Some foods are labeled clearly with an expiration clearly stamped on the lid or the label. Other food does not. Take fruit and vegetables, for example. The packaging is natural--the peel, which may or may not be edible. But it's rare that produce has an expiration date stamped on it any where. Sure, bagged lettuce has an expiration date and already cut up fruit has a stamp on the plastic container, but an apple or banana? No. You're on your own.

And what about that expiration date? Is it hard and fast? What will happen if you eat the yogurt at 1 a.m. the next day after the expiration date stamped on it? Learn how to read expiration dates to save money (by not throwing out good food) and for your family's safety.

To clear up all doubt, go to StillTasty. This website provides detailed information about how to store food and how long to keep specific foods for safety and tastiness.

Fruits and vegetables are often still good after they begin to turn brown or shrivel slightly. Most people use common sense or their personal preference for judging when produce is still good to eat.

StillTasty gives this information for safely keeping fresh, whole apples:

• 3 days in the pantry or on the table in a fruit bowl
• 3 to 4 weeks in the refrigerator
• 10 to 12 months in the freezer
  

StillTasty recommends safely keeping fresh ground beef (hamburger):

• 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator
• 3 to 4 months in the freezer

For bacon fat drippings, it's safe to keep them:

• 6 months in the refrigerator
• 6 to 9 months in the freezer

Those individually wrapped American slices of cheese keep:

• 1 to 2 months refrigerated
• 3 months in the freezer
  

StillTasty recommends safely eating fresh, packaged yogurt:

• 7 to 10 days in the refrigerator, after the expiration or "sell by" date
  
• 1 to 2 months in the freezer

What about that gallon of milk? It remains safe, granted there is no off odor or curdling, for:

• 1 week in the refrigerator after the "sell by" date
• 3 months in the freezer
  

Eggs are a versatile, economical food. Keep fresh, in-the-shell eggs in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 weeks and up to 1 year in the freezer.

Egg salad keeps 3 to 5 days refrigerated.

StillTasty provides safe eating information on all other foods, including nuts, fish, grains, oils, spices, baked goods, snacks, beverages, and more. The 12 categories make looking up any food in question easy.

In addition to checking the StillTasty website, use your own best judgment. And use your nose. If any food smells bad or has "turned," it's probably best to discard it. But just because something doesn't look perfect, is not usually reason to throw it away.