At the same time, bacteria aren’t always the enemy. We humans are a creative lot, and we’ve figured out how to put bacteria to work on purpose. Instead of ruining what we eat, the right ones can actually make food taste better and help it last longer. That’s exactly what happens during fermentation.
Certain bacteria feed on the sugars in foods like sauerkraut or pickles and produce acid along the way. As the food becomes more acidic, many unwanted microbes have a harder time growing. So when fermentation is done properly, those helpful bacteria can preserve the food while giving it the distinctive flavor we’re after.
#24 My Septuagenarian Mom Still Has Her ‘97 Softsoap Container To Match Her ‘97 Fish Bathroom
All of this means the date printed on our food is useful, but it doesn’t always signal an immediate trip to the trash. Something that slipped past its best-by date yesterday is very different from a mystery jar that’s been hiding in a cupboard since the ’90s.
Still, it’s always worth being careful. If something has been stored improperly or gives you any reason to doubt it, leaving it uneaten is probably the smarter choice.
#29 Jars Of Baby Food From 1994. Grandmother Said “It’s Ok. Don’t Throw It Away"
#31 Now That I'm Old Enough To Be A Grandma, My Sealed Pokemon Jelly Jars
#37 Living In My Freezer Since Late 1999
My mom gave it to me late 1999. It sat on the counter for a while and I didn’t have the heart to throw it away before New Year (you can tell it would taste terrible so eating it never crossed my mind) so I stuck it in the freezer.
On my 3rd freezer, but original Millennipede.
#40 Found This In An Old Hersheys Tin In Grandma’s Pantry. Old Diet Pill From The 80s That Was Banned By The Fda In The 90s. Still Full
