Food storage and expiry date guides

A few short guides to help you eat safely and throw away less food. Each one cites food safety agencies such as the USDA, FDA, UK Food Standards Agency and CDC, along with waste researchers like WRAP and UNEP.

Reading labels

• Best before vs use by vs sell by: how to read food date labels: what each date means in the US, UK, EU and Australia, and which ones are about safety.

Storing food

• How long do opened pantry and fridge staples last?: USDA FoodKeeper times for ketchup, mayonnaise, soy sauce, peanut butter, jam, milk, canned food, oil, flour and rice.
• How to organize your fridge and pantry to waste less food: first in, first out, labeling, fridge zones, an eat-first shelf and simple meal planning.

Food past its date

• Is it safe to eat food past its expiration date?: what’s usually fine after “best before”, what to throw out after “use by”, can warning signs, mold rules and the 2-hour rule.

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These guides are published by Use-By: Expiry Tracker, a free iPhone app for tracking the expiry dates of the food at home, and of vouchers, points and SIM plans too, and getting reminded before they pass. Download on the App Store · App home page.

General information only, not medical advice.