Do Oreos Expire? What You Should Know

Do Oreos Expire?

Many people snack on a regular basis. It’s a common thing to do while doing a variety of other things, such as watching TV. However, you should make sure that you are not eating expired snacks.

One way to do so is to learn more about the expiration of certain snacks. Oreos are pretty popular; it is important to learn more about their expiration if you eat them regularly.

If you’re wondering whether or not Oreos expire, the simple version of the answer to this question is – yes,  they do expire. However, this topic is more complex than that. Read on to find out more about Oreo expiration. 

Shelf Life and Expiration of Oreos

It makes sense to begin talking about this by discussing the shelf life of Oreos. You should know that Oreos do expire eventually. In general, the shelf life of Oreos is roughly two years. However, the shelf life of Oreos can vary depending on how you store them. 

This is not the only factor that affects the shelf life of Oreos, though. The kind of Oreos you have also has an impact on their shelf life.

When you compare Oreos that have a cream filling to Oreos that have a chocolate filling, Oreos that have a cream filling typically have a shorter shelf life. That is an essential factor to consider when talking about the expiration of Oreos. 

As stated previously, Oreos do expire. However, Oreos might not have gone bad just because they are past their expiration date. If you store Oreos properly, you can probably eat them safely for as long as 10 months past their expiration date.

Outside their package, Oreos don’t last long.

How to Tell If Oreos Have Expired

Of course, it is important to figure out if the Oreos have gone bad. There are ways that you can tell if the Oreos are expired aside from just taking a look at their expiration date, though. One effective method that you can use to figure out if Oreos are expired is to check for any signs that they are spoiled. Some spoilage signs include a loss of texture, mold, discoloration, odd smells, or any change in hardness.

You can still eat stale Oreos, though. Because of this, you can taste them and see if they are no longer any good to eat. That being said, if you are not sure if your Oreos are still edible, it is best to act cautiously and toss them out in the trash. By doing so, you can make sure that you do not eat anything that could make you sick. 

There can be a difference between Oreos’ expiration date and when they actually seem to no longer be edible, though. Those two things are not always the same. It’s really up to your own judgment, but it is not a good idea to eat Oreos if you see any of the previously mentioned spoilage signs. Of course, you might not see any signs of spoilage until months after the Oreos are past their expiration date.

Expiration of Other Snacks

In related articles I’ve looked at whether Bisquick, caramel, RumChata and balsamic vinegar goes bad or expires.

What Is the Best Way to Store Oreos?

You can make your Oreos stay fresh as long as possible if you store them properly. Of course, you can re-seal them in their original package by re-sealing the opening tightly. You can also store Oreos in a cool, dark, and dry area in your home, like your pantry, in order to increase their shelf life. No matter what, you should use an airtight container to store Oreos. 

OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, Party Size, 25.5 oz

You should keep Oreos away from any humid environments. Humid environments can cause Oreos to become stale and go bad more quickly. You can even store Oreos in your freezer or fridge in order to ensure that they last an even longer amount of time. If you do this, you should make sure you thaw out the Oreos before you try to eat them. 

While the original packaging can work well for storing Oreos, many people throw away the original packaging before they have eaten all the Oreos. In that case, you can put Oreos in an alternative airtight container such as a plastic container or a zip lock baggy.

After you have opened the original package, it is often best to put Oreos in another airtight container, especially if you opened the original package some time ago. Oreos stored in an airtight container should be fine to eat for roughly two weeks. 

Are Expired Oreos Still Safe to Eat?

You can still eat expired Oreos safely in many cases. However, you should know a few things. Expired Oreos may not be as tasty as fresh Oreos. The filling for expired Oreos might be dry and it might be difficult to bite into expired Oreos.

You should also know that expired Oreos might get stale and brittle after a certain amount of time. This is even more true if you leave the Oreos out in the open. 

Some Things to Know About Soft Oreos

There are a number of reasons why Oreos can become soft. If you store Oreos in a humid place, they can absorb moisture and get soft. That is another reason to make sure you do not store them in a humid environment.

Oreos can also become soft and stale if you store them inside an airtight container for too much time. For this reason, you should keep in mind that you cannot store Oreos in an airtight container indefinitely. 

Where Can You Find Oreo Packages’ Best By Dates?

You can find the Best By date on the Oreo box’s bottom side, underneath a flap, on the front of the box’s packaging, or on the back of the box. Each type of Oreo packaging puts the Best By date label in a different area. You can often still eat Oreos after the Best By date, but it is still a good idea to eat them before this date.