Bread so hard it'll break your teeth and yogurt that smells like primordial ooze! How long can
some foods last in the fridge before they start resembling a science experiment gone wrong?
What's a good breakfast without bacon? This breakfast meat is one
of the most popular choices for American eaters,
but it's also equally loved by pathogens like salmonella. Uncooked, opened bacon should last
between seven and ten days in the fridge if it is properly stored in an air-tight container.
If you purchase bulk packs of bacon, you can freeze each in its original packaging
and a layer of foil, plastic wrap, or a plastic container. Unopened bacon can
last up to two weeks in the fridge, but up to two months in the freezer.
To determine if your bacon has indeed spoiled, check the smell and the color first. Fresh bacon
should be a white or pink color, while spoiled bacon will appear a dismal shade of gray or brown.
Spoiled bacon will also emit a foul, unmistakable odor.
"Nooo I want my bacon. I gotta tell you somethin. Bacon is good for me."
No matter what kind of bread you've got, putting it in the fridge is always a bad idea. This is
because the cool temperature causes the starches in the bread to crystalize and become hard.
When you bite into a slice of bread that has been refrigerated, you'll notice the texture is stale.
According to MasterClass, the best way to prevent your bread products from staleness and molding is
to put the product in a well-ventilated wrapping, like paper or cloth, to discourage mold growth.
If you're making french toast or bread pudding and stale bread is permissible,
you can leave loaves of bread in the fridge for up to two weeks, per the USDA. Bread products left on
the countertop typically last at room temperature for up to four days. Freezing bread products is
another option as well; slice the bread into individual pieces and store it in small bags in
the freezer. This will make the bread easier to cut when you want to eat a slice for breakfast.
There's no good bagel without a slathering of cream cheese. This soft cheese contains
a high-moisture content, so refrigeration is imperative to keeping the cheese safe
for consumption. Cream cheese can last a few weeks in the refrigerator past its sell-by date,
but it is first important to inspect the cheese before eating it. Spoiled cream cheese will
appear yellow in color and may even have tiny mold flecks spread throughout. You should also throw
out your cream cheese if you notice pockets of moisture pooling adjacent to dry spots.
Unopened cream cheese typically lasts a month past its purchase date, while
opened cream cheese should be consumed within ten days. You can also freeze cream cheese to
extend its shelf life; this soft cheese can last up to two months in the freezer.
If you're one to top your toast with a layer of jelly, you'll be happy to know that this
condiment is fridge-friendly. According to the National Center for Home Food Preservation,
full-sugar, cooked jellies made with pectin should last about a month in
the fridge after opening. This shelf life may be shortened if the container is left
out at room temperature for long periods. To extend the shelf life as long as possible,
try to scoop out the jam or jelly you plan to use and return the jar to the fridge immediately.
Low-sugar jams and jellies will have a shorter shelf life. Jams stored in the
freezer are only good for three to four weeks in the refrigerator. Be wary of liquids seeping
from the jams and jellies as well as yeasty aromas that may signify a spoiled spread.
Yogurt is a delicious probiotic treat. This fermented milk product is filled
with beneficial bacteria, protein, and healthy fats.
"Yogurt can cut diabetes risk by 20%."
Plus, you'll be happy to know that yogurt has a relatively long shelf life in your refrigerator.
Unopened yogurt can last between two to three weeks after opening in the refrigerator, or up
to two months in the freezer. Greek yogurt, which contains a slightly different blend of bacteria
than traditional yogurt, lasts up to two weeks in the fridge and less than a month in the freezer.
There are some important signs to note that signify your yogurt has gone bad. Spoiled yogurt
emits a pungent, acidic odor and potentially bloats the yogurt container. You may also see a
cloudy layer forming on top of the yogurt. A thin, almost translucent layer of liquid is normal;
this is just the whey. But, cloudy yogurt can signify bacteria that will make you sick.
Orange juice is a must-have for breakfasts and brunch alike. Although you might be tempted to
leave orange juice out for your guests to enjoy, that might not be the best idea.
Leaving perishable foods like orange juice out for more than two hours,
or less than an hour at 90 F, can prompt the spread of pathogens like E Coli. Lactic acid
bacteria can start fermenting the juice over time as well, thus altering the flavor of the juice.
Pasteurized, store-bought orange juice can withstand more time out of the fridge than
fresh-squeezed orange juice. Fresh orange juice lasts two to three days in the fridge,
according to Chew the World. In comparison, pasteurized orange juice
can last up to seven days in the fridge after it's opened. If the orange juice is unopened,
it can last up to five days past the "best by" date on the carton.
If you're baking muffins in bulk, it may be more beneficial to pop the muffins in your refrigerator
until you're ready to eat one. Savory muffins typically last about six days in the refrigerator;
ingredients like cheese and meat may cause the muffins to spoil if you forgo refrigeration.
Sweet muffins, such as blueberry and chocolate chip muffins,
should be kept away from the refrigerator to preserve the soft, crumbly texture.
To store your muffins in the fridge, first line the container with a layer of paper
towel. This will absorb the moisture from the muffins and keep each one super fresh.
