What is meant by the shelf life of food?

Answer 1

There is no rule for how long dehydrated food will last. Dehydrated foods' shelf life depends on various factors including the food, the dehydrating method used, the drying time, the food dehydrated and how the food is stored.

Answer 2

It really depends on the food. If one is provided, always follow the expiration date. If there is a "Sell by" date, usually the product will be OK for about a week after that date. Below are some examples of specific categories of food.

Commercially canned items generally either will have an expiration date marked somewhere on the label, or can be kept for several years at least.

Dry products, such as flour or pasta, can be kept indefinitely as long as they are stored properly.

Fresh fruit generally has a very short shelf life - usually less than a week, although certain fruits will keep for a little longer.

Fresh vegetables vary widely depending on what they are and how they are stored. Items such as onions and potatoes, if kept in a cool dry place, can keep for a relatively long time - more than a month, I believe. Softer vegetables such as lettuce, zucchini, eggplant, etc. have short shelf lives - generally around a week. Carrots and radishes fall somewhere in between.

Commercially packaged sandwich-type bread usually will keep for several weeks - the drier the type of bread, the longer it will keep.

Dairy products all come with expiration dates on them.

Condiment-type items, if they do not have expiration dates, are generally good for indefinite periods, if stored properly.

Answer 3

The term "shelf life" of a food product is exactly that, how long it is to be on the shelf before it needs to be taken down and thrown away. It's an expiration date for the store, so that way they know when it needs to be replaced.

Answer 4

The shelf life of food refers to how long the food will remain in good quality. This is different than the expiration date. A food can be beyond its shelf life and still be safe to eat, however, it might not taste very good.

Answer 5

You will need to be more specific about which preserved food - and is it commercial or homemade. There are too many variable to just hand out a number.

Answer 6

Yes. That's why one would bother preserving food.

Answer 7

Normally they have an expiring date on them. Basically i don't buy foods without any expiring date on them. Good luck!