Of course, all foods last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. Remember that bread, like a lot of other grains , usually has a best by date and not an expiration date. Because of this distinction, you may safely use breads to compliment your favorite meals even after the best before date has lapsed.

How to tell if Bread is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Although not a perfect test, your senses are usually the most reliable instruments to tell if your product has gone bad. Some common traits of bad bread are mold (mould), which can often be smelled before it is seen (but do not sniff it - you don't want mold spores up your nose!). Bread mold can come in all sorts of colors, even white which needs a close look to differentiate from flour. If one slice of bread is moldy, it is not a good idea to eat another slice from the same loaf - throw away the entire loaf.

A hard and dry texture means that the bread is stale but it can still be used as bread crumbs or croutons if there is for sure no mold (mould). Since bread crumbs and croutons are dried, if they are kept dry, they can enjoy a long shelf life because mold needs moisture to grow. But if your breadcrumbs have gone bad, check our breadcrumb substitution page for suitable alternatives.

The problem with refrigerated biscuits and rolls, those bought in tubes in the refrigerated section of the grocery, is that the oils begin to turn rancid a few weeks beyond the best by date. There will be an off smell when the tube is cracked and the color of the dough will be slightly darker than original. The taste is also affected, so don't start the oven if you notice your dough has begun to go bad.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!