Yes, you can eat expired cookies, but there are a few things to consider.
Understanding "Expiration" Dates
It's important to understand what the date on a package of cookies actually means. According to the reference, the date is often a "best by" date, which refers to quality, not safety.
Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor. You'll know when you open the package if the food has lost quality. Many dates on foods refer to quality, not safety.
This means that the cookies might not taste as good as they did before the date, but they won't necessarily make you sick.
Factors to Consider Before Eating Expired Cookies
Here’s a breakdown of what you should consider:
- Appearance: Check the cookies for any signs of mold, discoloration, or other unusual changes. If you see anything that looks off, it’s best to err on the side of caution and not eat them.
- Smell: Give the cookies a sniff. If they smell rancid or otherwise unpleasant, they've likely gone bad.
- Texture: Stale cookies are generally safe to eat, but if the texture has changed drastically (e.g., they've become excessively hard or soft and mushy), it's probably best to avoid them.
- Taste: If the cookies look and smell okay, take a small bite. If they taste off or stale, you might not enjoy them, but they likely won’t harm you.
Example Scenario
Let's say your package of cookies expired yesterday.
- Check: Open the package and examine the cookies.
- Smell: They smell normal.
- Texture: They seem a little hard.
- Taste: You take a small bite and they taste a bit stale, but otherwise okay.
In this case, it's safe to eat the cookies, although you might not find them as enjoyable as fresh cookies.
