Bread so hard it'll break your teeth and yogurt that smells like primordial ooze! How long can some foods last in the fridge before they start resembling a science experiment gone wrong?
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:00Bread so hard it'll break your teeth, and yogurt that smells like primordial ooze?
00:06How long can some foods last in the fridge before they start resembling a science experiment gone
00:10wrong? What's a good breakfast without bacon? This breakfast meat is one of the most popular
00:16choices for American eaters, but it's also equally loved by pathogens like salmonella.
00:23Uncooked, opened bacon should last between seven and ten days in the fridge if it is properly
00:29stored in an airtight container. If you purchase bulk packs of bacon, you can freeze each in its
00:35original packaging and a layer of foil, plastic wrap, or a plastic container. Unopened bacon can
00:42last up to two weeks in the fridge, but up to two months in the freezer. To determine if your
00:47bacon has indeed spoiled, check the smell and the color first. Fresh bacon should be a white or pink
00:53color, while spoiled bacon will appear a dismal shade of gray or brown. Spoiled bacon will also
01:00emit a foul, unmistakable odor.
01:03No, I want my bacon. I gotta tell you something. Bacon is good for me."
01:09No matter what kind of bread you've got, putting it in the fridge is always a bad idea.
01:14This is because the cool temperature causes the starches in the bread to crystallize
01:19and become hard. When you bite into a slice of bread that has been refrigerated,
01:23you'll notice the texture is stale. According to MasterClass, the best way to prevent your
01:29bread products from staleness and molding is to put the product in a well-ventilated wrapping,
01:34like paper or cloth, to discourage mold growth. If you're making French toast or bread pudding
01:40and stale bread is permissible, you can leave loaves of bread in the fridge for up to two weeks,
01:46per the USDA. Bread products left on the countertop typically last at room temperature
01:51for up to four days. Freezing bread products is another option as well.
01:56Slice the bread into individual pieces and store it in small bags in the freezer.
02:01This will make the bread easier to cut when you want to eat a slice for breakfast.
02:05There's no good bagel without a slathering of cream cheese. This soft cheese contains
02:10a high moisture content, so refrigeration is imperative to keeping the cheese safe
02:15for consumption. Cream cheese can last a few weeks in the refrigerator,
02:20past its sell-by date, but it is first important to inspect the cheese before eating it.
02:24Spoiled cream cheese will appear yellow in color, and may even have tiny mold flecks spread
02:30throughout. You should also throw out your cream cheese if you notice pockets of moisture
02:34pooling adjacent to dry spots. Unopened cream cheese typically lasts a month past its purchase
02:40date, while opened cream cheese should be consumed within 10 days. You can also freeze
02:45cream cheese to extend its shelf life. This soft cheese can last up to two months in the freezer.
02:52If you're one to top your toast with a layer of jelly, you'll be happy to know that this
02:56condiment is fridge-friendly. According to the National Center for Home Food Preservation,
03:01full-sugar cooked jellies made with pectin should last about a month in the fridge after opening.
03:07This shelf life may be shortened if the container is left out at room temperature
03:11for long periods. To extend the shelf life as long as possible, try to scoop out the jam
03:16or jelly you plan to use and return the jar to the fridge immediately. Low-sugar jams and
03:22jellies will have a shorter shelf life. Jams stored in the freezer are only good for three
03:26to four weeks in the refrigerator. Be wary of liquids seeping from the jams and jellies,
03:32as well as yeasty aromas that may signify a spoiled spread.
03:37Yogurt is a delicious probiotic treat. This fermented milk product is filled with beneficial
03:42bacteria, protein, and healthy fats. Yogurt can cut diabetes risk by almost 20 percent.
03:49Plus, you'll be happy to know that yogurt has a relatively long shelf life in your refrigerator.
03:54Unopened yogurt can last between two to three weeks after opening in the refrigerator or up
03:59to two months in the freezer. Greek yogurt, which contains a slightly different blend of bacteria
04:05than traditional yogurt, lasts up to two weeks in the fridge and less than a month in the freezer.
04:11There are some important signs to note that signify your yogurt has gone bad.
04:15Spoiled yogurt emits a pungent, acidic odor and potentially bloats the yogurt container.
04:21You may also see a cloudy layer forming on top of the yogurt. A thin, almost translucent layer
04:27of liquid is normal. This is just the way, but cloudy yogurt can signify bacteria that
04:34will make you sick. Orange juice is a must-have for breakfasts and brunch alike. Although you
04:40might be tempted to leave orange juice out for your guests to enjoy, that might not be the best
04:44idea. Leaving perishable foods like orange juice out for more than two hours or less than an hour
04:50at 90 degrees Fahrenheit can prompt the spread of pathogens like E. coli. Lactic acid bacteria
04:56can start fermenting the juice over time as well, thus altering the flavor of the juice.
05:02Pasteurized, store-bought orange juice can withstand more time out of the fridge than
05:06fresh-squeezed orange juice. Fresh orange juice lasts two to three days in the fridge,
05:12according to Chew the World. In comparison, pasteurized orange juice can last up to seven
05:17days in the fridge after it's opened. If the orange juice is unopened, it can last up to
05:22five days past the best-by date on the carton. If you're baking muffins in bulk, it may be more
05:28beneficial to pop the muffins in your refrigerator until you're ready to eat one.
05:33Savory muffins typically last about six days in the refrigerator.
05:37Ingredients like cheese and meat may cause the muffins to spoil if you forgo refrigeration.
05:43Sweet muffins, such as blueberry and chocolate chip muffins,
05:46should be kept away from the refrigerator to preserve the soft, crumbly texture.
05:50To store your muffins in the fridge, first line the container with a layer of paper towel.
05:55This will absorb the moisture from the muffins and keep each one super fresh.
