Although the Potato Chips shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Why you dont have to eat every food by its best-by label. "Uncut brownies will stay fresh a couple of days longer than cut brownies at room temperature.". Unopened potato chips can last 6-8 months if stored properly. Copyright 2023 StillTasty LLC. But there are a few things that can cause them to go bad sooner. A better way to seal and store your chips? Expired food is still safe to eat, but it may not taste as good. When food goes bad, it can start to grow harmful bacteria. Your email address will not be published. Cheese? In fact, many types of food can get bacteria if theyre not handled properly. Perhaps thats why the trick works for me so well; as a New Orleans resident, I basically live in a swamp. Properly stored, an opened package of potato chips will generally stay at best quality for about 1 to 2 weeks at room temperature. Properly stored, an unopened package of potato chips will generally stay at best quality for about 2 to 3 months after the date on the package. You're going to want to put those chips in the freezer. Rather than wad up the chip bag and end up with stale chips the next day, you can apply a bit of origami to your bag of chips and rest assured that they'll be fresh and waiting for you when you're ready to snack again. This is because potato chips are high in fat and salt, which can upset your stomach. Finally, double dipping can be bad for your health. 8 pantry staples that don't last for as long as you think; 14 foods that can last longer than you think; The 8 foods you should always make in a microwave; 11 foods you're probably eating wrong . Dietician and author Sharon Palmer, R.D.N., told TODAY Food in 2018 that cereals with more fat content (think nuts and oils) could go bad more quickly, though. Potatoes retain moisture that comes out when they are reheated, and if theyre in a microwave or a conventional oven, that steam cant escape. Bacteria can cause all sorts of problems, like food poisoning, so its important to be vigilant about them. Once opened, it's good for 5 to 7 days if stored in the fridge. Yes, chips can get bacteria. "If you are healthy and don't have a sensitive stomach, you may be able to tolerate ketchup beyond the best by date," Feller says. Its safe to eat Pringles two or three weeks after the best-by date if you havent opened them before, and you probably wont notice anything wrong. Potato chips are best stored in a cool, dry place. However, they can last longer if they are stored in a cool place not above 40 degrees Fahrenheit and are not exposed to sunlight. From keeping potato chips in the pantry to leaving open chocolate in the fridge, simple mistakes you're making can cause your snack food to go bad. Most people don't know that you shouldn't keep your potato chips in the pantry. The temperature changes can cause the chips to become stale and soggy. Some concerned consumers have taken to social media to report that theyve found foreign objects in their bags of Lays chips. Once you open a bag of potato chips, its best to eat them within 2-3 weeks. Patel said a common mistake is storing beef jerky in plastic bags or not fully sealing the package it came in. Symptoms of botulism include nausea, vomiting, double vision, difficulty speaking and breathing, and paralysis. Continue with Recommended Cookies. You, however, do not want to eat your chips if they have expired as they can make you sick. Freezing food is the easiest way to extend its shelf life, whether it be vegetables or pastries but that doesnt mean freezer burn is exactly pleasant. "While jerky is dried and salted to preserve it, the amount of fat indicates how long it retains freshness," she said. No refined polyunsaturated oil is going to last for 2 years without rancidity, though, unless it's loaded with antioxidants and stored in tin/amber glass. If you store them in a refrigerator, they will last even longer. Patel said you should avoid keeping your ice cream in the freezer door because it's exposed to warm air every time the door is opened. The original package works great as long you tightly roll over the packaging and use a clip to seal the opening. Could this be the beginning of a major recall? When they hit their expiration dateor a month after opening (whichever comes first)throw the bag away. The most obvious reason is that its unsanitary. Say goodbye to days of throwing out your half-eaten tub of yogurt, because this is another dairy product you can eat after its package labels it "expired." When it comes to eating other foods that are expired according to their labels, though, the most important thing to do is use your common sense. Additionally, if they are visibly discolored or mouldy, then they have most likely gone bad. "Only cut what you'll eat," Ziesmer told Insider. Each end of the roll should now have two small pockets that keep the bag from unrolling. Ziesmer said a common mistake is storing crackers in resealable plastic bags. Sometimes life throws you a curve ball and you find yourself with a bag of chips and no chip clip. At this point, its hard to say. A: Home fries are tastiest and safest when eaten right away. If youre not careful, you might end up eating it without knowing the consequences. Before the expiration date, certain chips can go stale and have a mushy texture and a flat, rancid taste. The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions - to maximize the shelf life of opened dill pickles keep them refrigerated and tightly covered. If you think about how cheese is made and aged, you might be more apt to believe it's the kind of food that doesn't always