The life span of your stockpile might not only depend on expiration dates, but also on the conditions you store it in: light, humidity, temperature, etc. Even expiration dates might not be all that reliable (see the video below for more). The bottom line is that if you can't definitively answer the 3 questions below, just throw out the food. Better to be safe than sorry here!
What Does it Smell Like?
If it smells rancid or sour, you might as well throw it away.
The smell test only works for some foods (such as milk, meats and cooking oils). Just keep in mind that not all bacteria smell bad.
What Does it Look Like?
Look for discoloration or mold forming anywhere on the surface.
Yeast and molds are more likely to form on fruits, veggies and other acidic foods.
Bread, cheese, fruit and vegetables all can be affected by mold, which could look like grey fur, white dots or a white dust. Keep in mind that the mold also gets inside the food.
You should also be on the lookout for yeast. It can develop on high acidic foods or foods high in sugars.
You should be extra careful with canned food. If the lid is dented, bulged, cracked or if there are bubbles around it, you should immediately throw away the can. It’s most likely infected with a toxin called botulism.
Plus, in the case of store-bought canned food, always check the expiration date. I would strongly recommend you eat and replace them after a year.
What Does it Taste Like?
If they’re infected with bacteria, the danger is greater, so taste-tasting is a bad idea.
Of course, just because food tastes bad, it doesn’t mean it’ll make you sick – at least, not according to the director of the Center for Food Safety from the University of Georgia in Griffin, Ga., quoted by ABC News — but you probably don’t want to take that chance. As the article suggests, one way to ensure proper food storage in your fridge is to keep it a 40 degrees Fahrenheit and, of course, to eat it in a timely manner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPaPOqs78lU
What guidelines do you use when determining when food has gone bad?
Article Source: Off The Grid News. Video Source: Healthy Prepper.
