Pop Tarts are toaster pastries consumed for breakfast or as a snack. They are rectangular in form, rather thick, and have filler inside, but the downside is that this snack which happens to be one of America’s favorite snacks could be very dangerous to their health.
There are several kinds, many of which include a layer of firm icing on one side of the Pop Tart. The snack is usually warmed up in the toaster so that the filling inside may warm up, but the pastry itself is fully baked and packed before it reaches the consumer.
A lot of people enjoy pop tarts hot or cold, but this food tends to have a long shelf life, still, most consumers that love to stock up their storerooms, will want to find out about one of the most important questions that are still on our mind, which is ‘can you eat expired pop tarts’
Are Pop Tarts Safe To Eat
Last time I checked, Pop tarts were under the term junk “food”. Let’s first take a look at what Pop tarts are. according to Wikipedia, Pop Tarts is a Kellogg’s brand of toaster pastries that has been made and distributed since 1964, consisting of a sweet filling enclosed inside two layers of thin, rectangular pastry crust. The majority of the types are also frosted. Although they are sold pre-cooked, they are meant to be warmed in a toaster or microwave oven. They’re often sold in pairs within Mylar (formerly foil) wrappers and don’t need to be refrigerated.
And junk foods also refer to processed foods with low nutritional value. Indeed, some may contain dangerous ingredients, and these meals are usually delicious, cheap, and abundantly available. When you’re pressed for time, Pop Tarts might be a tempting breakfast option. They can be stored at room temperature and immediately prepared in a toaster.
Pop Tarts, despite their convenience, include highly processed components such as soybean oil and refined flour, they also contain three kinds of sugar: refined white sugar, corn syrup, and high fructose corn syrup.
All of these include high levels of fructose, a simple sugar related to an elevated risk of a variety of ailments, including diabetes and heart disease, so ask yourself, are pop tarts safe to eat? Well, I’ll say no because Pop Tarts are loaded with sugar, processed flour, and harmful oils. They are low in protein and fiber, and they are a very terrible way to start your day or even end it.
Can You Eat Expired Pop Tarts
Yes, you can eat expired pop tarts after their expiration dates. Many people still eat them later than that and even though They won’t have the same flavor, they’ll taste quite well. When you open a packaged Pop Tart, it’s recommended to throw the empty packs away.
If you buy them in bulk, it is advised that you keep them in an airtight container to prevent them from going bad, You may always freeze them to increase their shelf life if you’re concerned about food safety.
Simply wrap each Pop Tart in plastic wrap and throw it in a freezer bag. You may also use frozen Pop Tarts for fresh ones in recipes.
How Do You Know When Pop Tarts Expire
Although, such products have on their packages a manufacturing code that indicates when pop tarts may be consumed by, and this is done by the producers to ensure that their high-quality standards are maintained but pop tarts could still be safe to eat after this date, which means it did not actually expire, so how do you know when pop tarts expire?
well, you know when pop tarts have expired just the same way you know about the expiration of other products, by their taste, texture, and looks. Even when it is still safe to eat pop tarts after they expire, the quality does not necessarily the same as they are already passing their expected shelf life, so the quality declines, and the consumer would definitely notice a change in their texture or flavor, believe me, it can’t evade you.
So how can you tell if a pop tart has gone bad? there are a few ways to know or check and know if your pop tart has gone bad, they include;
you can examine the package to check for the expiry date, the best buy date, and stuff like that.
Check to see whether the package has been tampered with or damaged.
Examine the contents of the package if the pop tarts are moldy, smelling bad, or looking bad. if it still looks and tastes okay, then you are good to go.
How To Store Pop Tarts Long Term
Well, there is no other way to store pop tarts past their expiration date because it already has a long shelf life on their own. They are products that once stored on the shelf or cabinet at room temperature can last for more than 12-16 months. So, unless they are in a refrigerator or freezer when you got them at the store, do not think about storing them in a refrigerator.
Just keeping them in a cool and dry place will preserve them as long as you’ll need them, another thing is to always purchase the quantity that you can finish within a short period.
