Medically Reviewed by Christine Mikstas, RD, LD on December 02, 2022
Question 1/10

Keep opened maple syrup in the fridge.

  • True
  • False

Yes, really! Store maple syrup in the fridge to lessen the chances of yeast, bacteria, and mold. It should be good for 6 months to a year. Ketchup and chocolate syrup will stay fresh longer in the fridge, too.

Question 2/10

If you see mold on your bread, just scrape it off.

  • True
  • False

It’s tempting to tear off the small piece of bread that’s blue or fuzzy. But if you see mold, throw out the whole loaf. There’s probably more you can’t see. Some are harmless, but others can make you sick. Molds on hard cheeses won’t hurt you, though. It’s OK to cut off an inch around and under the mold and eat the rest.

Question 3/10

Washing raw chicken gets rid of bacteria.

  • True
  • False

You’re doing more harm than good when you wash raw chicken or meat. You could splash juices onto your sink, countertop, and other surfaces. That can spread bacteria and raise your chance of food poisoning. Remember, always wash your hands well before and after handling raw food.

Question 4/10

Food dropped on the floor is OK to eat if you pick it up within:

  • 3 seconds
  • 5 seconds
  • It’s not OK.

As a kid, the “5-second rule” probably sounded like a good idea. That's a perfectly good piece of candy! But 5 seconds is long enough for food to pick up harmful bacteria. Use the 0-second rule instead: Once something hits the floor, throw it away.

Question 5/10

You can drink milk past the date on the carton.

  • True
  • False

That's the sell-by date, not an expiration or use-by date. Milk should stay fresh a few days past the sell-by date, as long as you store it promptly and the right way. Head home after buying milk, and put it in the fridge. Make sure the temperature in there stays between 38 and 40 degrees. You can freeze milk, too, but the flavor and texture might change.

Question 6/10

How long can you leave leftovers out?

  • 1 hour
  • 2 hours
  • 3 hours

You don’t have to rush away from the dinner table to put leftovers in the fridge, but don’t wait too long. Store them within 2 hours of cooking. Food served outdoors in hot weather needs to go in a cooler with ice within an hour. Throw away anything that’s been left out longer.

Question 7/10

Ground beef that's red on the outside and gray on the inside is:

  • Spoiled
  • OK to use

If all of your ground beef has turned gray or brown and smells, it might be starting to spoil. But if only the inside is a little dull, grayish brown, you don't need to worry. Fresh-cut meat is purplish and turns bright red when it's around oxygen. The inside of the meat might be grayish-brown because it hasn’t been near the air.

Question 8/10

How long can you keep canned veggies?

  • A year to 18 months
  • 2 to 5 years
  • 5 to 7 years

Most canned vegetables will last a few years, as long as the can is in good shape and has been stored in a cool, dark place. Same for canned meats and fish. Tomatoes, pineapples, and other high-acid foods will keep for 12 to 18 months. Toss any cans that are badly dented, rusty, bulging, or leaking.

Question 9/10

What’s the best way to thaw frozen food?

  • In a cold water bath
  • On the counter
  • In the refrigerator

One of the riskiest things you can do when cooking is thaw or marinate food on the counter. Bacteria grow quickly at room temperature. The safest place to thaw meat, poultry, and seafood is in the fridge. Put the food on the bottom shelf with a plate or pan to catch any juices that leak. It should be ready to cook the next day. When you're in a hurry, you can thaw food in cold running water, or in the microwave with the defrost setting.

Question 10/10

It’s OK for your kid to taste raw cookie dough.

  • True
  • False

Just a lick can make your child sick. When you bake cookie dough or cake batter, you kill bacteria like salmonella and E. coli. No one should eat raw batter, and that’s especially true for children, older people, and people with weakened immune systems. Don’t take any chances. Wait for the cookies to come out of the oven.

Show Sources

IMAGE PROVIDED BY: 

Getty Images

SOURCES:

Dairy Council of California: “Can I Freeze Milk?” “Can You Drink Milk Past Its Sell-By Date?”

FDA: “Consumer Advisory: FDA Continues to Warn Against Eating Raw Dough for Cookies or Other Raw Dough Products before Cooking,” “National Food Safety Education Month - Myths & Facts.”

Foodsafety.gov: “Chill. Refrigerate Promptly,” “Dangerous Food Safety Mistakes,” “Food Safety Myths Exposed.”

Homefoodsafety.org: “10 Surprising Foods You Should be Refrigerating.”

Kansas State University: “The Five Second Rule.”

The Ohio State University: “Refrigerator Storage.”

Southern Maine Maple Sugarmakers Association: “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Maple Syrup But Didn’t Know Who To Ask.”

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension: “Food Product Dating.”

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service: “Ground Beef and Food Safety,” “Leftovers and Food Safety,” “Molds on Food: Are They Dangerous?”

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