Stretch your dollar: Savvy tips for shopping and using expired food
Saving money on food begins with thoughtful shopping and skillfully using products past their expiration date. A few simple strategies can help you save significantly on your household budget.
Grocery shopping on a budget requires planning and a mindful approach. "Super Express" advises checking the contents of your cabinets and refrigerator carefully before heading to the store.
This way, you can avoid purchasing unnecessary products and focus on what you actually need.
High inflation may encourage the use of products past their expiration date. However, it's essential to pay attention to labels. The phrase "must be consumed by" indicates that the product must be eaten before the specified date, while "best before" suggests the product might lose quality but remains safe to consume after this date.
Some products, like flour, groats, rice, or pasta, can be consumed even a year after expiration if stored properly. The same applies to legumes, which maintain freshness for many years.
Proper storage is key to extending the shelf life of food.
Honey is a product that never spoils, even though there's an expiration date on the package. Other products, like coffee, tea, salt, or sugar, can be consumed past their expiration dates if stored well.
Transferring coffee to a vacuum-sealed container and storing it in the freezer can help maintain its flavor.
Eggs and ready-to-bake puff pastry can be consumed past their expiration dates, but caution is required. Eggs should be checked thoroughly before consumption, and puff pastry should only be used if it looks and smells normal. If not rancid, oil can also be used after its expiration date.
