Ever wonder if that refrigerated jar of Chili Con Queso, open since last Christmas, is still safe to eat?

The expiration date says it's okay, but the cheesy product has been tucked in the back of the fridge for months. And what about those soft tortillas that look and smell fine, but according to the expiration date, should have been in the trash two months ago?

Do you throw out food after the "sell by," the "best by" or the "guaranteed fresh by" date? And what's with all the different descriptions?

"The one rule, if in doubt toss it out!" That's the bottom line from Registered Dietitian Kimra Hawk, of Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.

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"It's just not worth the chance of eating something and getting ill from it."

She says the "sniff test" may work to detect when milk has gone bad, but it doesn't work with all foods.

In general, you can safely consume food a day or two after the "sell by" date on the package.

For example, Hawk says "typically in meats and poultry ... use it within one to two days of the sell-by date." She says dairy products are safe if used within two to five days of the sell-by date.

Lunchmeats need to be used within seven days of the sell-by date.

Toss bread that's moldy no matter what the expiration date.

As for the canned foods in your pantry? Hawk says they're good a year after the date on the lid. "Those foods are going to be safe to eat, they're just not going to have the same quality, the nutritional value may have decreased a little."

The federal government only requires a hard and fast expiration date on infant formula. So toss it, the day it expires.

For more food safety guidelines please visit USDA