Time to Toss: Food Expiration Dates

 

I can guarantee that almost everyone reading this right now, has a  jar of something pretty old lurking  in the back of the refrigerator. And that mystery jar usually contains some sort of ooey, gooey condiment. Regardless of the fact that I'm naturally a tosser and am constantly purging to satisfy my OCD, most all the condiments in the Dawson refrigerator get used on a consistent basis. Thanks partly to my hopeless attempts of drowning food my kids claim they hate but have never tried with ketchup or ranch.

But for the sake of this post, I went to my refrigerator to unveil my mystery jar. And there she was. The Vegenaise spread. Think yellow-tinged mayo. Funny thing is I'm not Vegan. Nor do I intend to be. But for some reason something was telling me I should be. So I went out and spent a sh*t pot of money at Whole Foods only to walk out with an itty-bitty bag of "alternatives." That are sadly now past their prime but because I know how much money I spent on them, I can't pull myself to throw them away. Umph.

Which got me thinking about the shelf life of the other condiments stocked in my pantry and sitting in my refrigerator. Curious to know? You've come to the right spot. I've picked a handful of staples but for further reading on thousands of other items, check out StillTasty’s guidelines.

Ketchup

Unopened: 12 months in the pantry.
Opened: 6 months in the refrigerator, 1 month in the pantry.

While you see opened bottles of ketchup sitting out on restaurant tables, it’s best to store your own ketchup (which probably gets used less often) in your refrigerator.

Mayonnaise

Unopened: 3-4 months after the sell-by date on the package.
Opened: 2-3 months after the sell-by date on the package.

Sell-by dates represent the manufacturer’s estimate of how long the product will be at peak quality. In most cases, opened food is safe to consume after a sell-by date if it has been stored properly and continuously refrigerated.

Barbecue Sauce

Unopened: 12 months in the pantry.
Opened: 4 months in the refrigerator. One month in the pantry.

Store opened barbecue sauce in the refrigerator to extend its shelf life. Toss any sauce that develops an off color or scent.

Mustards - All types

Unopened: 2 years in the pantry.
Opened: One year in the refrigerator. 1-2 months in the pantry.

Opened mustard has a very long shelf life (one year!) when stored in the refrigerator. Toss any mustard that develops an off color or scent.

Relish

Unopened: 2 years in the pantry.
Opened: One year in the refrigerator.

Like mustard, opened relish has a long shelf life when refrigerated. If relish develops an off color, odor or appearance, discard it.

Creamy Salad Dressings - Ranch, Blue Cheese, Thousand Island

Unopened: 12-18 months in the pantry.
Opened: 6-9 months in the refrigerator.

Creamy dressings must be refrigerated after opening. If mold appears, discard the entire product.

Vinaigrette Dressings - Italian, Balsamic

Unopened: 12-18 months in the pantry.
Opened: 6-9 months in the refrigerator.

If your salad dressing develops an off color, odor or appearance, discard it.

Pickles - All types

Unopened: 2 years in the pantry.
Opened: 1 year in the refrigerator.

If your pickles develop an off color, odor or appearance, discard it.

Salsa - Fresh, store bought in the refrigerated section

Unopened: 10 to 14 days (or date on package) in the refrigerator, 1 to 2 months in the freezer.
Opened: 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator or 1 to 2 months in the freezer.

Fresh store-bought salsa should ideally be eaten when you open it. If you do have leftover salsa, freeze it in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag.

Salsa or Picante Sauce - Store bought, sold unrefrigerated

Unopened: 12-18 months in the pantry.
Opened: 1 month in the refrigerator, 1 to 2 months in the freezer.

Jarred salsa is cooked, so it has a longer shelf life than the fresh kind. Discard salsa or picante sauce with an off color, odor or appearance.

Tartar Sauce

Unopened: 12 months in the pantry.
Opened: 6 months in the refrigerator.

Creamy condiments should always be refrigerated when opened. Discard tartar sauce with an off color, odor or appearance.

Hot Sauce - Most brands

Unopened: 5 years in the pantry/
Opened: 5 years in the refrigerator.

Discard hot sauce with an off color, odor or appearance.

Olives - Ripe in oil

Opened: 2-3 months in the refrigerator

Keep olives submerged in liquid after opening. Discard if they develop an off color, odor or appearance.

