Can you eat expired cheerios

When you're hungry or low on cash, a trip to your storage room may yield a box of expired cereal, can you eat expired cheerios. Before you crack open the box and dig in, ensure that you're willing to eat old cereal. While safety-wise it should be fine, it may not have the best taste or texture and also could have lost some nutritional value. Carefully rotating your food storage can help prevent your cereal from going past its expiration date before you have a chance to dig in.

Like many canned goods, certain cereals have long shelf lives but it's not always clear how long is OK. So, is that box still safe to eat? In , Malt-O-Meal voluntarily recalled its puffed wheat and puffed rice cereals after detecting a strain of salmonella responsible for making at least 23 people in 14 states sick. Salmonella is usually associated with wet foods like eggs, chicken and undercooked meat. But, according to experts, the salmonella bacteria also thrives in dry, heavily processed foods.

Can you eat expired cheerios

In a pinch, you may want to reach for the long-forgotten, unopened box of cereal at the back of your pantry. But how old is too old when it comes to the beloved breakfast staple? According to the U. Department of Agriculture USDA , "most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely" — long past the date on the package. However, that doesn't mean the cereal will still taste as great as the day you bought it. The likelihood of spoilage also depends on the type of cereal in question. These higher-fat cereals typically include varieties that contain nuts, oils, or whole grains. As time goes on, cereals, especially fortified ones, are also prone to losing some of their nutritional value, as reported by Livestrong. While these cereals may not provide the optimal breakfast experience , they will still be "technically safe to eat," said the website. Most sources agree: An unopened box of cereal will last far longer than its best-by date. But if that's the case, what purpose do best-by dates serve?

Screenshot loading

Is it okay to eat expired cereal? Or maybe your cereal is still within date but smells kind of weird. Cereals last for months past the dates on their labels, but not all are created equal. The more ingredients prone to quality loss, such as whole wheat flour or nuts, the shorter the cereal will retain quality. Plain cereals keep quality the longest. It all depends on the ingredients.

Cheerios are definitely a pantry staple if you have small children. They are a great starter food for toddlers and also a great snack for older kids. We regularly eat them plain, with milk, and we even make a trail mix with them for school snacks. We recently came across a box of cheerios that must have been hidden for a while in the pantry because this box expired a while ago. Cheerios cereal just like other cereals can go bad over time. Ideally, Cheerios should be stored in the original packaging and then placed in a cabinet or pantry. The big things we want to avoid is moisture, heat, and direct sunlight.

Can you eat expired cheerios

How Long Does Cereal Last? The shelf life of cereal depends on a variety of factors, such as the best before date , the preparation method and how and where the product is stored. Because of its relatively low cost, ease of use and high calorie density, cereal is one of the most popular grains around when looking for a quick breakfast or a late night snack. Cereal can be processed from almost any type of grain, and everyone has their favorite cereal - the topic can open a great debate! So, how long does cereal last?

How to make a straight line in paint tool sai

While old cereal is technically safe to eat, you take a risk in eating cereal that may taste strange or is softer or more limp than before the expiration date. Think twice before you dig in. Screenshot loading The fats can also oxidize when exposed to heat, light and air which causes the rancidity. Beware Insect Infestation. As you probably know, fats go rancid after being exposed to air, heat, and light for an extended period. By Katie Jackson. Nuts and oils, which are even heavier in fat, can also make a cereal spoil faster. Food Safety and Expired Cereal. If everything about your cereal up to this point seems fine, eat some dry to assess the taste. The more ingredients prone to quality loss, such as whole wheat flour or nuts, the shorter the cereal will retain quality. IE 11 is not supported.

When you're hungry or low on cash, a trip to your storage room may yield a box of expired cereal.

If you leave a box of cereal on the shelf for a long period of time before trying to eat it, you may be greeted by a host of pests. If the cereal becomes exposed to moisture of any kind, it's best to throw it away. Per the " Today " show, cereal should be kept in a place that "minimizes exposure to air, heat and light," such as a "dry, closed pantry. In , Malt-O-Meal voluntarily recalled its puffed wheat and puffed rice cereals after detecting a strain of salmonella responsible for making at least 23 people in 14 states sick. The first thing you may notice when you open a box of old cereal is that it may not have the same taste and texture as usual. This confusion prompts consumers to throw away items earlier than necessary and leads to significant food waste. What about best-by dates? Consuming cereals after the 'Best if Used By' date does not pose a food safety risk. In a pinch, you may want to reach for the long-forgotten, unopened box of cereal at the back of your pantry. Follow today. But, according to experts, the salmonella bacteria also thrives in dry, heavily processed foods. Cereal bag sealed with a sealing clip.