May 2, 2024

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Six foods you should definitely throw out of your refrigerator


Our refrigerators are a useful and irreplaceable thing in the household, but they, of course, cannot keep food fresh forever.

Experts have named 6 types of foods that we usually store in the refrigerator longer than necessary. Therefore, it is necessary to check regularly.

Expired seasonings

We like to have different sauces and jars of olives, pickles and more in the refrigerator, but even those with a long shelf life don't last forever. If you're one of those people who has two types of ketchup and mustard, plain and hot, and you like to have other sauces in the refrigerator, then chances are some of them will expire before you finish them. Here are some estimated refrigerated shelf life times, according to food safety experts:

  • ketchup and chili sauce: 6 months
  • mustard: 12 months
  • mayonnaise and salad dressing: 2 months
  • tomato paste: 1 to 2 months
  • olives: 2 weeks
  • pickles: from 1 to 3 months

If in doubt, open the jar, look and smell. If you see mold, throw away the can. If the sauce looks fine but smells funny, throw it away as well.

Minced meat

Minced meat is often on our shopping list. Unfortunately, food safety experts tell us that ground beef should be eaten within two days of purchase. If you don't plan to cook the mince right away, store it in the freezer and slowly defrost it in the refrigerator the day before using it.

Food in an open can

Canned food is something we all have in our cupboards in case of an emergency. If you open them and don't eat all the contents, know that they are Do not store in the refrigerator for more than one or two days. Anyway open jars It is advisable not to put it directly in the refrigerator, but transfer their contents into an airtight containerso that the product does not dry out faster and does not absorb unwanted odors. If you leave an open jar in the refrigerator for more than two days, throw it away.

Moldy food

It often happens that we buy more fruits and vegetables than we can eat. We may want to cut off the bad part and eat the part that looks normal. However, food safety experts advise us throw away the whole fruit/vegetable. Mold has roots, so even if you can't see it, all your food is likely contaminated.

Homemade sauce

When possible, we like to make our own salad dressings or entrees. Precisely because they do not contain preservatives (like commercial ones), they spoil much faster. In fact, they can be eaten for one to two weeks. There is a risk of bacterial growth in the future.

Leftover food

Refrigerating leftovers is one way to avoid wasting food. However, if you forget to use them within three to four days, they should be thrown away. If you can't eat them within that time, freeze or throw them away.



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