Olives - Green or black, canned

Unopened: 2-3 years in the pantry.
Opened: 1 year or date on can.

Keep olives submerged in brine after opening. Discard if they develop an off color, odor or appearance.

Doesn't cleaning out the refrigerator sound so fun this weekend!?!?!



New Uses for Old Things: Valentine's Edition

This February 14, you can craft handmade and heartfelt sentiments even if you're all thumbs. Like me. These DIY cards are inexpensive and simple. What's not to love? 

 

Birthday Candles: Turn a birthday party prop into a loved one's bright spot on February 14. All you'll need to make this card is a blank note card, glue, birthday candles and a felt tip marker.

 

Matchbook: Once you've found your perfect match, it's easy to turn sentiments into handmade crafts. Start with a blank note card, glue, matchboook and a felt tip marker.

Playing Card: When the stakes are high, you'd bet your money (and your heart) on this guy. Start with a blank note card, glue, playing card and a felt tip marker.

Puzzle Pieces: For the one who lights up your life, create a card that'll be for keeps. Start with a blank note card, glue, puzzle pieces and a felt tip marker.

Want to give the best Vday gift of all time? Discover what it is HERE.

Other Valentine's Day food ideas from Hailey's Helpful Hints found HERE.

Looking for sweet inspiration for Vday treats? Click HERE.

Want thrifty but cute Vday gift ideas? Get inspired HERE.  

A yummy pink dessert that is great for summer but works for Vday as well found HERE.

 

Did you know??

...that certain colors influence your spending?

Thanks to Real Simple magazine, I came across this article that I thought was too good not to share. Marketing experts agree that people subconsciously associate specific social or cultural messages with color. Next time you walk through the mall, look at the rainbow of colors on signs, labels, doors, and shopping bags. These colors are usually always strategically placed in an effort to get you to loosen your purse strings.

Below explains how 10 different shades affect your purchasing habits;

BLACK: The signature color of sophistication (hello little black dress), it dominates high-end makeup packaging and can even make inexpensive blushes and lipsticks seem more upscale. Insert: MAC cosmetics.

BLUE: Most people like blue. No wonder it connotes trust and dependability and is a favorite logo color for financial institutions seeking to make people feel more secure. Insert: My husband's company, Deloitte & Touche. Blue can improve customer loyalty too. Patrons are 15 percent more likely to return to stores with blue color schemes than to those with orange color schemes, according to a 2003 study published in the Journal of Business Research.

BURGUNDY: This color reminds us of all things rich and refined (think red wine), so don't be surprised if the Merlot duvet cover you covet costs more than a white one in a similar style. Its prismatic cousin, brown, has similar connotations of luxury.

GREEN: Retailers often employ this color to attract eco-minded clients. But remember: just because an item is green doesn't mean it's environmentally friendly. INSERT: Whole Foods.

ORANGE: The color is associated with fairness and affordability which is why you'll find it at stores offering good value. Insert: Home Depot and Payless Shoes.

PINK: This sweet color - in particular a shade close to bubble gum - has calming effects, according to research published in the Journal of Orthomolecular Psychiatry. Scientists found that seeing pink slows people's endocrine systems and tranquilized tense muscles. Wondering how that might influence your wallet? Feeling relaxed may make it less painful to part with cash. Insert: Victoria Secret.

RED: Although plenty of shops embrace this color (Target, TJMaxx) and still find financial success, market experts warn that, just like a stop sign, a red placard can make consumers hit the brakes. It serves as an alarm, triggering a more careful consideration of our outlays.

VIOLET: Purple reigns in the beauty industry, especially in the category or anti-aging products. When people see it, they think of royalty. Consequently, a purple box may help us persuade us that the product has special properties and is worth a princely sum. Insert: Alterna's Anti-Aging line at Sephora.

WHITE: In branding, white suggests simplicity and purity. Note: 75 percent of top skin-care brands are packaged in white. Insert: Oil of Olay to name one. It also stands for modernity and honesty, which may be why Apple swears by it.

YELLOW: A mainstay at fast food restaurants, yellow evokes energy and increases appetite, perhaps explaining why your stomach may start to growl when you pass those golden arches.

Interesting, eh? I thought so.