Have you ever grabbed a bag of potato chips from your cabinet and seen that they were past the expiration date? It’s very disappointing, especially when you are craving some of those delicious, salty snacks. However, don’t lose heart, because they may still be good. “How long after the expiration date are chips safe to eat?”
As I am writing up this post, I am at a local State park enjoying some sunshine. While Kylee and I are both working next to each other (on our blogs), I read her my introductory paragraph and she says, “What expiration date?!” “Chips don’t stay around our house long enough to expire!” I laughed and thought how true that we never have any stale chips!
However, I know that they can get stale, eventually, because my mom will clean out her cabinets and send her stale food to my house for my chickens to eat. Usually, I will look at the best-by date on her chips, because I know that they will be good for a long time after that expiry date.
Signs That Chips Have Gone Bad
Smell or sniff test – if you have an unopened bag of chips and they have a rancid odour then I would use a side of caution and toss them into the trash can
Appearance – if you see any signs of mold or bacteria growth then I would toss them into the trash can
Taste – if your expired chips have a good smell, in other words they smell like they should smell, and if they show no signs of mold then you can taste them. Stale potato chips taste like stale bread, lol, not perfect but still edible.
“How long after the expiration date are chips safe to eat?”
Some chips like tortilla chips might taste a little stale – “old chips”, but those kind of chips I’ll add to a casserole and so they will soften while cooking. They may not be the best quality, but they are still ok as long as they have no signs of spoilage or an off odor.
In the past, I have often purchased potato chips from my local grocery stores and then brought them home, open the chip bags and stored them in an airtight container. And, I have found that this is the best way to keep chips fresh for the longest time.
The good news is that there is a different in the sell-by date and the use-by date for unopened potato chips. A general rule is to not eat expired foods due to food poisoning and food safety.
How To Store Chips To Stop Them From Going Stale
After you purchase potato chips from the supermarket it is always a good idea to go ahead and take the unopened package of potato chips and place them into an airtight container, then place them into a cool place.
The BIG question is how long after the expiration date are chips safe to eat?
For peak quality and the best flavor of your potato chips, it is suggested to open your pack of chips and eat before the expiration date. However, potato chips will last a month after the expiration date and sometimes longer 2-3 months. The shelf life of potato chips is longer if they are not opened and kept in a sealed container, in a dry place and at room temperature.
What to eat with potato chips?
Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich
Is It Okay To Eat Chips That Taste Stale?
If there are no signs of mold, bacteria growth or a smell of rancid oil then you can use your own judgment. The possibility of stale chips making you sick is low, however eating expired food ALWAYS as the possibility to make you sick.
Are “Stale” And “Expired” The Same Thing?
No, potato chips can be expired, but yet still have a stale taste. Plus, the nutritional value doesn’t change with stale potato chips.
Is It Okay To Eat Chips Past The Expiry Date?
Yes, as long as they don’t have any of the above bad signs of smell, appearance or taste.
Potato chips with hard cheeses or soft cheeses will not last much longer than the expiration date. The rancid food will have a sure sign – rotten smell and this food product should not be eaten due to health risk.
Signs of food poisoning
- abdominal pain
- cramping
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
Food waste in the United States is rising every year. And, sometimes a food item may have a long shelf life and some shelf-stable foods may have a short period of time for the highest quality. But, with any perishable foods there are a variety of factors to consider, and the main one is to not eat any foods with an expired date. They have been tested and the expiration date has been added for our health and well being in mind.
