169347 416 Food & Drink Food Preparation and Safety true Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:08:15 -0700 /system/videos/3/47/93/16/169347.flv understanding, choosing, picking, gorceries, shopping, grocery, store, buying, safety, expired How To Understand Food Expiration Dates At the Grocery Store http://www.howcast.com/videos/169347-How-To-Understand-Food-Expiration-Dates-At-the-Grocery-Store http://www.howcast.com/videos/169347-How-To-Understand-Food-Expiration-Dates-At-the-Grocery-Store/edit approved 148 640 360 <object width="425" height="273" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="howcastplayer"><param name="movie" value="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=169347"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=169347" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="273" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed></object> 19 thefactory http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/169347/food_expiration_dates_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg 2007 false false false 65149 1 21 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/169347/21.jpg Don’t be intimidated Don’t let expiration dates intimidate you. They are often suggestions that have more to do with quality than safety.

]]> 65150 2 27 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/169347/27.jpg Decipher the labels Decipher the labels: Foods marked “sell by” remain good for several days past that date. “Use by” indicates the date the item will begin to lose freshness. Normally, food remains safe to eat a few days past then; it just might not taste as good. “Best if used by” is exactly what it says.

]]> 65151 3 44 Tip Use your nose, and your brain. If food looks, smells, or tastes funny, throw it out.

]]> 65152 4 51 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/169347/51.jpg Milk it You can generally drink milk for several days after the date on the carton, and eat yogurt for a couple of weeks past the stamped date. Just be sure to keep dairy products refrigerated; if left at room temperature for even a few hours, they’ll spoil faster.

]]> 65153 5 64 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/169347/64.jpg Enjoy eggs for a month Enjoy eggs up to five weeks past the stamped date. To maintain their freshness, leave them in their carton inside the fridge instead of placing them on the refrigerator door, where they will warm up every time you open it.

]]> 65154 6 77 Tip Test an egg by putting it, whole, into a glass of water. A fresh egg will sink and lie flat on its side; a bad egg will float and stay upright.

]]> 65155 7 86 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/169347/86.jpg Keep those cans Theoretically, canned goods stay good forever, as long as the seal hasn’t been broken. And, contrary to popular belief, the food in slightly dented cans is fine, as long as the can is not bulging, leaking, or rusting.

]]> 65156 8 98 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/169347/98.jpg Consume in a timely manner The USDA recommends that you cook or freeze meat, poultry, and fish within two days of purchase, no matter what the date on the package says.

]]> 65157 9 107 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/169347/107.jpg Know a food’s freezer life Know a food’s freezer life. Beef, lamb, veal, pork, and poultry are good for one year after freezing, but ground meat should be eaten within four months. Lean fishes like cod and flounder last six months, but fatty fishes like salmon should be cooked within three months. Lunch meats have a freezer life of two months.

]]> 65158 10 126 Tip Because freezing allows food to keep almost indefinitely, the recommended storage times are for quality only.

]]> 65159 11 133 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/169347/133.jpg Call the company If you have questions about a food’s expiration date, call the manufacturer. The number usually can be found on the product’s packaging.

]]> 65160 12 138 Fact Under federal law manufacturers are not required to stamp their foods with expiration dates.

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2009 04:47:06 -0800 14 Seaworthy ]]> 134 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/06/87/14/148706.flv making, coke, pop, carbonated, pepsi, beverages, Coca-Cola, coca, cola, homemade Food & Drink Coffee, Tea and Other Drinks General Beverages 8 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/148706/make_soda_hd2_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/148706-How-To-Make-Your-Own-Soda 362 111 How To Make a Piña Colada HowcastGuide 4454 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:22:28 -0800 11 Tamara ]]> 118 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/11/01/111.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, piña, colada, coconut, alcohol, liquor, mixed, drink, cocktail Food & Drink Bartending Guides Blender Drinks 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/111/Food.How_to_Make_a_Pina_Colada_SD_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/111-How-To-Make-a-Pia-Colada 362 121 How To Make Electric Lemonade HowcastGuide 5343 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:23:48 -0800 10 Tamara ]]> 95 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/21/01/121.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, electric, lemonade, alcohol, liquor, mixed, drink, cocktail Food & Drink Bartending Guides Blender Drinks 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/121/Food.How_to_Make_an_Electric_Lemonade_SD_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/121-How-To-Make-Electric-Lemonade 362 381 How To Make a Frozen Margarita HowcastGuide 7671 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:46:54 -0800 14 Tamara ]]> 128 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/81/03/381.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, drink, drinking, alcohol, beverage, liquor, liqueur, spirits, mixed, cocktail, Mexican, margarita, frozen Food & Drink Bartending Guides Blender Drinks 3 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/381/Food.How_to_Make_a_Frozen_Margarita_SD_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/381-How-To-Make-a-Frozen-Margarita 362 406 How To Make a Frozen Fruit Daiquiri HowcastGuide 4103 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:03:28 -0800 10 Tamara ]]> 117 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/06/04/406.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, drink, drinking, alcohol, beverage, liquor, liqueur, spirits, mixed, cocktail, daiquiri, fruit, frozen, beach, pool, blend, blender, ice Food & Drink Bartending Guides Blender Drinks 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/406/Food.How_to_Make_a_Frozen_Fruit_Daiquiri_SD_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/406-How-To-Make-a-Frozen-Fruit-Daiquiri 363 90 How To Make a Dirty Martini HowcastGuide 7567 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:20:03 -0800 13 Tamara ]]> 108 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/90/90.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, drink, drinking, alcohol, beverage, liquor, liqueur, spirits, mixed, cocktail Food & Drink Bartending Guides Mixed Drinks 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/90/Food.How_to_Make_a_Dirty_Martini_SD_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/90-How-To-Make-a-Dirty-Martini 363 94 How To Make a Cuba Libre HowcastGuide 4916 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:20:32 -0800 4 Tamara ]]> 83 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/94/94.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, alcohol, liquor, mixed, drink, cocktail, make, mix, cuba, libre, rum, coke, cola Food & Drink Bartending Guides Mixed Drinks 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/94/Food.How_to_Make_a_Cuba_Libre_SD_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/94-How-To-Make-a-Cuba-Libre 363 97 How To Make a Whiskey Sour HowcastGuide 5966 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:21:04 -0800 4 Tamara ]]> 98 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/97/97.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, whiskey, sour, alcohol, liquor, mixed, drink, cocktail Food & Drink Bartending Guides Mixed Drinks 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/97/Food.How_to_Make_a_Whiskey_Sour_SD_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/97-How-To-Make-a-Whiskey-Sour 363 98 How To Make a Mojito HowcastGuide 32492 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:21:09 -0800 14 Tamara ]]> 103 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/98/98.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, mojito, mint, alcohol, liquor, mixed, drink, cocktail Food & Drink Bartending Guides Mixed Drinks 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/98/Food.How_to_Make_a_Mojito_SD_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/98-How-To-Make-a-Mojito 363 100 How To Make a B-52 HowcastGuide 4643 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:21:20 -0800 6 Tamara ]]> 84 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/00/01/100.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, alcohol, liquor, mixed, drink, cocktail, B52, 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Skills, Learn to, tequila, sunrise, alcohol, liquor, mixed, drink, cocktail Food & Drink Bartending Guides Mixed Drinks 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/104/Food.How_to_Make_a_Tequila_Sunrise_SD_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/104-How-To-Make-a-Tequila-Sunrise