I admit it, when it comes to food, I have some eeew-inducing practices, like skimming mold off old cheddar and feeding the rest to my unsuspecting family. We're still alive, so how bad can it be? Because our gross human habits fall somewhere along the spectrum from mildly cringeworthy to full-on repulsive, I reached out to experts to find out where some common behaviors land on the gross-o-meter.
Eating old food
► The stamped expiration date-and its confusing cousins use by and best before-should be but one tool in your hmm-should-I-eat-this? toolbox.
With the exception of infant formula, food labels aren't standardized or regulated, says nutritionist Marie Spiker, an assistant professor at the University of Washington. Few are related to biology or food safety-just peak freshness. And so, she says, it's totally fine and safe to eat foods that are not at their exact peak.
Handling, packaging, refrigeration and storage all affect any food's farmto-plate timeline, so your best tools are your eyes and nose.
Most of the time, this is intuitive, says Spiker. If it looks good and smells good, it's probably good. Not sure? Consider this: Spores spread through soft, porous surfaces. So in general, hard foods are more difficult to permeate and therefore safer to eat, she says. Don't trust your sense of smell or sight? Check out the FDA's website, where food safety guidelines are available.
So you probably should toss the whole package if you spot mold on bread, soft cheeses like Brie and feta, or soft produce such as strawberries. But it's not too gross to slice off the funky stuff and save the rest of potatoes, cured meat like salami, or hard cheeses like my beloved cheddar.
Borrowing a toothbrush
この記事は Reader's Digest US の September 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Reader's Digest US の September 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Cookies for Forgiveness
My blowup was half-baked. The apology wasn't
Puff the Magic Pastry
It always rises to the occasion
New Year's Traditions Around the World
1 MOST OF US spend the final seconds of each calendar year watching a nearly 12,000-pound geodesic sphere descend over Times Square in New York City.
Mom's Wall-Sign Wisdom
She never met a plaque or bumper sticker she didn't quote
Protect Your 'Holiday Heart'
This joyful time of year can also be dangerously stressful
Heroes of the Holidays
It's not just Santa Claus bringing the holiday magic this season. As you'll see, he's got elves all over.
The Man Who Looks After His Wife's Ex
For him and his bride, \"in sickness and in health\" meant something really special
How Risky Are Those Holiday Cocktails, Really?
The latest recommendations about drinking and your health
HOW ONE KENTUCKY TOWN SAVED ITSELF
Downtown Hazard had lost its small-town mojo to drugs. Former addicts are helping to bring it back.
Dream It, Do It, Done!
Your bucket-list goals, accomplished