Eating expired food can be risky. However, dried peas often keep well past their best-by date. This article provides a quick yet comprehensive answer on whether it’s safe to eat expired dried peas.
Quick Answer
Most dried peas are safe to eat past their expiration date. Properly stored, dried peas can last 2-3 years or more past their printed date. Look for signs of spoilage like mold, off-odors, and insect infestation. If the peas look and smell normal, they should be safe to eat.
How Long Do Dried Peas Last?
Dried peas can keep well over time due to their low moisture content. With proper storage in a cool, dry place, dried peas can maintain quality and safe consumption for the following time frames:
| Pea Type | Unopened Shelf Life | After Opening |
|---|---|---|
| Split Peas | 2-3 years past printed date | 6 months |
| Black-eyed Peas | 2 years past printed date | 6 months |
| Green/Yellow Peas | 2 years past printed date | 6 months |
As you can see, unopened dried peas keep for well over a year past their printed date when stored properly. Once opened, they should keep for 6 months or so before quality starts to decline.
How to Know if Dried Peas Are Bad
Look for the following signs to determine if your expired dried peas have gone bad:
- Mold: Mold spores can contaminate dried goods and multiply. Check for fuzzy growths or discoloration.
- Rancid smell: Over time, fats in dried peas can oxidize and smell off/stale.
- Insect infestation: Dried goods are susceptible to pantry pests. Look for small granules or actual insects.
- Soft texture: Stale, expired peas lose their firm, dry texture.
As long as your dried peas look and smell normal, they should be fine to eat despite being past their best-by date. But if you notice any signs of spoilage, they should be discarded.
How to Store Dried Peas
To get the longest shelf life out of dried peas:
- Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry pantry away from heat and moisture.
- Keep peas in their original bag if it has an airtight zipper seal.
- Once opened, transfer peas to an airtight container or zipper food storage bag.
- Push out excess air and seal tightly.
- Refrigerate opened peas if you won’t use within a month.
Do Expired Dried Peas Lose Nutrition?
Dried peas contain nutrients like:
- Fiber
- Protein
- Folate
- Iron
- Potassium
While these nutrients can degrade over time, dried peas don’t tend to lose a significant amount of nutrition when stored properly. According to the USDA, dried peas maintain their vitamin A and C levels for over 2 years when properly stored. Fiber and minerals like iron and potassium also hold up well.
The starches in dried peas can slowly turn to sugars over time, resulting in a slightly sweeter taste in older peas. But this doesn’t make them unsafe to eat.
Pea Nutrition Per 1/4 Cup Serving
| Nutrient | Split Peas | Black-eyed Peas | Green/Yellow Peas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 60 | 55 | 60 |
| Protein (g) | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Fiber (g) | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Folate (mcg) | 47 | 44 | 47 |
As you can see, dried peas provide protein, fiber, and other nutrients in just a 1/4 cup serving. Even when expired, they retain much of this nutritional value if properly stored.
Risks of Eating Expired Dried Peas
While eating expired dried peas is generally safe, there are some risks to consider:
- Foodborne illness: Spoiled peas can grow mold or bacteria over time, causing food poisoning if eaten. Proper storage minimizes this risk.
- Toxins from pests: Peas contaminated by storage pests and eaten can cause illness from insect waste and mold.
- Texture/flavor: While not dangerous, expired peas lose their signature firm texture. Their flavor also deteriorates.
The chances of getting sick from eating very old, expired peas is low if they’ve been stored correctly. Still, it’s smart to discard them if they look or smell bad.
Safety Tips for Eating Expired Peas
- Inspect peas and discard any that are moldy, smell bad, or show signs of bugs.
- Discard peas that have turned soft instead of staying hard.
- Cook peas thoroughly before eating to kill any possible pathogens. Bring to a boil for a few minutes.
- Avoid eating more than a serving or two of very old peas to limit risk.
When in Doubt, Throw Them Out
If your expired dried peas have been improperly stored in a warm, humid area, it’s best to throw them out instead of risking consumption. Fresh dried peas are inexpensive and widely available.
Likewise, discard peas that show any discoloration, smell unpleasant, or feel too soft after cooking. Using old dried peas in craft projects or as animal feed avoids wasting them.
The Verdict on Eating Expired Dried Peas
To summarize the key points on eating expired dried peas:
- Properly stored, dried peas retain quality and safety for up to 2 years past their printed date.
- Look for mold, foul odors, bugs, and soft texture to identify spoiled peas.
- Discard peas with signs of spoilage instead of eating them.
- Store unopened peas in a cool, dry pantry. Refrigerate opened packages.
- While not ideal in taste and texture, properly stored dried peas are generally safe to eat when expired.
The Bottom Line
Thanks to their low moisture content, dried peas have a long shelf life. While not of peak quality and flavor, dried peas stored well in an airtight container in a cool, dry place should be safe to eat for at least 2 years past their printed date. Always inspect them thoroughly and discard any spoiled peas before eating.
But if you stored your dried peas improperly or they show signs of mold, off-odors, bugs, or other problems, it’s best to throw them out regardless of the date on the package. When in doubt, err on the side of caution – don’t eat peas that seem likely to be spoiled.
With proper dry food storage habits, you can keep your dried peas fresh and minimally expired. This lets you take advantage of their long shelf life while still consuming peas of good quality, flavor and safety. Periodically rotating your stock of dried peas helps ensure none get too old before use.
In summary, dried peas last a long time past their printed date if stored well. While you can likely safely eat properly stored dried peas years past their expiration date, you should still inspect them closely and discard any that show signs of spoilage before eating or cooking. When handled with care in an airtight container, dried peas can be an inexpensive, long-lasting pantry staple.