I recently pulled a suspicious looking bottle of soy sauce out of my grandmother’s pantry and checked the expiration date. Sure enough, it expired in 2017 (it is now 2024). When I hesitated to use the inky liquid, so old it had left a darkened rim around the inside of the glass, she told me, “Oh honey, soy sauce doesn’t go bad, that date is just a suggestion.” But is it really?

Do Certain Foods Not Expire?

After a similar experience at my husband’s parent’s house, I’ve begun to distrust any food made by a senior citizen. As long as it isn’t something perishable like milk or meat, the trend with the older generation seems to be to use it all up, no matter the date.

I also pulled out a jar of jalapeños, seven years expired, to which she commented that they were pickled, how could they go bad? I was instructed to return it to the pantry and made a mental note not to accept anything with jalapenos from my grandmother.

After doing a little research on soy sauce, grandma was sort of right that it doesn’t really expire, however it does go “bad” if you are hoping for it to taste good. As it’s made from fermented soybean paste, it could last indefinitely if unopened.

However, once opened, air tends to change things a bit. It’s best to use it within 3-6 months of opening for the freshest flavor. So, if you’ve cracked open that bottle of Kikkoman sitting in the pantry and let it stew for a few years, don’t expect it to taste so great.

What About Pickled and Canned Foods?

The jar of jalapeños had never been opened, so it was more likely to be good than the soy sauce. They’ve gone through a canning process, which helps preserve the pickles and extend their shelf life. Typically, if you keep the jar sealed in a cool, dark place, they can last up to 3 to 5 years and still taste decent.

It seems on things like that, the expiration date is not a safety feature, but the manufacturer’s estimate at how long the food will remain at its peak quality. As long as the seal has not been damaged, they should be safe to consume. But wouldn’t you rather have something that tastes good, rather than something that’s just safely edible?

Expired Herbs and Spices

My grandmother and in-law’s pantries are also both stocked with very old herbs and spices, again based on the notion that they don’t expire. And again, while they don’t go bad to the point where they will make you ill, they do lose their flavor. So why use herbs and spices with no flavor? Isn’t the whole point of them to add extra flavor to your dish?

So come on people, toss out that crusty old basil that doesn’t even smell anymore. It’s not doing you or your food any good!

When it comes to food expiration dates, there are a few general guidelines to follow:

1. Perishable Foods: For perishable items like milk or meat, always adhere to the expiration date as these products can spoil and make you sick if consumed after that date.
2. Non-Perishable Foods: While non-perishable items like canned goods, pickled foods, and unopened soy sauce can often be consumed beyond the expiration date, it’s important to assess their quality. The expiration date is typically a manufacturer’s estimate of peak quality, so consider the condition of the packaging and the sensory qualities of the food before consuming.
3. Herbs and Spices: Although herbs and spices don’t spoil in the same way as other foods, they can lose their flavor over time. It’s advisable to discard herbs and spices that have lost their aroma for optimal flavor in your dishes.
4. Storage Conditions: Proper storage can significantly impact the shelf life of foods. Always store items according to their specific recommendations to maximize their freshness.

By following these guidelines, you can make informed decisions about the consumption of various food items based on their expiration dates and overall quality.

So, there you have it. Grandma was right. Those expiration dates really are a suggestion- but a suggestion you should follow if you want your food to taste as good as possible.