Can You Eat Expired Bread If It Was Refrigerated?

It is safe to eat bread and other bread products such as breadcrumbs past its best-by date! You will be fine :

• You should always examine your food before eating it to check for signs of mold or strange smells.
• But in many cases, you won’t be able to see bacteria that could cause food poisoning or illness.
• When uncertain about whether or not a food is still safe to consume, experts say you’re probably better off erring on the side of caution.

• You should always examine your food before eating it to check for signs of mold or strange smells.
• But in many cases, you won’t be able to see bacteria that could cause food poisoning or illness.
• When uncertain about whether or not a food is still safe to consume, experts say you’re probably better off erring on the side of caution.

• Cut the stale bread up into crouton-sized pieces and toss with some olive oil and your favorite herbs and spices.
• Toast the pieces in the oven, spread out on a baking sheet, on a low temperature until golden brown.
• Store the croutons in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four weeks.

Still, most people toss expired food rather than consuming it to avoid getting sick. And while food poisoning is a common occurrence (affecting one in six Americans each year, according to the USDA ), it’s not likely to happen as a result of eating expired food.

Like cereal, bread might get a little stale past its expiration date, but it’s still safe to eat. In fact, stale bread makes the best croutons for salads! Even if there’s a bit of mold on the end, just cut it off before you enjoy a slice.

What Will Happen If I Eat Expired Bread?

You can technically eat expired bread, especially if it has only been expired one or two days, but always do so with caution.

Expired bread can be safely eaten up to 5-7 days past its expiration date. If you choose to continue to eat stale bread past this marker, you may do so, though those with sensitivities may find their digestive systems affected.

There are plenty of ways to get more life out of your stale bread. Consider using your old bread to make your own breadcrumbs for a French onion soup, like below.

You can, but like with anything else you’ll want to exercise caution. Be sure to look the breadcrumbs over to ensure they have not acquired mold. Also, be sure to take a whiff to ensure they don’t have an “off” smell.