After the muffins are in the container, add another layer of paper towel on top
to absorb the remainder of the moisture. You can freeze the muffins for up to three months
in a resealable bag and reheat individual muffins when you feel the craving hit.
You'll also want to be sure to cool your freshly baked muffins before storing them. This prevents
moisture from building up in the container and further damages the muffin's texture.
Maple syrup is a must-have for pancakes and waffles,
but the better question is where you should store it.
"I love syrup. Ohhhh I love it."
Maple syrup should be stored in the refrigerator to slow the growth of mold and bacteria for up
to six months. If you plan to leave your maple syrup in the fridge for more than three months,
we recommend transferring the syrup to a glass or tin container. This is because
the plastic "breathes" and can make the syrup susceptible to pathogen takeover.
Once transferred to another container, the maple syrup should last about a year. As with all food
products, monitor for changes in the taste, texture, and smell of the syrup over time.
Tortillas are versatile and essential for breakfast wraps, so it is important
to always have a few fresh ones on hand. Tortillas don't have to go in the fridge.
Mass-produced wheat tortillas can last between 16 and 45 days either at room temperature or
in the fridge. There are some caveats to this, though; tortillas should be kept in an air-tight
bag to maintain maximum freshness. If you don't plan on using tortillas for a while,
you can always pop these flatbreads in the freezer and take them out as needed.
Unlike flour tortillas, corn tortillas do not stay fresh for as long. Corn tortillas last
about ten days at room temperature or up to eight weeks in the fridge.
No savory breakfast is complete without a bit of heat! Not all hot sauces require refrigeration,
because pepper, vinegar, and salt make the contents unfavorable to pathogens. But,
homemade hot sauces or those made with a dairy, egg, or mayonnaise
base must be refrigerated to prevent foodborne illnesses.
Adding hot sauce to a refrigerator, even if it's not absolutely necessary, can prolong the shelf
life. The average hot sauce lasts anywhere from two to five years. The refrigeration can
also maintain the color of the hot sauce and brighten the flavor a little bit. In short,
don't kick yourself if you leave the hot sauce out overnight, but try to keep it someplace cool,
like the fridge, so you can enjoy some spice for as long as you can.
Unlike dry cheese, shredded cheese must be refrigerated because of its high moisture
content. The Food Network recommends storing any type of fridge cheese, especially stinky cheese,
in the crisper drawer of the fridge. The humidity in this drawer is contained and
will keep your cheese tasting fresh for longer. When placing your cheese back in the fridge,
always make sure to press the air out of the bag to keep your cheese moist. Healthline
suggests eating shredded cheese within five-to-seven days of opening the bag.
"You were eating the cheese weren’t you? Out of the rat traps. No! Well,
yes. I mean I was eating the old cheese, to test it, to see why the rats weren’t eating it."
While you can freeze cheddar shreds for up to two months, freezing will dramatically
change the texture and flavor of the product. Only freeze cheese if you absolutely have to,
or if you plan on making a dish where the texture of the cheese isn't too important.
Chocolate milk is a childhood favorite. After opening, this beverage will last up to a week
after its "sell-by" date printed on the package. Since chocolate milk contains dairy, it should
always remain refrigerated. Always store chocolate milk in its original package and away from the
doors of the fridge to prevent contamination and preserve the integrity of the milk.
Like other dairy products, chocolate milk should only be frozen with caution. Although
chocolate milk can last a few months in the freezer, it will have a grainy texture once
it is thawed. If you plan on using chocolate milk for baking or milkshakes, freezing the
milk may be an acceptable option. Otherwise, we recommend buying a fresh carton when you need it.
Grits are half of the classic Southern breakfast: shrimp and grits. But alas,
grits do not survive well in the fridge. While uncooked grits can last up to five years in a
pantry, cooked grits only last about one week in the fridge. Spoiled grits are easily identified
by a rancid smell and color change, as well as potential mold spots forming on the surface.
In the pantry, instant grits tend to last longer than stone-ground grits. If you choose to place
your containers of grits in the fridge rather than a pantry, you'll find that instant grits
last about two years, while stone-ground grits only last about a year after the printed date.
Coffee creamer is an ingredient most folks have to have in their house at all times.
Boat Basin Cafe notes that unopened dairy creamers last about two weeks
past the expiration date in the fridge. If you open the flavorful coffee additive,
most companies generally recommend consuming the creamer within a week.
Dairy creamers need to be refrigerated because of potential pathogen transmission.
If you're concerned with the shelf-life of your refrigerated creamer,
you can try using a powdered creamer made with fat and sugar. These powders do not
require refrigeration and can last several months if stored in a dark, dry location.
What's breakfast without the classic egg? Whether you like your eggs scrambled, over-easy, or fried,
it's important to keep these eggs as fresh as possible. Whole eggs last about four to
five weeks in the fridge. For best results, store your eggs in their original container and do not
put them on your refrigerator door. The constant opening and closing of the fridge can prematurely
spoil your eggs. Instead, leave the carton in a consistently cold location in your fridge.
If the eggs are removed from the shell, the shelf-life decreases significantly. Egg yolks
or beaten eggs should be consumed within two days, while egg whites are good for up to four days.