Instantly Know if Food is Bad! This Sign is More Reliable Than Expiration Dates

It’s becoming a well-known fact: the expiration date set by the government for manufacturers isn’t always the final word on food safety. Instead of strictly adhering to these dates and hastily discarding products as soon as they expire, it often makes more sense to use common sense. A journalist from Food Media shared in an Instagram video, “Don’t throw away your yogurt just because it’s past the expiration date. You can actually eat it for another 2 to 3 weeks.” To check if they are still good, he uses a foolproof trick that also works with pre-packaged salads and plastic cream containers. This method has been confirmed by food safety experts.

As the journalist notes, there are several tricks to extend the shelf life of our food. For eggs, just put them in a glass of water. If the egg floats, it’s time to throw it away! But if it sinks, it’s still safe to eat, even if it’s past its due date. For foods stored in glass jars, a change in texture or smell is a clear sign that they should be discarded. “Often, it all comes down to the smell or appearance!” he explains. But you’ll find that with plastic-wrapped products, there’s one simple indicator that never fails.

To determine if your packaged foods are still safe, “just make sure that the seal isn’t bulging,” he advises. This applies to plastic packaging as well: if it’s swollen, it’s best to immediately discard the food. According to ESIEC (a school of engineering specializing in packaging and container technology), it’s explained that “swelling of food packaging can occur due to the growth of microorganisms, spontaneous fermentation, or even due to temperature changes affecting the product’s integrity.”

So whether it’s milk cartons, cream, yogurt, salmon fillets, or any other food in plastic packaging, remember to check this detail! And if you see swollen packaging on the store shelves (yes, it happens!), it’s also best to avoid purchasing the product.