can cause fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, and serious complications for pregnant women.
5. Packaged Fresh Fruit
Fresh strawberries, blueberries or raspberries are fiber- and antioxidant-rich superfoods, but they can also carry a parasite called cyclospora which causes diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, and other nasty flulike symptoms. Wash berries before eating and never consume after the use by date, or after they begin to break down or grow mold. Save yourself money by freezing fresh berries you know you won’t eat in time.
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