Canola oil is a popular oil known for being a healthy oil that is low in saturated fat and high in monounsaturated fat which can lower your risk of heart disease by improving cholesterol. You may be wondering if it can go bad. Read on to find out.

Canola oil can and does go bad. This will most likely occur after the bottle has been opened or if it has been improperly stored. Unopened canola oil should last for about 1 to 2 years depending on storage conditions.  Opened canola oil is good for about a year. If the oil smells or tastes funny, it would be best to throw it out. read more

Brownies in my house rarely make it past day one but in the rare case that you have brownies leftover, you may need to know whether or not they go bad.

Once brownies have been baked, if properly stored can last from about four days to a week. Baked brownies can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.  Uncooked but mixed brownie batter will only last up to three days. The key to making brownies last longer is proper storage. Airtight containers will prolong the life of brownies whether you keep them on the counter, in the refrigerator, or the freezer. read more

Vanilla extract is a common household item. We occasionally use it for baking, but not on a daily basis. This leaves most of us wondering, does vanilla extract go bad?

Quick Answer

Pure vanilla extract does not go bad, whereas you should follow the best by date for imitation vanilla extract.

• Pure vanilla extract will last indefinitely if stored in an airtight container outside.
• Imitation vanilla extract will not necessarily go bad outside, but will lose its quality after 2-4 years.
• Pure vanilla extract should not be stored in the fridge.
• Imitation vanilla extract should not be stored in the fridge.
• Pure vanilla extract should not be stored in the freezer.
• Imitation vanilla extract should not be stored in the freezer.

We use vanilla extract in small quantities. Determining how long vanilla extract will last in your kitchen depends if it is pure or imitation.

Does Vanilla Extract Go Bad? How Long Does Vanilla Extract Last?

Pure vanilla extract lasts longer than imitation vanilla extract because of how it is made. However, if both types of vanilla extract are stored properly, they will last a long time. read more

Peanut oil is an item we keep in our kitchen for occasional use. Since we don’t use it every day, we may ask ourselves the next time we reach for it, does peanut oil go bad?

Peanut oil can go bad.

• Like the vegetable oils in our kitchen, peanut oil has a best by date that we should adhere to.
• An unopened bottle of peanut oil will approximately last 1-2 years after its best by date.
• An opened bottle of peanut oil will approximately last 6-12 months.
• Used peanut oil will approximately last 2 weeks.

Peanut oil tastes best when we use it within its expiration date. Proper storage and refined peanut oil will last the longest in our kitchen.

Does Peanut Oil Go Bad? How Long Does Peanut Oil Last?

Peanut oil is used for frying, baking, and cooking in many cuisines, such as American, Chinese, African, Indian, and Southeast Asian. Peanut oil adds a nutty flavor to dishes. read more

Avocados are a popular fruit consumed for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Determining when it is the best time to eat your avocados is tricky. Does avocado go bad? Knowing when your avocados will rot will help you use the fruit in time.

Quick Answer

Avocados go bad. The shelf life of avocados depends on how it is stored. 

• An unripe, unpeeled avocado will go bad in 3-7 days at room temperature.
• A ripe, unpeeled avocado will go bad in 1-2 days at room temperature.
• An unripe avocado will go bad in about 2 weeks in the fridge.
• A ripe, cut avocado will go bad in 2-3 days in the fridge.
• A ripe avocado will last 3-4 months in the freezer.
• An unripe avocado will last 5-6 months in the freezer.

Understanding how to identify if your avocado is bad, and how to store it will prevent food waste. Determining when an avocado is bad depends on the avocado cultivar.

Does Avocado Go Bad? How Long Does Avocado Last?

Avocado is a fruit, specifically a berry. Mexico supplies the majority of the world’s avocados.  The avocado trees flourish in their humid, tropical climate. 95% of the avocados found in the United States are Hass avocados. read more

Hard-boiled eggs can be a great high-protein breakfast or a great addition to salads, but if you’re trying to plan ahead for easy meals or meals on-the-go, you’re probably wondering if hard-boiled eggs go bad.  Let’s see.

Quick Answer

Hard-boiled eggs are best kept covered, but not peeled, in the inside portion of your refrigerator and away from the refrigerator door.  Harmful bacteria will develop and quickly grow if your hard-boiled eggs are left outside the refrigerator for too long. If your eggs have been outside the refrigerator for more than two hours, throw them away.   read more

Potatoes are a great shelf-stable vegetable that can last a long time, but since you can’t remember when you bought the ones you have you’re probably wondering if potatoes go bad.  Let’s find out.

Quick Answer

Potatoes have a long shelf life, but how you store your potatoes determines how long they last.  If stored in a cool, dark place away from other vegetables, your potatoes should last several months.  If potatoes are refrigerated, however, they will only last about 3-4 weeks.

Knowing how each storage option affects your potatoes will help you keep your potatoes for as long as possible. read more

You just discovered a hidden bag of chocolate chips in the back of your pantry and before you make chocolate chip cookies you are wondering if chocolate goes bad.  Let’s look into that a little deeper.

Quick Answer 

Chocolate purchased from the grocery store, regardless of whether it is white, milk, semi-sweet or dark chocolate will have a sell-by date stamped on the packaging.  This date is a good indicator of the freshness of your chocolate, but it will not definitively state its expiration.  Most chocolate is good for at least a few months after the date on the packaging and may be good even longer depending on how it is stored.  Fine chocolate will have a longer shelf life. read more

Coconut flour can be a great addition to gluten-free baking, but since it’s something you use infrequently you’re probably asking yourself if coconut flour goes bad.  Let’s unpack that a bit.

Quick Answer

Coconut flour, which is made from ground coconuts, has a rather limited shelf life. Bags of coconut flour usually have an expiration date stamped on the bag.  While this is a guide for most foods, it usually holds true with coconut flour.  Unopened coconut flour will last longer than bags once opened, but generally, the date is the best guide.  Refrigerating and freezing your coconut flour will extend its life, much as refrigerating or freezing nuts will do. read more

The uses for ginger, whether it’s fresh ginger root or ground ginger, are infinite, but you’re probably curious about how to tell when either has gone bad.  Let’s figure it out.

Quick Answer

Fresh ginger root lasts about a week on the counter and up to three months in the refrigerator.  Ground ginger, which should only be stored in a pantry or cupboard, should have a date stamped on the container, but you can expect it to stay fresh for an additional one to two years after the date.  Once no longer fresh, both should be thrown away as the dried will no longer be as potent and the fresh could make you sick. read more