That said, you’re probably already eating a number of foods that are past their prime, and the sky hasn’t fallen. That’s because a “best by” or “use by” date typically tells you when the product will be at its highest quality—not whether or not it will make you sick. In many cases, you can still eat them for a number of days with no ill effects. Whether or not some of these ingredients are still technically safe to eat, you may notice a change in their taste, color, or texture (eek). When in doubt, remember that your nose knows. If you notice a food has off odors or a strange appearance, don’t eat it. But if not, we’ll let you be the judge of what to do next. To make sure your dried spices taste as fresh and lively as possible, buy whole spices overground whenever possible. Because they have less surface area that’s exposed to oxygen—the key offender in the spice degradation game—they’ll hold on to their flavor for longer. You’ll also find fresher-tasting spices at a specialty grocery or spice store versus popping into the corner deli. And because you typically only use a teensy bit at a time, avoid buying spices in bulk, or any quantity that’s greater than what you’ll need for the dish at hand. RELATED: The Only 7 Spices You Really Need in Your Pantry RELATED: How Long You Can Store (Almost) Anything in the Fridge and Freezer RELATED: The Major Storage Mistake You’re Making With Bread
