What to do with expired ground coffee
Do not throw away expired ground coffee, even if you can not drink it anymore. There are many ways to use it without risking your health. These practical uses include plant fertilizer or abrasive, skin care products, a repellent, compost or meat tenderizer.
Coffee is a popular beverage drunk worldwide and should not be thrown away when it is old. The coffee grounds left behind after brewing can still be used in the home and garden and even help your beauty regimen. Most coffee shops have abundant coffee grounds they are happy to give away. Below are five creative uses for used coffee grounds.
Why does coffee expire?
The reasons behind the expiration of coffee grounds
Once you get coffee grounds wet, you cannot reuse them, and the brewed coffee can go bad if you let it sit around long enough. The natural oils in coffee will go rancid over time, and it tastes like week-old coffee.
Coffee will lose quality over time because oxygen is the enemy of freshly roasted coffee grounds. Over time, exposure to air makes your coffee break down, losing flavor and intensity. Consume coffee beans within three to four weeks of purchase, but ground coffee is drunk up within two weeks.
Maintaining the freshness of coffee beans revolves around storage. Oxygen, moisture, heat, and light affect the shelf life of coffee grounds. Ground coffee can be used for a few months past its expiration date. Since coffee is a dry, packaged food, there is no firm expiration date. Humidity control is for long shelf life.
The risks associated with consuming expired coffee
The chances of getting sick, vomiting, or having diarrhea when you drink expired coffee are low. Nothing happens to you healthwise, but be prepared for a tasteless and bitter beverage. The change in the taste results in the reduction of aromas and flavors after the expiry date.
You can drink expired coffee, but it should not be moldy or mixed with other spoilt additions like milk. The shelf life of coffee depends on the coffee type and storage method, but not on the indicated expiry date on the packaging. That is an estimated date, not the actual one.
Coffee does not go bad but turns stale, so it has no detrimental effects on the body. Exposing the coffee to moisture creates a welcoming ground for mold to grow, and this can give you a stomach upset or food poisoning.
Can Expired Ground Coffee Be Used For Anything?
Yes, it can! Here are some creative ways to use expired coffee grounds. It can be for composting, as a pest repellent, as a beauty product, to eliminate odor, and as a meat tenderizer. You can also use it to make a dry rub for meat, composting piles, plant feed, candles, hair masks, under-eye cream, soap, furniture repair, and many more.
1. Composting
Expired coffee grounds are a great addition to a compost pile due to the high nitrogen concentrations that help speed up the decomposition process for a finished compost product. If you do not need fertilizer, you can compost your coffee grounds later. Composting is a process that turns organic items such as expired ground coffee into a dark, rich material called compost or humus (Nrdc.org).
Compost can help the soil hold onto more nutrients and water, improving the health of your plants. Coffee grounds are richer in nutrients than compost made with waste alone. Also include grass clippings, leaves, bark, shredded newspaper, brush, herbs, egg shells, stale bread, and fruit and vegetable trimmings. Coffee grounds can help increase nutrient levels and decrease the greenhouse gas emissions of your compost.
2. Pest Repellent
Caffeine is the natural compound found in coffee, but toxic to most insects. Coffee is a natural insecticide (Scientificamerican.com). It repels the Aedes mosquito species. Set out bowls of used coffee grounds around known pest infiltration areas like the back patio or open window sills to make it work.
Certain compounds found in coffee, such as caffeine and diterpenes, are highly toxic to insects. That is why you can use coffee grounds to repel bugs. These compounds deter mosquitos, fruit flies, and beetles, keeping other pests away.
To use coffee grounds as an insect and pest repellent, set out bowls of grounds or sprinkle them around outdoor seating areas. Also, keep pests out of your garden by scattering coffee grounds around your plants. That creates a barrier that slugs and snails do not like to crawl over.
3. DIY Beauty Products
Use expired ground coffee to exfoliate your skin due to the coarse particles in coffee grounds. As an exfoliating agent, it helps remove dirt and dead cells from the skin. Mix coffee grounds with water or coconut oil and scrub them with your hands onto your face and body.
Mix coffee grounds with a small amount of honey and an exfoliating lip scrub. The caffeine in coffee grounds has antioxidant properties that can help protect the skin from sun damage. It can also increase blood flow, which aids in overall skin health.
4. Odour Eliminator
Coffee is also a natural air freshener that absorbs residual smells around it. Put coffee grounds in your fridge, car, and gym sneakers, to remove unwanted odors. Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, which helps eliminate a foul-smelling sulfur gas from the air when combined with carbon. Coffee grounds can help absorb and eliminate odors.
Place a bowl of coffee grounds in your fridge or freezer to neutralize odors from spoiled or fragrant foods. Also, fill old socks or pantyhose with coffee grounds and tie them off to make portable air fresheners. You can also place these in your shoes, gym bag, bedroom drawers, under your car seat, or anywhere else that may need deodorizing.
You can keep coffee grounds by the sink and use them to scrub your hands after chopping garlic or onions so you do not get irritated by the smell. The coffee grounds will help remove the smell from your hands.
5. Meat Tenderizer
Expired ground coffee works as a meat tenderizer. Meat contains muscle fibers and proteins for a tough consistency. Tenderizing meat helps break them down for a softer texture. Coffee contains natural acids and enzymes, making it effective at tenderizing meat.
The acidic nature of coffee can also help enhance the flavor of the meat. Add used coffee grounds to your favorite dry-rub recipe and apply the rub to the meat two hours before cooking.
The grounds will get cooked onto the meat and form a dark, crispy crust. You can also brew used grounds to make coffee, allow it to cool, and use it to marinade meat in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before cooking.
