expiration dates

Over the weekend, I went to make a dish that involved tarragon-infused olive oil. I had some in the cupboard, but couldn't remember the last time I used it. A quick glance at the date shocked me; it had expired in 2009! At that very moment, I decided to check the dates on the items in the cupboard. It was surprising how many oils and sauces had expired — all of the ones in the picture! It was also an eye-opener; several things, like pomegranate molasses and Sherry vinegar, said "refrigerate after opening," in small print I had never noticed before. Now, the next time I open an obscure bottle, I'm going to make note of the expiration date and be sure it doesn't require refrigeration.

When was the last time you cleaned out your pantry?

I've always wondered what exactly an expiration date means on a drug. Does it become less effective? Could it poison me? Obviously, there's a big difference in those two things, so I was glad to see this NPR story that sheds some light on drug expiration dates.

Just because a drug is past its expiration date doesn't necessarily mean you should toss it. Many states require drug labels to carry an expiration date just one year past the date of sale, but drug manufacturers often set dates two years later, based on testing.

The FDA's Ilisa Bernstein says there are no guarantees that drugs will be effective after the expiration date but that medications stored in a cool, dry place can last much longer. Does that mean we should focus on decoding drug names and drug interactions and not worry about the expiration dates?

If the drug is used to treat something commonplace, such as headaches or heartburn, you're probably safe using it past the date. But for medications your life depends on — particularly meds for severe allergic reactions such as EpiPens — you should not use them past the expiration date.

The other day, I was reaching for my bag of flour and accidentally knocked a tower of three cans of baking powder to the floor. Luckily, none of them opened or spilled, but when I was picking them up, I noticed something I'd never seen before — an expiration date. While I always think to check the expiration date on foods that expire quickly (like eggs and milk), I rarely remember to look at dry goods such as baking powder. I'm sharing this with you as a reminder: make sure you aren't using baking powder that's months old! It might effect the final outcome of your recipes.

Have you ever realized you were cooking with something that was totally expired? Share your stories below.

Whenever I look in the fridge and realize I have a carton full of eggs that are about to expire, I hard boil them. Hard boiled eggs are an easy snack that can last in the fridge for up to a week. They are also great in salads or sandwiches. After boiling the eggs, I do what my dad does and write the date on the shell. That way I'll know how old the hard boiled eggs are.

Do you enjoy hard boiled eggs? How do you record their age?