Nearly Expired are preserved food items, now opened - with a finite shelf life. Yet no other expendable edible encourages more experimentation than nearly expired foods. Just in terms of color and texture alone, refrigerated veggie condiments are exotic (round green capers, crunchy cornichons, multi-colored hot peppers, sweet onion relishes). Possibilities abound for using them as a garnish, decoration or a sauce.
Best of all, keeping expiration dates in mind forces you to periodically clean out the refrigerator door, as well as the freezer. Make sure to label and date all your food items. Look periodically at the expiration date but also perform a visual check, even if the date is months away, especially with meat, poultry or fish that is at risk for freezer burn.
