6 Foods You Eat Daily That Are Probably Expired

Look, all you want to do is make a sandwich—not stand at the fridge making calculations about whether your mayonnaise is safe to eat. But that's life, and you have to make these decisions every day. It can be challenging to know when foods need to be tossed and when it's perfectly fine to salvage them.

Safety comes first, of course, but America voluntarily throws away nearly 40 percent of its food yearly. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, which adds up to over $160 billion wasted annually. That said, you're probably already eating several past their prime foods, 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 food for several days with no ill effects. However, 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. Here are several foods you should not eat past their expiration date for one reason or another.

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Spices

Of course, your age-old coriander and cumin won't kill you. But what they will do is completely lack flavor. This is a bummer considering that spices are meant to do the exact opposite: They're a vehicle for expressing and elevating a food or dish's flavor profile. Spices lose flavor and potency over time, and this period is significantly shorter than we expect. Most are considered shelf-stable for about three years, but your nutmeg won't taste anything like proper nutmeg in a fraction of that time.

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.

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Cold Cuts

This one's a bigger safety issue. The vacuum-sealed plastic packaging (in addition to the fact that cold cuts are often highly-processed) leads us to believe that deli ham, turkey, roast beef, and so on are okay to eat for weeks on end.

But most sliced meat makers, including big brands like Boar's Head, say your meat is only at optimal freshness for three days after purchase. It should still be safe to eat it for around a week or so, but if you notice any unpleasant odors (especially those of ammonia, vinegar, or yeast), mold, or slimy textures on your meat, discard it immediately.

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Garlic

Generally, you should store garlic in a dry, cool, dark place in your pantry. So it's natural that some of us forget exactly how long it's been sitting there. Generally speaking, this is fine: A whole head of garlic, unpeeled and untouched, should last about six months. Garlic cloves—single, unpeeled—are good for three weeks, but peeled garlic cloves only last one week.

And if it's minced, it'll start to turn in a few hours (unless you cover it in olive oil, which buys you a couple more days). If you see any little green sprouts coming out of your bulb or it feels soft, toss it: It's going to taste dank, and the dish you use it in will follow suit.

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Mayonnaise

If you still have your jar of mayo from last year's Fourth of July potato salad, for the love of all things holy, throw it away! (And buy a smaller bottle next summer.) According to the USDA, mayonnaise is only safe to eat for two months after you open the container.

This is another issue with date labeling: Your mayo likely has an expiration date far off in the future, but this solely applies to an unopened jar. Saving this year's condiment for next year's barbecue could put all your party guests at serious risk of foodborne illness.

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Liquid Eggs/Egg Substitutes

Unopened, liquid eggs and egg substitutes (like Egg Beaters) typically last for months. But if you break the seal for breakfast on Monday, expect them to go bad by Wednesday, or Thursday at best. According to Foodsafety.gov, opened containers of liquid eggs are best when used within three days and shouldn't be frozen.

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Bread

You're probably eating your bread after the loaf's expiration date has passed, and we're (generally) fine with that. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. (But if you notice off-odors or mold spots, throw it away immediately.)

If your bread is starting to go stale, there are plenty of delicious ways you can use it—or, if you want to extend its shelf life, packaged bread will stay fresh for three months or longer in the freezer.

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