Recent studies show that over 80 billion pounds of food is discarded per year in the United States. Why is that? Common culprits include misunderstanding food label expiration dates and improper storage of food. Let’s discuss these further.
Food Label Expiration Dates
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), contrary to popular belief, food dating is not required except for infant formula. Because there is no required standard, companies choose to food date on their own accord, leading to a variety of terms being used.
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"Best if Used By/Before" date: indicates when a product will be of best flavor or quality.
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"Sell-By" date: tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management.
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“Use-By" date: last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality.
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“Freeze-By” date: indicates when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality.
Except when used for infant formula, none of these food label expiration dates actually indicate food safety. Thus, the USDA states foods that are slightly past their expiration date can still be safe for consumption as long as it is stored properly and there are no signs of spoilage (e.g. smell, change in color, or apparent growths noted).
General Tips for Storing Food
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If you have leftovers, immediately pre-portion. Leave in the refrigerator what you think you will “get to” and freeze what you can’t. In general, leftovers are good for up to 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator or 6 months in your freezer.
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Store food within 2 hours after cooking to avoid bacteria growth that can make you sick. If food is outside in hot temperatures, for instance at a barbecue, store it away within 1 hour.
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If using ziplock bags, remove all air out before sealing as trapped oxygen shortens the lifespan of your leftover food.
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For cheese, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap vs placing it in a plastic bag to have it last longer.