How Dangerous Is an Expired Salad Dressing?
For some reason, people of a certain age like to collect bottles of expired salad dressing . In fact, the recently expired bottle of Merchant Joe’s Green Goddess dressing in my own fridge is just further damning proof that I’m slowly transforming into my grandmother, one item at a time (the package of cheap Bologna only confirms this).
But what about these expiration dates? Do they really mean something, or are they just part of a scheme to get us to buy more salad dressing? To answer these burning questions, I contacted Dr. Donald Schaffner , a food scientist and distinguished professor at Rutgers University.
The first thing I wanted to know was how serious the dates printed on the label are. “I think you are correct that in most cases the numbers are probably conservative,” Dr. Schaffner said via email. “Remember, the food company wants you to have a positive experience with their products, so they might err on the side of good quality.”
Fortunately, quality is something you can try. If you find a bottle of expired dressing in your parents’ refrigerator (or even your own), you can use your senses to make sure the dressing doesn’t smell rancid and throw away anything that doesn’t look like a salad dressing you. know and love. “Because salad dressings are often high in fat, they tend to oxidize,” Schaffner explained. “Keep in mind that it might not just smell rancid, but it might also be another unpleasant odor. I still remember trying an outdated salad dressing one day and swearing I was trying cardboard. It turns out that “cardboard” is the official descriptor for some of the flavors. “
But that’s a taste. Luckily, when it comes to bacterial growth, the recipe is on our side. “Most salad dressings are designed to resist the growth of pathogens,” Schaffner explained, “and actually kill any organisms that are present all the time. It is also highly unlikely that someone could infect their own clothes. ” However, it’s still best to throw away any clothing that looks a little … fuzzy. Schaffner confirmed that “mold is quite possible. Mold is generally healthier than bacteria. Certain molds can release toxins, so it is always a good idea to throw away foods that have mold. With salad dressing, there is no safe way to remove the moldy part and leave the rest as if you found a small spot of mold on a piece of bread. “
Expired unopened bottles can still be consumed, but there is no way to specify a time frame that applies to each brand of refueling. “Since all products are different, it is impossible to specify a specific time,” Schaffner said. “Again, the manufacturer will be the most trusted source of information as it has probably done extensive research on the shelf life of its product to ensure that their customers are getting the best quality. It will also depend on how the product was sold. For example: Was it on a shelf in the sunlight where it could warm up, or was it stored in a cool, dark basement? Lower temperatures and less light mean better quality retention. ”
The best way to know for sure? Give it a sniff and taste. “If it’s not open and it’s past its expiration date, I would try a little taste,” Schaffner said. “If the taste is good, then you can go! Due to the way these products are handled and formulated, I think it is unlikely that you will find any mold when you open it. But depending on how much time has passed and how it is handled, it may taste oxidized or otherwise ‘not quite’. ” So the next time you’re at your parents’ house, grab a lot of them with a patchwork bandage for a little taste. -testing. You can find very good raspberry vinaigrette there; you can find some cardboard flavored ranches. The process will not be pleasant, but at least you will be able to correctly identify which of them has an “unpleasant smell”.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.