We get it -- modern foodies lead busy lives. Maybe you were able to enjoy a rare, languid movie night last weekend, binge-watching your favorite flicks and snacking on your favorite potato chips. But, now that the weekend is rolling around again (and that half-empty chip bag is still in your pantry), you might be wondering, are these still alright to eat? The short answer is "yes." But, there are a few factors to be aware of before you dig into a bag of expired chips.
A bag of commercially packaged, opened potato chips tends to maintain its quality for one to two weeks at room temperature.Many bags of chips are printed with a "sell by" date rather than a "use by" date. Sealed, a bag of chips can remain fresh for two or three weeks past the printed "sell by" expiration date.
Technically, even potato chips have the potential to carry Salmonella, but, in general, chips "expire" not by spoiling but by going stale. Chips get stale over timebecause the starch molecules in the potatoes begin to crystallize in the presence of water, which can be absorbed from the air or from the gluten molecules within the potatoes. The network of molecules in the potatoes changes as the starch molecules crystallize, and the result is a less snappy chip. In short, eating stale chips won't make you sick or pose any serious health risks, but it's kind of a drag.
Stale Chips Will Hurt Your Spirit More Than Your Stomach
To get the most out of your chips, keep them in a cool, dry space like a kitchen cabinet or pantry.If you've been storing your expired chips in a warm, damp environment (like above the oven, or potentially on top of the fridge), mold development isn't out of the question. Inspect those salty beauties thoroughly before diving in, checking out the odor, appearance, and flavor.
To keep 'em fresher longer, invest in a quality chip clip. The three-inch-wide stainless steel chip clips from House Again cover a larger surface area and impart a heavy-duty seal -- more effective than pinching the middle shut with a clothespin, or simply rolling the top of the bag up. For an even more thorough seal, GripStic creates a tight closure by sliding across the entire width of the bag. You can also seal chips with the bag itself using this nifty folding trick.
The presence of heat helps reverse starch molecule crystallization. You can easily revive stale chips by popping them in the oven for a few minutes to crisp up. But, if your salty snack is past saving, eliminate food waste and breathe new life into your expired chips. Crush them up and use them as a flavorful crunchy topping for baked mac and cheese or tuna noodle casserole. Or, for a double-potato hit, incorporate them into Cheesy Funeral Potatoes (there's an "expired" joke to be made somewhere in there).
The network of molecules in the potatoes changes as the starch molecules crystallize, and the result is a less snappy chip. In short, eating stale chips won't make you sick or pose any serious health risks, but it's kind of a drag.
It's perfectly safe to eat food after the Best Before date although depending on how long after the Best Before date you leave it you may experience a reduction in quality. In the case of crisps they may go stale. Don't confuse “Best Before” dates with “Use By” dates though.
Nitrogen gas is piped into the chip bag before packaging.The gas displaces oxygen from the bag, which is then filled with chips and sealed. Without this step, chips would have a much shorter shelf life.
Snack foods contain preservatives in order to maintain shelf life. Different types of snacks have varying expiration dates: Potato chips will last one month after expiration date. Crackers and pretzels can last up to three months. One of the longest lasting snacks is popcorn, which has a shelf life of one to two years.
Eating popcorn that is two years past its expiration date is not recommended. Popcorn, like any food, can degrade in quality over time, and its taste and texture may be compromised. While it's unlikely to be harmful if properly stored, it may not be a pleasant snacking experience.
Potato chips bags are filled with Nitrogen ($N_2$) gas. They are not filled with air because the oxygen in the air reacts with the contents of the chips (oxidation), which leads to the spoilage of the eatables. The eatables become rancid and start smelling.
Fats or oils (also generally called fats) are added to foods, like crackers, cookies, and cakes, to improve the taste and feel (texture) of foods. Foods become rancid when there is a chemical change to the fats in the food.
The moment a potato chip bag is opened it is exposed to air, light, and moisture, and this causes the contents to start to lose their flavor and texture. The freezer will prevent this process. And don't worry: Chip bags placed in the freezer won't totally freeze — they will simply get really cold.
If the chips were not opened, they will last just about indefinitely. They may taste a bit stale after several months of sitting around. but they will still be safe to eat. If they have been opened, it will depend on how much moisture got into the package and how much time has passed.
Dark chocolate, with its higher cacao content, can be good to eat for as long as three years past the best before. Due to their high milk contents, milk and white chocolates might not last as long as dark, but their longevity is still nothing to sniff at — you can expect to get another 8 months or so out of it.
Once opened, we recommend tightly closing the package and consuming the remaining product within about a week to 10 days. Beyond the freshness date and after opening, snacks will start to lose their crispness and optimal freshness. Did this answer your question?
Introduction: My name is Errol Quitzon, I am a fair, cute, fancy, clean, attractive, sparkling, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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