Q: How can you tell if a jar of minced garlic is still good? I have one that expired in June. It has darkened in color a little, but it still smells OK.

A: If it smells OK (or as OK as garlic ever smells) and there's no mold or obvious discoloration, it's probably fine.

Remember that the date on a jar often isn’t an expiration date. It may be a sell-by date, meant to help stores rotate the stock on their shelves, or a best-by date, which is about the quality of a product, not the safety. Sometimes it will say that in very tiny print next to the date.

Jarred garlic usually has preservatives, such as citric acid, that give it a long shelf life. That’s why fans of fresh garlic dislike the stuff in the jar: too many preservatives.

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

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