There are a couple of food stuffs that can be preserved more or less until the end of time, despite what the expiration date says. So there’s no need to throw them out and go to the store to buy new food. This’ll save you money and you’ll be wasting less food!
Honey: Honey will change colour and crystallise after some time, but it’s still absolutely safe to eat. You can turn the crystallised honey back into liquid again buy putting the (closed) pot of honey in a pan of hot water.
Rice: The expiration date on a packet of rice is complete nonsense. If you keep your rice in a dry and cool place, you’ll still be able to eat it in twenty years time. The same goes for dried noodles and pasta.
Canned vegetables: Once you’ve opened the can, the vegetables will of course spoil after a short time. But as long as you don’t open the can the vegetables will remain edible, even in forty years time!
Vinegar: You can use this for life, so don’t hesitate to buy a jumbo bottle.
Cornflour: Nearly everyone has this miracle product in their pantry. Some people use it on a daily basis, but with others it’s gathering dust in a cupboard. That’s no biggie, though, because cornflour will remain unspoiled for so long that even your great-grandchildren will be able to safely use it.
Peanut butter: Don’t hesitate to buy this in bulk when it’s on sale, because you can safely make a peanut butter sandwich two to five years after buying the pot. The oil in the peanut butter is what makes it last.
Of course, you should always trust your own senses when you decide whether or not you should still eat something. Does it smell nasty or look bad? Then it’s probably actually expired, so it’s best not to eat it.
