Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Food Safety,Our Blog on November 1, 2024
We are all guilty (or at least I hope we are so I don’t feel so bad) of having condiments in the back of the fridge and then just buying new not realizing we already have a half or more filled bottle of the exact same thing. I sometimes find them unopened in my pantry and of course overlook them and buy more there as well. Either way here is a comprehensive list of 13 condiments you should never eat after expiration and why.
If you find yourself in a condiment conundrum, and you’re deciding what to toss and what to keep, there are a few general rules to be mindful of, says nutritionist Mary Sabat, MS, RDN, LD.
First things first: Is the bottle opened? Unopened condiments are generally going to have a longer shelf life compared to open ones since they haven’t been exposed to potential contaminants that can speed up bacteria growth, Sabat says.
“Once a bottle is opened, the shelf life can be significantly reduced due to increased exposure to bacteria,” Sabat says.
Proper storage is also a biggie. Many condiments need to be stored in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and heat, while refrigeration is necessary for things like mayo and creamy salad dressings that will otherwise spoil.
Expiration dates printed on the condiment bottles are really meant to tell you when the product is at its peak quality, Sabat says. Expired sauces, spreads, and dressings will likely lose their flavor over time, and, worst-case scenario, could make you sick.
With that info out of the way, here are 13 condiments you should never eat after their expiration dates (and in some cases, may even need to toss earlier).
A safe rule of thumb is anything that contains mayonnaise should be tossed at the time of its expiration, especially if the jar has been opened, says dietitian Bess Berger, RDN, with the New Jersey-based company Nutrition by Bess.
Store-bought mayo usually contains acids which help prevent spoilage and kill off bacteria. But you may need to toss a half-full bottle of mayo before its expiration date if it’s been sitting out in the sun all day during a backyard barbecue, Berger says. Also, after it’s opened, it should go in the fridge for up to two months, according to the USDA.
“As soon as the jar of horseradish is exposed to air, that sharp, spicy flavor begins to fade,” says Jared Kent, a sous chef at Good Roots in Akron, Ohio. By the time it reaches the expiration date, it’s better to opt for a fresh jar and get the whole experience, he says.
Sour cream can spoil quicker than other dairy products, and the USDA says it can be kept in the fridge for one to three weeks. But if you start to see it separate and a pool of liquid build on the top, consider that your warning sign that you should use it up in the next couple of days, according to Eat By Date. (This isn’t a condiment that freezes well). Also, if you notice any mold forming, toss out the entire container.
While you can keep chutney in your pantry for a year after buying it, you’ll want to move it to the fridge as soon as you break the seal on this savory Indian condiment that’s made from fruits or veggies with vinegar, sugar and spices. Once it moves to the fridge, you’ve got a month or two.
Don’t sauce it, toss it if you’re noticing anything that’s off about your jar of barbecue sauce, like fuzzy mold, a change in texture or a funky smell. While most store-bought barbecue sauces have lots of preservatives in them, you’ve got about four months to use up an opened bottle.
A popular choice for salads and dipping, Ranch dressing includes buttermilk, sour cream, and mayonnaise, which can all go bad over time, says Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon. “Eating expired ranch dressing could lead to foodborne illnesses, especially if the ranch has been improperly stored,” she says. It’s important to discard this dressing if it’s past its expiration date or if you notice changes in its smell, color, or consistency, Randhawa says.
Blue cheese dressing is made with blue cheese crumbles, mayonnaise, sour cream, and other dairy products, Randhawa says, and it’s another one of those creamy dressings that can spoil after its expiration date. Because there are so many dairy products in blue cheese, it can be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, and potentially cause food poisoning, she says. “And the potent smell of the cheese can mask any off odors,” she says.
Caesar dressing often contains raw egg yolks, olive oil, and cheese, which can all become problematic if consumed past their expiration dates, Randhawa says. The raw egg yolks, though, are of particular concern because they can be a source of Salmonella, a bacteria that has potential to make you sick. “It’s essential to pay close attention to the shelf-life of Caesar dressing to ensure it’s still safe to consume,” Randhawa says.
If it smells bad– toss it out. Other indicators that it’s time to toss the jar of Thousand Island is if you notice changes in the color or texture, Randhawa says. Thousand Island has a creamy mayo base and can spoil and potentially cause foodborne illness, she says.
Although soy sauce has a long shelf life, it can still expire, says Nina Engle of Ping Pong Thai in Las Vegas. In fact, FoodSafety.gov says soy sauce can hang out in your pantry for three years, but once you open it, you need to move it to the fridge and it’s only good for about a month. When it’s past its prime, soy sauce can develop a stale or rancid flavor, making it unappetizing to use, she says.
The smell test on mustard is super important because it does have a longer shelf life in the fridge than many other condiments. If you are catching a rancid odor it’s time to toss the mustard.
Ketchup belongs right beside its friend mustard in the fridge after being opened. Unlike its counterpart it doesn’t have quite as long of a shelf life and is only good for about 6 months before it sours. It can even develop mold.
From garlic aioli to remoulade and tartar sauces, there are all kinds of dipping sauces and spreads that contain mayo, and Berger says it’s best practice to toss them when they’re expired.
“Another general rule of thumb is if a dip or condiment tastes different from when you first open it, throw it out,” she says. “Same holds true if it’s discolored or extra watery.”
And just like that we have covered about every condiment in the fridge minus a few that happen to be in mine that are local favorites that get devoured before they have time to expire. For more food safety related articles keep an eye out on Make Food Safe as the blog is updated daily.