Blog: Every Bite Counts

As we transition from summer to fall and our eating patterns shift to our favourite fall foods, it’s a good time to take inventory of our pantry and freezer. Somewhere behind the cans and spice jars, you might spot a jar of cranberry sauce, a bag of dry lentils and some condensed milk that’s been there longer than you can remember. In the freezer, you might find a frozen pie crust and some frozen pumpkin puree that never quite made it to becoming a pie. 

With each item you may wonder: Is this still good?

We’re here to help! Here’s a list of common fall foods you might be wondering about along with tips on how to tell if it’s still safe to eat. But first, let’s review a little about Best Before Dates.

What Does “Best Before” Actually Mean?

In Canada, Best Before Dates tell you how long a product is expected to maintain its best quality, not when it becomes unsafe. Foods don’t automatically spoil after the Best Before Date. 

Two things that are effective at determining if food is still safe are the condition of the package and a sensory check (look and smell). If something looks weird or smells off, toss it. But if it looks and smells okay, it has been stored properly and the packaging shows no sign of damage, it is likely still safe to eat well beyond its best before date.

Common Fall Ingredients: Is This Still Good?

As you go through your pantry and freezer this fall, you may stumble upon some of these common fall ingredients. We used guidelines from Second Harvest’s Consumer Best Before Timetable to help identify what to look for and the potential shelf life of these foods.

Canned Cranberry Sauce, Canned Pumpkin or Pumpkin Pie Filling

• Shelf life: 1 year past Best Before Date.
• Still good? If the can isn’t bulging, leaking, dented at the seams, or rusty, open it up and inspect. If it smells and looks normal, go for it.
• Tip: Once opened, store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge and use within 5–7 days, or freeze.

Canned Beans (Chickpeas, Black Beans, Kidney Beans, etc.)

• Shelf life: 1 year past Best Before Date.
• Still good? If the can isn’t bulging, leaking, dented at the seams, or rusty, open it up and inspect. If it smells and looks normal, go for it.

Bags of Dried Beans

• Shelf life: Indefinite if stored cool, dry and well sealed, but best quality within 1–2 years.
• Still good? Yes — but they might take longer to cook and may not soften as well. If beans have been exposed to moisture, they may have a foul odour and show signs of mould – don’t use them.
• Tip: Add a pinch of baking soda to the cooking water for very old beans to help soften them.

Shortening

• Shelf life: Up to 2 years unopened from manufacture date; 12 months after opening (Crisco.com)
• Still good? Look and smell it. If there’s a change in colour and it smells rancid – a metallic, soapy or paint like smell – toss it.

Powdered Gravy Mix or Bouillon Cubes

• Shelf life: 1 year past Best Before Date.
• Still good? Usually yes. If they’ve gone hard or clumpy, it’s likely due to moisture. That affects quality, not safety. If there’s no mould or off smell, you can break it up and use it, just be aware that it may not dissolve completely so you may need to strain it.

Evaporated or Sweetened Condensed Milk

• Shelf life: 1year past Best Before Date.
• Still good? If the can isn’t bulging, dented at the seams, showing signs of leaking, or rusty, open it up and inspect. If it smells and looks normal and the contents are smooth and creamy (not curdled or yellowed), you’re good to go.

Packaged Stuffing Mix or Bread Crumbs

• Shelf life: 1 year past Best Before Date.
• Still good? If it’s dry and smells normal, it’s probably fine. Bread cubes or crumbs that are pre-seasoned and contain oil, may become rancid. Rancid food should be tossed.

Dried Herbs and Spices (Sage, Thyme, Cinnamon, Cloves)

• Shelf life: 1year past Best Before Date. 
• Still good? Yes, but flavour and potency will start to fade noticeably after 8-10 months. Rub a little between your fingers — if it smells strong, it’s still got life.
• Tip: Whole spices last longer than ground. Store them sealed and away from heat.

Frozen Pie Crust or Pastry

• Shelf life: 6–12 months for best quality.
• Still good? If there’s no major freezer burn and it still rolls or bakes well, it’s fine. If it crumbles or smells off, skip it.

Frozen Squash and Vegetables

• Shelf life: Best within 10–12 months, but safe as long as it remains frozen.
• Still good? Freezer burn and ice crystals (safe to eat, but not very appealing) will begin to impact flavour and texture. To mask these changes, use vegetables in soups, casseroles or other dishes where they are not the key feature.

Frozen Homemade Squash Soup

• Shelf life: Best within 3-6 months, but safe as long as it remains frozen.
• Still good? Freezer burn and ice crystals often set in sooner in homemade prepared and packaged foods. They don’t make food unsafe, just compromise flavour and texture. 

Best Before Dates are not good indicators of whether food is edible or not. Using your senses and awareness of how food was stored, and the condition of the package is much more reliable. It’s what our parents and grandparents did before Best Before Dates were introduced in the late 1970’s. The more familiar you get at practicing these skills, the more confident you’ll be at managing your food, whether in the freezer, pantry or fridge. 

Before tossing food – use your senses and check the packaging instead of relying on Best Before Dates. You’ll save money, food and frustration!