go bad after its expiration date. Real chip shop chips are great, but the portions are huge, so you decide to keep the leftover chips and warm them up the next day in the microwave or oven. When chips go stale, they often become hard and brittle. When properly stored, the shelf life of potato chips past their best by date is approximately With oven-safe glass and water-tight lids, these food storage containers are ready for action! If you want to keep your potato chips fresh for as long as possible, be sure to store them properly in an airtight container. The amount of frozen water is small enough that it doesnt change the structure, taste, or nutritional content of the chip whatsoever, nor does it freeze the chip solid. Rebekah Ziesmer, development chef with Conagra Brands, said storing sealed bags of chips in the freezer will keep the snack food fresh and crispy. Though food chemists arent entirely sure why this works, theres plenty of anecdotal evidence that it doesfor everything from tortilla chips to potato chips. Repeat with another 1/3 of the large bag. In determining how long Potato Chips lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. If an item smells terrible or is visibly off, Feller suggests composting it instead of taking a chance on eating it. Your freezer is probably the most sealed and dry place in your kitchen. How long does cheese last? Not only is this unsanitary, but its also just plain gross. Now roll the fold over so that the seams of the bag are wrapped up in the center. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. Chips last for a relatively short amount of time compared to other snacks. What will happen if you eat expired junk food? You may buy a big box or bag at the store, but you may wonder for how long you can pack those chips in your lunchbox. They may also start to turn a greenish color. about 1 to 2 weeks Properly stored, an opened package of potato chips will generally stay at best quality for about 1 to 2 weeks at room temperature. EGGS A report by food scientist Dana Gunders states that eggs can last for three to five weeks but they have to be kept at a temperature below 5C (41F), to prevent the growth of Salmonella enteritidis. The United States Department of Agriculture classified batter-coated French fries as a vegetable in 2004. Sealing them tightly can cause bacteria to grow, and you dont want a side serving of that with your chips! So, taste is the best way to tell if your potato chips have gone bad. If they taste stale or off, its best to throw them out. The bacteria produce a toxin that can cause paralysis and even death. She also told Insider that microwave popcorn or popcorn kernels can be stored in the freezer keeping them fresh means fewer unpopped kernels. One way to check if your eggs are safe to eat is by putting them in a jug of cold water, according to Cosmopolitan magazine. Storage time shown is for best quality only after that, the potato chips texture, color or flavor may change, but in most cases, they will still be safe to consume if they have been stored properly, the package is undamaged, and there are no signs of spoilage (see below). Sims tells Bustle that it depends on the specific food, and that you should always check the examine food for potential spoilage before you chow down anyway regardless of the dates stamped on the packaging. Maybe you aren't the type to eat around the mold, but here are 10 things you can safely eat past their expiration dates, assuming they look and smell basically fine. Strong-smelling foods can cause the chips to absorb those flavors and become spoiled. To keep the snack food fresh, she recommended storing leftover popcorn in a sealed bag in the freezer. Air Fry the Potatoes: Place potato slices into the air fryer basket in one or two layers. Once all of the chips are in the bottom of the bag, fold both of the bag's corners inward making a point, like you would if you were making a paper airplane. As long as you keep them properly in the right conditions necessary. Celery, on the other hand, needs moisture to stay fresh; so, wrap it in aluminum foil and keep it in the fridge. Freezer-burned food is safe, but can lose flavor once cooked or thawed, she explains. 1. According to Bob Jones, the president of Jones Potato Chips, chips dont freeze in the usual sensethey just get very cold. Drain potatoes; place on paper towels and pat dry. Specific foods require certain storing methods to stay fresh and your favorite snacks are no different. Try a 30-day free trial today! Its caused by eating food thats been contaminated with bacteria or other germs. . 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. If you want to know how to do it, I shared simple tips below that you can easily follow. Homemade potato chips can last about 2 weeks if stored properly. Sounds like a life win to us. If you think you have food poisoning, see your doctor right away. However, they will start to lose their flavor and crunch after a while, so it is best to eat them before they get too old. It might get stale, but bread past its expiration date can be safely eaten. Potato chips can last for a few weeks after they have been opened, but you can make them last longer by sealing the bag or putting the chips in a sealed container. Here's the thing though: Your chips are never going to taste better than when you first rip open that bag and bite into that first crunchy chip. Copyright 2012 EatByDate LLC. To maximize the shelf life of opened potato chips, keep package tightly closed. By being airtight, this can prevent the chips from coming into contact with too much oxygen or moisture in the air which can