Usually, you clean expired food from your refrigerator regularly to keep it tidy. However, the food on your kitchen pantry shelves might not get the same attention. You might not clean them for a long time, and these foods, which may not show much change on the surface, could have already spoiled and might be harmful to your health if consumed. Here are 6 common pantry foods that can easily expire, summarized by the US magazine "Prevention." Go check your pantry when you have time!
1. Olive Oil Most olive oils have a "best by" date on the bottom, but this only applies to unopened bottles. Once opened, olive oil can go rancid after a few months on the shelf, developing a fatty, sour smell.
2. Flour If it's been a while since you last used your flour to bake, it's likely expired. All-purpose flours, like those made from high-gluten or low-gluten wheat, can last for about 8 months past their "best by" date, while whole-grain flours, such as whole wheat or rye, last for about 6 months. Expired flour may have a slightly sour smell.
3. Oats Whole, unprocessed grains like brown rice or quinoa can be stored for about 1-2 years. However, more processed grains, like breakfast oats, spoil more easily and have a shelf life of about 6 months.
4. Spices Adding spices like pepper or thyme to your dishes is delicious, but they also have an expiration date of about 1-2 years. If you're not sure if your nutmeg or oregano is still good, take a small amount in your palm and smell it. If the aroma is no longer strong, it's time to replace them.
5. Nuts and Seeds If you've had nuts or seeds like peanuts or sunflower seeds in your pantry for more than 6 months, they have likely gone bad. Nuts and seeds like almonds or flax seeds can go rancid from oxidation in just a few weeks, so you should store them in the refrigerator as soon as you buy them.
6. Breadcrumbs Breadcrumbs are very susceptible to moisture. You should consider replacing any that have been in your pantry for longer than 6 months.