06:00After the muffins are in the container, add another layer of paper towel on top
06:04to absorb the remainder of the moisture. You can freeze the muffins for up to three
06:09months in a resealable bag and reheat individual muffins when you feel the craving hit.
06:14You'll also want to be sure to cool your freshly baked muffins before storing them.
06:18This prevents moisture from building up in the container and further damages the muffins' texture.
06:24Maple syrup is a must-have for pancakes and waffles,
06:27but the better question is, where should you store it?
06:31I love syrup. Oh, I love it.
06:37Maple syrup should be stored in the refrigerator to slow the growth of mold and bacteria for up
06:42to six months. If you plan to leave your maple syrup in the fridge for more than three months,
06:47we recommend transferring the syrup to a glass or tin container.
06:51This is because the plastic breathes and can make the syrup susceptible to pathogen takeover.
06:56Once transferred to another container, the maple syrup should last about a year.
07:01As with all food products, monitor for changes in the taste, texture, and smell of the syrup over
07:07time. Tortillas are versatile and essential for breakfast wraps, so it is important to
07:14always have a few fresh ones on hand. Tortillas don't have to go in the fridge. Mass-produced
07:19wheat tortillas can last between 16 and 45 days either at room temperature or in the fridge.
07:25There are some caveats to this, though. Tortillas should be kept in an airtight bag to maintain
07:31maximum freshness. If you don't plan on using tortillas for a while, you can always pop these
07:36flat breads in the freezer and take them out as needed. Unlike flour tortillas, corn tortillas do
07:42not stay fresh for as long. Corn tortillas last about 10 days at room temperature or up to eight
07:48weeks in the fridge. No savory breakfast is complete without a bit of heat. Not all hot
07:54sauces require refrigeration because pepper, vinegar, and salt make the contents unfavorable
08:00to pathogens. But homemade hot sauces or those made with a dairy, egg, or mayonnaise base must
08:06be refrigerated to prevent foodborne illnesses. Adding hot sauce to a refrigerator, even if it's
08:12not absolutely necessary, can prolong the shelf life. The average hot sauce lasts anywhere from
08:18two to five years. The refrigeration can also maintain the color of the hot sauce and brighten
08:23the flavor a little bit. In short, don't kick yourself if you leave the hot sauce out overnight,
08:28but try to keep it someplace cool, like the fridge, so you can enjoy some spice for as long
08:34as you can. Unlike dry cheese, shredded cheese must be refrigerated because of its high moisture
08:40content. The Food Network recommends storing any type of fridge cheese, especially stinky cheese,
08:47in the crisper drawer of the fridge. The humidity in this drawer is contained and
08:51will keep your cheese tasting fresh for longer. When placing your cheese back in the fridge,
08:56always make sure to press the air out of the bag to keep your cheese moist. Healthline suggests
09:02eating shredded cheese within five to seven days of opening the bag.
09:06You were eating the cheese, weren't you, out of the rat traps?
09:08No, well, yes. I mean, I was eating the old cheese to test it, see why the rats weren't eating it.
09:13While you can freeze cheddar shreds for up to two months,
09:16freezing will dramatically change the texture and flavor of the product. Only freeze cheese
09:21if you absolutely have to, or if you plan on making a dish where the texture of the
09:26cheese isn't too important. Chocolate milk is a childhood favorite. After opening,
09:32this beverage will last up to a week after its sell-by date printed on the package.
09:36Since chocolate milk contains dairy, it should always remain refrigerated.
09:40Always store chocolate milk in its original package and away from the doors of the fridge
09:45to prevent contamination and preserve the integrity of the milk.
09:49Like other dairy products, chocolate milk should only be frozen with caution.
09:53Although chocolate milk can last a few months in the freezer, it will have a grainy texture
09:58once it is thawed. If you plan on using chocolate milk for baking or milkshakes,
10:03freezing the milk may be an acceptable option.
10:06Otherwise, we recommend buying a fresh carton when you need it.
10:10Grits are half of the classic Southern breakfast — shrimp and grits. But alas,
10:16grits do not survive well in the fridge. While uncooked grits can last up to five
10:21years in a pantry, cooked grits only last about one week in the fridge.
10:26Spoiled grits are easily identified by a rancid smell and color change,
10:31as well as potential mold spots forming on the surface.
10:35In the pantry, instant grits tend to last longer than stone-ground grits.
10:39If you choose to place your containers of grits in the fridge rather than a pantry,
10:43you'll find that instant grits last about two years,
10:47while stone-ground grits only last about a year after the printed date.
10:51Coffee creamer is an ingredient most folks have to have in their house at all times.
10:56Boat Basin Cafe notes that unopened dairy creamers last about two weeks
11:01past the expiration date in the fridge. If you open the flavorful coffee additive,
11:06most companies generally recommend consuming the creamer within a week.
11:10Dairy creamers need to be refrigerated because of potential pathogen transmission.
11:15If you're concerned with the shelf life of your refrigerated creamer,
11:18you can try using a powdered creamer made with fat and sugar. These powders do not
11:23require refrigeration and can last several months if stored in a dark, dry location.
11:29What's breakfast without the classic egg? Whether you like your eggs scrambled,
11:34over-easy, or fried, it's important to keep these eggs as fresh as possible.
11:39Whole eggs last about four to five weeks in the fridge. For best results,
11:43store your eggs in their original container and do not put them on your refrigerator door.
11:48The constant opening and closing of the fridge can prematurely spoil your eggs.
11:53Instead, leave the carton in a consistently cold location in your fridge. If the eggs
11:58are removed from the shelf, the shelf life decreases significantly. Egg yolks or beaten
12:04eggs should be consumed within two days, while egg whites are good for up to four days.