cause them to go stale. Back To Dr. Some people actually love the taste of cold chips, but thats largely up to personal preference. But never eat soft cheeses, such as cream cheese and Camembert, once their expiry date is up, and only consume them for a week once the packet has been opened. How Long Do Doritos Last? Mullen said to instead place your ice cream in the coldest parts of your freezer like the main compartment or, better yet, the bottom shelf. How much thought do you put into storing your potato chips? Potato chips are made from potatoes that are sliced and fried. Now that you know the best way to roll up that bag of chips, you're well on your way to a better-tasting chip the next time you grab them. Ziesmer said ready-to-eat popcorn can get stale or chewy soon after it's opened, especially in humid environments. In general, its best to err on the side of caution and throw out potato chips that show any signs of spoilage. This is one of those bizarre, mysterious tricks that doesnt seem like it should work as well as it doesuntil you try it. Chips do go bad, but if you store them right and re-seal the bag whenever you open it, they can maintain freshness for at least 2-4 weeks. How To Make A Light Bulb Work With A Potato? In a cast-iron or other heavy skillet, heat 1-1/2 . If chocolate is stored in a cool place (70 degrees or below), it will outlast its sell-by date. Luckily, chips tend to have a long shelf life. The last time you found yourself judging your roommate for eating their Greek yogurt past the expiration date and they said sell-by dates are a social construct well, they werent wrong. Also, be sure to keep the container away from direct sunlight. People hate spending money on condiments like ketchup, mayo, and jam, because it seems like you can never use it all before it expires. All rights reserved. It is very important to store them in airtight containers. If you eat them after that, its very unlikely that youll suffer any negative health effects, but they might be stale and not taste as good. They indicate when the food will be at its peak quality and flavor, but they are not an exact science, and consumers should know of potential inconsistencies when evaluating whether to eat or throw away a particular food.. But that doesnt mean you can eat all expired yogurt youve still got to do your due diligence. Avoid Wasting Food You may feel tempted to throw away food after it passes its expiration date. What is the equivalent of baking soda in the UK? Don't let uneaten food linger on the counter for more than 2 hours. When chips have gone bad, they lose their crisp crunch (which to some people that might not make them bad, but since they have little nutritional value anyways it seems a shame to take away their most enjoyable attribute). The best way is to smell and look at the potato chips: if potato chips develop an off odor, flavor or appearance, or if mold appears, they should be discarded. But remember that potato chips, like a lot of other snacks, usually have a sell by date and not a use by date. Maybe my chips will go stale someday, but Im still waiting. Then, fold the top half of the bag around the . The best way is to smell and look at the potato chips: if potato chips develop an off odor, flavor or appearance, or if mold appears, they should be discarded. Doritos are very popular snack food for people of all ages. If you see any mold on the chips, its best to throw them out. Properly stored, an unopened package of potato chips will generally stay at best quality for about 2 to 3 months after the date on the package. "The best way to store granola bars is in a large airtight glass jar, in a cool, dry place or in its original wrapping," Patel said. Required fields are marked *. Air fry them at 200F for 20 minutes. In severe cases, the chips may start to smell like vinegar or ammonia. Avoid keeping foods like nuts, chocolate, and granola bars near sources of light and heat. We're not here to hate on the chip clip, but there's a better way out there to store your chips and it's about time you put it into practice. Another reason not to double dip is because its simply not polite. Simply remove as much air as possible before placing the top of the chip bag into the Foodsaver, and then press "seal". Expired chips are chips that have gone passed their expiration date. This foldover buys you another 24 hours, extending the life of your chips to about three days. Because of this distinction, you may safely use potato chips even after the best before date has lapsed. There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired! He had a sister, Catherine "Kate" Speck. If they are in an open bag, theyll be alright until you decide the texture is too much to handle, but if the bag is sealed, it can still be good months later. Keep them away from other strong-smelling foods, and consume them within 2-3 weeks of opening the bag. This is why its important to always wash your hands and keep food clean and sealed when youre not eating it. Properly stored, an opened package of potato chips will generally stay at best quality for about 1 to 2 weeks at room temperature. In general, it is best to avoid eating potato chips that have been stored for too long or that show any of the signs of spoilage mentioned above. Old chocolate may grow white spots called bloom where the sugar has crystallised but its perfectly safe to eat. This is because the fats in the chips have started to break down. However, there has been no confirmation from the company itself. If you know for sure that you're going to be snacking on them again in a matter of mere hours, then sure, the pantry is fine.