Eating food after expiration?

Question

Say if you bought a package of ham from the supermarket, the cold aisle, (mix of smoked ham, turkey ham, pastrami), and you forgot all about it until a week after expiration date, do you think it's still OK to eat it? Esp. if you don't smell anything or it doesnt look bad?

Answer 1

It's okay to eat,....

If the package hasn't been opened before the expiration date and properly refrigerated, I say YES you can eat it.

The food is packaged in clean conditions, the seal isn't broken and properly refrigerated, then there's a low risk of contamination. Also, the lunch meat is salted (and contain preservatives) which discourages bacterial growth.

Answer 2

In general if the package was opened and the meat exposed to air, it will show signs of decay ... mold ... slimy feel ... odor. Even if it doesn't I probably wouldn't trust it.

But I find that items kept air tight tend to be just fine well beyond their expiration. For meats this can be 2-4 weeks depending. If it was sealed, and kept at the proper temperature, open it and see if it appears wholesome.

If you have doubt and won't feel good eating it, there is no reason you can't just throw it out. Also you may not have as long to eat it, so if you usually get 7-10 days, plan to finish it in 3-5.

Answer 3

From personal experience, I would advise against eating any meat product after its expiration date. Also, recently there was a lot of press on how quickly to eat deli meats (both "fresh" from the deli as well as packaged deli meat). The overwhelming consensus was "the sooner the better." A main factor is that water is introduced into the deli-meat-making process and water harbors bacteria that can expedite spoilage.

Answer 4

I think it's OK. The expiration date is a suggestion. The food can be good long after, or spoiled way before the expiration date.

Answer 5

I wouldn't eat meat or dairy past the expiration. Eggs are usually ok for a week or two, and other canned, boxed, and frozen foods are usually good for quite some time.

Answer 6

The USDA website provides information on which products you can still eat after the printed expiration date, and how long that grace period lasts.

But unless you are on the verge of death because of starvation and there is no other edibles on the premises, I would not eat expired eat.

Answer 7

i'd probably eat it if it was vacuum packed. the date that's on the package is an estimate date, as long as it doesn't smell, taste or look funny you should be fine. stores sells expired or soon to be expired food all the time, but at deep discounted prices.

Answer 8

yeah...I wouldn't do it...

Just not worth taking the chance...is a sandwich worth time spent in the bathroom afterwards??? Prolly not. Expiration dates are there for a reason. There are some things that can be used past expiration...but meat's generally not one of them.

Answer 9

Don't eat it, it is most likely bad. Plus if you eat bad meat you'll most likely end up with a mild form of food poisoning, why risk an upset tummy.

Answer 10

It could be OK but you will never be sure. Better not eating it without cooking/frying it.
Old fruits, vegetables, dairies (yoghurts, cheese...) are OK, but beware of meat!