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Tofu after the expiration date?

302K views 39 replies 30 participants last post by  dormouse 
#1 ·
I have some tofu that got shoved to the back of the fridge and overlooked for a while. The expiration date on it (best used by date) is January 25th. I haven't opened it yet, but would it still be good... or is soy best tossed a few days after the use-by date?
 
#2 ·
I have used tofu a month or more after its "expiration" date. Smell it. If it seems off, don't use it. If you're really paranoid even if it seems fine, cook up a very small piece of it, try it, and see what happens. It shouldn't be a big deal.
 
#4 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by cerealkiller View Post

I have some tofu that got shoved to the back of the fridge and overlooked for a while. The expiration date on it (best used by date) is January 25th. I haven't opened it yet, but would it still be good... or is soy best tossed a few days after the use-by date?
I once left half used tofu in the fridge for about 4 days, and there was a strange smell coming from somewhere in the fridge. My Mother told me it was just the chicken in the fridge and I guess she thought I was just being fussy about how other people in my house eat meat. But nope, It was the tofu! It had gone slimy. It was such a horrible experience, picking up my innocent tofu and taking a big whiff before I was about to cook it, so I never use tofu after the expiry date anymore.
I felt like sharing that. ha ha
 
#5 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by hannah- View Post

I once left half used tofu in the fridge for about 4 days, and there was a strange smell coming from somewhere in the fridge. My Mother told me it was just the chicken in the fridge and I guess she thought I was just being fussy about how other people in my house eat meat. But nope, It was the tofu! It had gone slimy. It was such a horrible experience, picking up my innocent tofu and taking a big whiff before I was about to cook it, so I never use tofu after the expiry date anymore.
I felt like sharing that. ha ha
Totally different. I get the sense that the OP had not opened it. Spoilage occurs MUCH faster after opening.
 
#6 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by hannah- View Post

I once left half used tofu in the fridge for about 4 days, and there was a strange smell coming from somewhere in the fridge. My Mother told me it was just the chicken in the fridge and I guess she thought I was just being fussy about how other people in my house eat meat. But nope, It was the tofu! It had gone slimy. It was such a horrible experience, picking up my innocent tofu and taking a big whiff before I was about to cook it, so I never use tofu after the expiry date anymore.
I felt like sharing that. ha ha
Once you open tofu, if you don't use all of it, you have to store it covered with water, and change the water at least once a day. Then it will last a few days after opening.

Unopened, tofu is generally good for quite a while past the "sell by" date. If it's too old, you'll be able to smell it.
 
#35 ·
I like scrambled tofu

I've purchased tofu with old expiration dates before numerous times because they were marked down. I never had any issues with them being bad. I've always drained, cut, and frozen them though as soon as I get them home.
I just fixed expired tofu, it has been up in the top of the fridge, I made scrambled tofu with it added mushrooms and onions and it tastes just fine, and no nasty odor when cooking, it's plant based, not animal based, so even though there is an expiration date on it, like I've been reading use your judgement on color and smell.
 
#14 ·
my rule of thumb is that the length past expiration depends on the original expiration period...if that makes sense :p

for tofu that normally expired in 3 weeks i probably wouldn't use it 3 weeks late...unless it was like Mori-nu or something that lasted longer. just me tho, it's prob ok.. heh
 
#17 ·
I forgot to say - I really have gotten strict about food that's past the expiration date. Unless it's dry goods that are unlikely to have gone rancid, I just get rid of food that's past the date. Food that's past the "best by" date might not be unsafe (if it says "expiration date," then definitely toss it), but it's not worth ruining a recipe if one of the ingredients doesn't taste quite right.
 
#19 ·
More than a week or two after, I would toss of compost it.

I have years old unopened tofu sitting in my fridge and I can see the mold growing on it.............
 
#20 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Misty View Post

I had tofu kinda explode in the fridge before, the packet built up so much pressure it broke the seal and oozed out, smelt like really smelly cheese. Can't remember how old it was.

But yea, if it looks and smells good, it's probably fine.
That happened to me too, and the tofu was not even past its best before date... I never quite understood tht one.
 
#22 ·
Well, recently I read about fermented tofu... And I had some past-due date in the fridge. I used to make blue cheese (because it stank as blue cheese). It ended up being pretty good, and nobody was hurt.
 
#24 ·
In USDA training, I learned that the best buy date is supposed to provide a week's time to consume the opened product without loss of quality due to age. So of course there's no prediction that it will automatically make you ill on a specific date.

But as the previous veggie wrote, use your senses to double-check food safety. My motto is when in doubt, throw it out. You wouldn't to get food-poisoning to save a $2.00 pkg of tofu, even tho' it is better not to waste when possible.

Think I'll start cleaning my fridge now. Thx for reminder.
 
#25 ·
hm-m-m, hard to know why for sure, but if some bacteria was multiplying inside the gas by-product they produce when multiplying could build up

enough pressure to burst the packaging. Maybe there was a small hole or leak in the package breaking the seal? Just a random guess.
 
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