10 Items in Your Fridge You Should Throw Out Right Now

We get it: Parting with things that might be useful someday is tough. Unfortunately, most ingredients do expire—and, depending on when they were purchased, it might be time to throw them out. Here are the top 10 items in your kitchen that deserve an expiration date check:

The Top Items to Toss Out and Start Fresh

1. Baking Soda

Does baking soda even go bad? Kind of. Baking soda once opened loses its potency after 6 months. it can still be used in laundry or to unclog a sink, but if you’re trying to make a batch of soda bread, you’ll want a fresh box.

2. Baking Powder

The same goes for baking powder. Biscuits not getting the height you’d imagined? It might be due to your old leavener. According to the USDA, this item has an even shorter shelf life after opening—a whole 3 months. I know mine is definitely older than that.

3. Condiments

This one is tricky. Some condiments' shelf life will be extended significantly by being in the fridge and preventing you from having to buy another. But it’s best to check expiration dates and be honest with yourself. How old is that ketchup really? Is the crust on that mustard old enough to vote? Check your hot sauce while you're at it, too.

4. Jam or Jelly

It may seem like certain jam jars are good forever but at the end of the year, it’s always good to check. High levels of sugar or acid with cooler temps can extend the life of jelly but not if they’ve been introduced to other things (like peanut butter) that can accelerate bacterial growth. Unopened jars last for up to a year in a cool pantry but it’s best to discard open jars in the fridge after 6 months.

5. Open Broth Cartons

Because most containers are opaque, it can be hard to tell whether that liquid has turned. Instead of leaving it in the container to slowly degrade, try freezing leftovers in an ice cube tray for perfectly portioned broth cubes for later. Future you will be grateful.

6. Soft Cheeses

This one might seem obvious but how many times have you looked at a wrapped cream cheese package and decided to leave it a bit longer? Soft cheeses especially have a short shelf life of about 1 to 2 weeks after purchasing, so say bye to that half-eaten Brie from your gathering last weekend.

7. Seasonal Drinks

A post-holiday fridge assessment is never fun, but it is essential. Even the ultra-pasteurized, non-alcoholic eggnog should be discarded after 14 days of being opened. That goes for drinks you may have enjoyed during summer, too (such as sangria).

8. Salad Greens

The last few weeks got crazy and the weekly container of salad greens were completely forgotten as they got pushed to the back of the fridge by meal prep, desserts, and beverages.  Wilted, mushy, or slimy, it’s time to start fresh. And to keep your greens longer in the fridge, we have helpful storage tips here.

9. Mystery Items

We’ve all looked at a Tupperware item and couldn’t remember what was once inside. Open to check and find a furry, smelly, unpleasant surprise! What even was that? Who remembers? Anything in the fridge that is very obviously gone bad should be tossed. And if you don’t feel like cleaning out a moldy container, maybe invest in a cute set that can go into the fridge, freezer, or oven.

10. Leftovers

Remember that leftovers really should be consumed within a week no matter how delicious they were or how long you reheat them. Make sure leftovers are stored efficiently after cooking (within two hours) in shallow containers in the fridge for up to five days and in the freezer for up to six months.