By Seven Weaver Producer
Consumer Reports
You expect food in the supermarket to be fresh, that meats and dairy products are well within the date on the package. But what about that funky food in the back of your refrigerator? Is it safe to eat? Foodborne illness kills about 5,000 people a year, so you do want to be careful.Consumer Reports
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Stumble It!Consumer Reports ShopSmart has advice on what to keep and what to toss, like that meat that’s been in the back of the freezer for more than a year. Frozen food will be safe indefinitely in your freezer as long as it’s kept at 0° F. Fresh eggs that are federally graded are safe for up to five weeks after the expiration date on the carton.
What about hard cheese that’s gotten moldy? You just can’t cut off the visible mold. Spoilage and sometimes toxins can go deeper than what you see. Cut at least an inch around the mold spot.
Check your cabinets, too. Canned foods don’t last forever! Get rid of tomatoes, peaches, and other high-acid foods after 18 months, meats and vegetables after two to five years. That’s if the cans have been stored properly. Don’t store cans above the stove, under the sink, or where there are temperature extremes. And throw out severely dented cans or any that are bulging or leaking.
As for leftovers, they should be refrigerated within two hours because bacteria multiply quickly at room temperature. So toss out the pizza that sat out overnight!
You might have been told not to refreeze food that has been previously frozen. But Consumer Reports says that as long as it was thawed properly in a refrigerator or microwave, it’s safe to refreeze. But be aware that it might not be as tasty because of moisture lost during defrosting.
You can get more advice on whether food is safe to eat free of charge at: Is that safe to eat?
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