Conclusion
Most people dispose of the coffee grounds that remain after brewing, but there are many ways to reuse them. The caffeine and antioxidants in coffee grounds can help fight cellulite, dark circles and other signs of aging skin, grow plants, keep skin young, tenderize meat and eliminate odors under the sink, in shoes and on floors. Coffee grounds can also keep pests away in your garden and make a great cleaning agent around the house. Consider reusing coffee grounds with one of the ideas in this article to avoid waste.
FAQ
How long does ground coffee last?
Ground coffee usually lasts about 1-2 weeks after opening, provided it’s stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. However, this can vary depending on the type of coffee and packaging. For example, vacuum-sealed coffee bags and cans can last several months, while coffee that isn’t stored properly can become stale after just a few days.
It’s also important to know that while ground coffee doesn’t necessarily go “bad,” it can lose flavor and aroma over time. This is because the oils and flavors contained in coffee can dissipate when exposed to air and light. To get the freshest, most flavorful coffee, buying whole beans and grinding them yourself before brewing is best. If you must buy pre-ground coffee, look for brands packaged in an airtight container and use the coffee immediately after opening.
What can I do with old coffee grounds?
Here are some other ideas for what to do with old coffee grounds:
- Make a coffee scrub: Coffee grounds can be used as a natural exfoliant for the skin. Mix the grounds with some coconut or other natural oil and use it to scrub your skin in the shower.
- Repel insects: Coffee grounds can repel ants, slugs, and other insects. Simply sprinkle the grounds around where you want to keep insects away.
- Dye fabric or paper: Coffee grounds can be used to dye fabrics and paper a light brown or tan color. Simply mix the grounds with hot water and let them steep for a few hours, then strain out the grounds and use the liquid to dye your materials.
- Clean pots and pans: Coffee grounds can be used as a natural abrasive to help clean pots and pans. Simply sprinkle some grounds on your scrub brush and use it to scrub away the grease and grime.
- Deodorize: Coffee grounds can absorb strong odors in your fridge, freezer, or pantry. Place a bowl of ground in the area and let them do their work.
- Make candles: Coffee grounds can be used as a decorative element in homemade candles. Mix them with melted wax and pour them into a wick container.
- Feed worms: Coffee grounds can be a great addition to their diet if you have a worm bin for composting. Worms love coffee grounds, and they help to break them down quickly.
Remember to avoid using coffee grounds in excess, as they can create an acidic environment if used in large quantities.
How can I reuse coffee grounds at home?
Reuse it as an insect repellent repel, neutralize odors, natural cleaning scrub, and exfoliate your skin. Here are some other ways to reuse coffee grounds:
- Fertilizer: Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, which makes them a great addition to your garden as a natural fertilizer. Simply sprinkle the grounds on top of the soil or mix them in with the soil around your plants.
- Compost: As mentioned earlier, coffee grounds are a great addition to a compost pile because they help to break down other organic matter and improve the texture and moisture retention of the compost.
- Natural dye: Coffee grounds can be used to dye fabrics and paper a light brown or tan color. Simply mix the grounds with hot water and let them steep for a few hours, then strain out the grounds and use the liquid to dye your materials.
- Deodorizer: Place a small bowl of coffee grounds in your fridge or freezer to help absorb odors. You can also place them in your shoes or gym bag to help neutralize odors.
- Repel insects: Coffee grounds can repel ants, slugs, and other insects. Sprinkle the grounds around where you want to keep insects away.
- Clean greasy dishes: Coffee grounds can be used as a natural abrasive to help clean greasy dishes. Simply sprinkle some grounds on your scrub brush and use it to scrub away the grease.
- Exfoliate skin: As mentioned earlier, coffee grounds can be used as a natural exfoliant to help remove dead skin cells and improve the texture of your skin. Mix the grounds with some coconut or other natural oil and use it to scrub your skin in the shower.
Can I compost coffee grounds?
Coffee grounds are a good addition to a compost pile because they are rich in nitrogen, which helps break down other organic matter in a pile. In addition, coffee grounds can help improve the texture and moisture retention of the compost. Mix coffee grounds with other compostable materials such as leaves, grass clippings and kitchen scraps to create a balanced compost mixture. It is also advisable not to add too many coffee grounds to the compost pile, as they can create an acidic environment if used excessively.
How do I make a coffee face mask?
For one thing, coffee grounds can be abrasive and irritate the skin if not ground fine enough. Also, lemon juice is very acidic and can cause skin irritation, especially if left on the skin for too long. Testing a small skin area before using a new skincare product or treatment on your entire face is always a good idea.
If you want to make a coffee face mask, here is a safer and more effective recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of finely ground coffee
- 2 tablespoons of natural yogurt
- 1 tablespoon of honey
Instructions:
- Mix the coffee, yogurt, and honey in a small bowl until you have a smooth, paste-like consistency.
- Apply the mixture to your face, avoiding the eyes and mouth.
- Leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes.
- Rinse it off with warm water and pat your face dry.
This mask contains gentle ingredients on the skin and can help exfoliate, brighten and moisturize it.
Are there any health risks associated with using expired coffee grounds?
While it is true that mold is a potential health risk associated with the use of expired coffee grounds, there are other health risks to consider. For example, expired coffee grounds can lose their flavor and nutritional value and, in large quantities, can cause stomach upset or other gastrointestinal problems. In addition, coffee grounds can absorb chemicals and toxins from their environment, so you could be exposed to harmful substances if you use expired coffee grounds. It is generally recommended to use fresh coffee grounds to ensure the best taste and greatest safety.