If your Pop Tart has already been baked, place it in the refrigerator. The pie should be devoured within four days of purchase for optimum results. Remove from the refrigerator and set aside for 45 minutes before serving, please. When it’s time to warm your dish, bring it to room temperature for 45 minutes before placing it in a 350°F preheated oven. Warm a 9-inch pie for 20 minutes and a 5-inch pie for 10 minutes.
If your Pop Tart is frozen, please, leave it in the freezer until you’re ready to bake and eat. The pie should be prepared within three months of purchase for the best results. To bake, lay the pie on a baking sheet that you already lined with some parchment paper so as to reduce the mess, and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Bake for 90-120 minutes in a 9″ pan and 50-60 minutes in a 5″ pan.
After baking, let the Pop Tart cool for at least 1 hour before serving. The pie tin’s bottom should be warm to the touch. The pie’s consistency will be too runny when it is served too hot.
How Long Can Pop Tarts Last Unopened
Unsealed pop tarts will last 6-12 months after their “best by” date if properly stored. The shelf life of Pop Tarts is determined by the best-before date and how they are stored.
Pop tarts should be stored in an airtight container on a shelf. If the original package is sealed with tape, it can be utilized but once the package is opened, it won’t last as long. Different conditions can cause it to become especially wet and moldy within a week, but all these can be avoided if the unsealed packages are safely wrapped in an airtight container or bag and stored in a freezer.
The procedure may result in the pop tarts lasting for more than a week, maybe two, although, it may still be edible further down, but it will not feel as fresh.
Do Pop Tarts Get Moldy
Like many packaged ready-to-eat meals, once the packet of the pop tart has been opened or unsealed, the shelf life is relatively and greatly reduced, causing the pastry to become stale, and moldy. so yes, pop tarts get moldy when left unopened. To prevent this, keep already opened pop tarts in an airtight container and make sure to consume them within one or two weeks, or t will become too gross to eat.
Your Pop Tart will smell musty and moldy if it has gone rotten. A fresh and edible Pop Tart should smell sweet and pastry, even though it has very little odor when cold. Always smell the filling before eating it: if it doesn’t smell right, toss it!
Can You Freeze Pop Tarts
Well, I do not think there is any point in storing pop tarts in a freezer, since they already have a long shelf life when stored in the store room or cabinet.
Although, If placed in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap, an open packet of Pop Tarts can be frozen, there are no manufacturer requirements for heating frozen Pop Tarts, so let them defrost at room temperature first before heating them and I’ve discovered that some people actually love to eat froze pop tarts flavors like ice cream sundae and chocolate chip cookie can be enjoyed while frozen.
So keeping pop tarts in the freezer will not exactly help them to last any longer. The humidity in the fridge may cause them to get mushy and stale! So if your Pop Tarts packet is still sealed, simply store it in the pantry until you are ready to eat them.
The main advantage of utilizing a refrigerator is that it reduces the possibility of mold, so if you live in a hot and humid region, this would be a suitable alternative for storing an open packet of Pop Tarts. To keep air and moisture out, store them in an airtight container or wrap them in plastic wrap.
Pop Tarts Food Poisoning.
According to the urban dictionary, Pop tart food poisoning is a special case type of temporary hypoglycemia that results from excess intake of sugar. some of the most prevalent symptoms include abdominal pain, lethargy, nausea, and possibly headache.
However, the term pop tarts food poisoning is not necessarily specific to only pop tarts, as consumption or overindulgence of any source or kind of simple carbohydrates can also be the cause of the food poisoning that you are experiencing. Also, consuming spoilt or expired pop tarts will most likely cause stomach issues that can turn out to be food poisoning in extreme cases.
Also, if you are gluten sensitive, you might have to seek medical advice before consuming Pop Tarts. They may be able to assist you in adjusting your diet to meet your requirements.
Conclusion
While expired Pop Tarts are likely safe to eat, their taste and texture may not be as enjoyable as when they were fresh. It’s best to use your senses to evaluate the quality of the Pop Tarts and throw them out if they show any signs of spoilage or if they don’t smell or taste right.
