Safety basics
How to tell when food is actually unsafe
Look, smell, and texture beat the printed date once a pack is open. Every food page lists the exact signs for that item.
Browse the guides →Opened food shelf-life · UK & US
Most opened food outlives your guess.
UK homes bin roughly £730 of food a year — much of it still safe to eat (WRAP research). Search any opened food and get the real fridge window, spoilage signs, and freezing advice.
458 expert-checked foods covered · sourced from UK FSA and US FDA/USDA guidance · free, no signup
Instant answers — the foods people check most
FDA/USDA Guidelines
Condiments
Green Pesto (Jar)
14 days
after opening · freezable
Spoilage signs →
Sauces
Pasta Sauce (Tomato-based)
5 days
after opening · freezable
Spoilage signs →
Dips
Salsa
4 days
after opening · don't freeze
Spoilage signs →
Dips
Hummus
7 days
after opening · freezable
Spoilage signs →
Condiments
Mayonnaise
60 days
after opening · don't freeze
Spoilage signs →
Condiments
Tomato Ketchup
180 days
after opening · don't freeze
Spoilage signs →
Dairy
Cow's Milk
5 days
after opening · freezable
Spoilage signs →
Plant-Based Drinks
Oat Milk
7 days
after opening · freezable
Spoilage signs →
Windows assume normal refrigeration and clean handling. Every page lists the exact spoilage signs to check before eating.
Know what you're looking at
Short, practical reading — the difference between a label date and actual spoilage.
Label literacy
"Best before" is quality. "Use by" is safety.
Best-before food is often fine past the date; use-by food is not. After opening, the on-pack opened-storage line beats both.
How our guidance works →Fridge setup
5°C or below — the cheapest shelf-life upgrade
A fridge a few degrees too warm quietly shortens every window on this site. The door is the warmest spot; the back is the coldest.
Print the fridge cheatsheet →