Does Pure Honey Ever Go Bad?
Question:
I have a bottle of pure liquid honey that’s starting to get thick and
sugary on the bottom. Does this mean it has gone bad and I need to
replace it?
Answer: No — your honey should be fine, provided you’ve been storing it properly.
From a safety standpoint, commercially produced pure honey has a practically indefinite shelf life, says the National Honey Board. It’s not unusual for honey to crystallize over time — but that doesn’t make it unsafe to use, adds the Honey Board.
That
said, prolonged storage can potentially take a toll on the taste and
appearance of honey. Besides crystallizing, your honey may also start to
darken, change aroma and lose flavor after a couple of years. So it’s a
good idea to check your honey from time to time, to see if it’s still
satisfactory for your tastes.
As
for honey that’s already crystallized, you can revive it by placing the
opened honey jar in warm water and stirring until the crystals
dissolve. Another option is to transfer
the honey into a microwave-safe container, with the lid off. Microwave
on medium-high power, stirring every 30 seconds, until the crystals
dissolve.
To help keep honey at its best, be sure to store it in a cool, dark area and keep it tightly capped after each use.
Are Eggs Still Safe After the Expiration Date?
Question: I have some eggs in the refrigerator that I’d like to use, but the date on the carton was a week ago. Are they still safe to eat?Answer: Yes, your eggs should be fine, provided you’ve been storing them properly.
As the American Egg Board notes, the dates you see on egg cartons are not food safety dates. They are most commonly used as a guide for stores to know how long they can sell the eggs.
Raw eggs will maintain their best quality for about 3 weeks after the "sell by", "use by", "best by", or "expiration" date on the carton, assuming continuous refrigeration.
Most cartons must also have a so-called Julian date stamped on the side, which indicates the date the eggs were packed. They will still be perfectly safe to use for at least 4 to 5 weeks after that date, provided they've been properly refrigerated and are not cracked or otherwise damaged. If you want to store your eggs for longer than five weeks, your best bet is to freeze them, following the instructions outlined here.
Do You Have to Wash Bagged Salad That's Been Prewashed?
Question: I always buy “prewashed” bagged salad because it’s so convenient. But do I still have to wash it to be on the safe side?Answer: No — as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration points out, you do not have to re-wash salads that are labeled as prewashed and ready-to-eat.
In fact, by re-washing a prewashed bagged salad, you might actually be doing more harm than good, says the FDA. That’s because you could contaminate the already-clean salad by further handling it — for instance, by forgetting to wash your hands before rinsing the salad or letting the salad come into contact with an unclean sink.
If you still feel the need to wash a prewashed salad, you should take care to avoid any cross contamination. That includes thoroughly washing your hands before rinsing the salad and cleaning any sinks, countertop and utensils that will come into contact with the salad before you wash it.
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