10 Foods You Can Eat Past the Expiration Date — Some May Surprise You

You don't need to throw away eggs if they are still in their shells once the expiration date hits. In fact, eggs last for three to five weeks from when you bring them home from the shops, Moon says. However, be sure that the eggs are refrigerated right away or else they could spoil, and then it won't be safe to eat them at all. You can always sniff them once opened, too. If they smell weird, nix them.

You might love miso for a sauce or glaze on meat, fish, sushi, or a quick weeknight Asian stir-fry, and we don't blame you. However, miso does actually have an expiration date, so first off, be sure to check it, and secondly, note that you can extend it a bit longer, Moon says. Miso lasts for a year, if it's refrigerated right away.

Keep in mind: frozen. Fresh berries will likely spoil or get mouldy, even in the fridge, and that you can just see with your eyes. There's no expiration date, exactly. However, frozen berries do have one. Frozen berries will last for about four to six months, Moon says, as long as you put them in the freezer upon purchasing. Don't let the bag just sit out.

You can enjoy your hummus and pita bread a bit longer than it says, Moon says. If it's commercial hummus with preservatives and it's pasteurised, you can leave it in the fridge, if unopened, for three months, However, if it's opened, it'll only last a week in the fridge, she says.

Butter tastes great on just about anything: bread, vegetables, pasta, burgers, you name it. Clearly, you don't want to waste it. You can keep butter one to two days if out at room temperate, as the oils can spoil, or one to two months beyond a sell-by date if refrigerated. Plus, take note: salted butter will keep for longer, as the salt acts as a preservative, so for salted, it could be three or four months if left in the fridge.

Raw ground meat is perfect for making pasta with meat sauce and burger patties, but it doesn't last too long past sell-by, Moon says. It'll stay fresh for one to two days beyond the expiration date when refrigerated, so no need to worry. Anything after that could be hazardous, though.

Nonground meat, like steak, chicken, or turkey, will last about two extra days if raw and in the fridge. However, there's more wiggle room with cooked meat, which can go three to five days past its expiration if in the fridge, so definitely don't fret if it takes you a few days to eat your leftovers. Still, "regardless of the date on a food, if it shows signs of spoilage (off odour, flavour, or texture), toss it," Moon said.

As long as fish has been cooked, you can tack on a few extra days in the fridge. You can add another three or four days before digging into your almond-crusted salmon filet, so don't get too anxious if you can't eat it right away. However, raw fish will only last one to two days in the fridge beyond expiration, so be mindful of the difference, and always look for signs of spoilage, such as an off smell.

You can extend the life of cheese, however, it'll differ based on cheese type and texture. For instance, hard cheeses will be three to four weeks after opening and refrigerated or six months unopened and refrigerated, beyond expiration. Yet a soft cheese, like brie, might only last one to two weeks beyond if refrigerated. If you're still concerned, ask someone in the cheese department at your store.

Don't throw out your Greek yoghurt just yet and let those probiotics go to waste. It'll last one to two weeks past its sell-by date if refrigerated. Yet if it's been sitting out on the counter, it could spoil, so be sure to put it in the fridge ASAP upon bringing it back home from the shops, Moon says.