Do you take any notice of use by dates?

Northcroft · 30-01-2013, 20:20

I don't give a fig about them
I eat eggs which are a month and more out of date, they don't stink
I eat butter which is weeks out of date
Crisps can be a year out of date for all I care
And chocolate
Only things I'm wary of is milk/yogurt/orange juice

potatolegs · 30-01-2013, 20:22

I have a rule. If it has a BB date, I could eat it up to a week later (a month for crisps) I love stale Wotsits.
Use by dates, I only go over 2 days at most (except milk which like you, I am very wary about)

ETA - I do the egg float test too.. If it floats it's bad, if it sinks it's Okay.

maurice45 · 30-01-2013, 20:23

You'd eat gone-off ggs but not orange juice?

Auntie Climax · 30-01-2013, 20:23

Nothing lasts long enough in my house to go out of date.

EStaffs90 · 30-01-2013, 20:24

I have a rule - if it smells funny, then I don't eat/drink it. I currently have yet to come to harm.

Northcroft · 30-01-2013, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by maurice45

You'd eat gone-off ggs but not orange juice?

No, eggs which are a month out of date aren't gone off
Besides, it's very easy to tell if any eggs off before and after cracking the shell

j4the1 · 30-01-2013, 20:29

If it looks good it's ok.

Sammi_Roberts · 30-01-2013, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auntie Climax

Nothing lasts long enough in my house to go out of date.

Haha same here

I think I need to put DONT eat before dates on our food.

maurice45 · 30-01-2013, 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northcroft

No, eggs which are a month out of date aren't gone off
Besides, it's very easy to tell if any eggs off before and after cracking the shell

The see if it floats test?

Suzywong 63 · 30-01-2013, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by EStaffs90

I have a rule - if it smells funny, then I don't eat/drink it. I currently have yet to come to harm.

Same here,i have eaten yoghurt a week out of date and even gave my OH cheese that was 3 months out,though I didnt tell him,and we are still here.
If it smells ok and has no mould I dont really mind,though I wouldnt eat out of date fish.

Dan Fortesque · 30-01-2013, 20:38

If it looks and smells ok then it usually is.

burnt toast · 30-01-2013, 21:03

Cheese doesn't go out of date.. you just cut the green bits off and eat it. Milk does no harm when it's off. I use milk until it goes funny in tea and then it's time to chuck it out.

I got into conversation by email with customer services at Quorn because it says on their slices packaging.. use within two days of opening, so I asked what happens after two days. She said nothing happens, you can eat it till it goes dry. She also said you could freeze it when it says on the packet not to freeze it. So packet instructions are rubbish.

Northcroft · 30-01-2013, 21:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by maurice45

The see if it floats test?

If it rattles it aint a lot of cop
I'm actually chomping on some Bombay mix now, best before sept 12, taste alright to this bloke

gemma-the-husky · 30-01-2013, 22:11

i expect a nice sticker with a reduction, when studd approaches the sell by.

whoever,hey · 30-01-2013, 22:25

I go by smell.

breppo · 31-01-2013, 01:06

In The Netherlands there's a whole discussion going on after it became known that more than 400.000 loafs of fresh bread are thrown away every day. That's one in five loafs.
And enormous amounts of pasta (25%), rice (40%), potatoes etc. On average 14% of daily groceries is thrown away by consumers. Taking into account food that is not sold at supermarkets, restaurants etc., and food that doesn't even make it to market, a staggering 40% of all food is wasted.

Mostly because of those Best before... dates. Which have more to do with quality than food safety.

Apart from fresh meat and fish, I don't care for those BB dates.

Pixie Queen · 31-01-2013, 05:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sammi_Roberts

Haha same here

I think I need to put DONT eat before dates on our food.

I've not tried that yet but The Slavettes have started leaving post-its on food "Mum and Dad's - do not eat" This is just so they can eat it. Strangely it's usually the goodies like crisps, biscuits and ice-cream. Himself and I hardly ever eat biscuits, crisps or ice-cream. If we fancy ice-cream I make it. Then the two of us scoff it all before The Slavettes know it's there.

grimtales1 · 31-01-2013, 08:27

I take more notice of Use By dates (things like milk and orange juice I'm very careful with). But I've eaten stuff like salami/cold meat that was a week past its Use By date and it was absolutely fine.
With Best Before I really dont care, I've had butter that was weeks/months past its BB in the fridge and its fine. With potatoes cant they last for weeks (as long as theyre in the dark?) I thought you could just cut the sprouty bits off and cook them.

molliepops · 31-01-2013, 08:31

Yogurt lasts a while after the use by date, it's milk gone off after all so will take a while to get worse.

Cheese often we just cut off the mouldy bits, never come to any harm doing that.

Eggs last ages, the float test will only tell you how fresh it is not if it's off, only way to tell that is to crack it and you very quickly know if it's OK or not doing that.

Smell and sight are the ways to judge foowhollywholey ridiculous sell by systthroughlyghorly on the side of the shops IMO making people throw good food out and buy more of the same.

smudges dad · 31-01-2013, 09:10

The one thing that makes me chuck is gone off milk (and cat sick, fresh litter tray, but they're not food) soa quick sniff and if there's any doubt it's out. Everything else should be fine, but I would be very wary about fish, chicken or processed meats, but a steak can mature for a bit longer. As long as veg are not mouldy or too soft, they are usable.

petit-pois · 31-01-2013, 10:02

I'm really strict about dates. Even Best Before dates. It's more in my mind than it is to do with taste. If I know it's "gone off" according to the packet, I'm put off eating it. I have eaten custard and also crisps that were out of date (by at least a month). I didn't know it at the time and I couldn't tell while eating them!

I can tell when Coke is past it's Best Before date. It tastes strange. I bought a bottle in the local newsagents recently, took a swig and it tasted weird. Looked at the date and it was two months over. Now I check before buying.

A little while ago I had a pack of 6 Sainsbury's eggs that still had a week left on the date. I had already cracked one which was fine. Cracked the next one and it was black! And stank sooo bad. Now I know you can't always trust the date on the pack!

Utopian Girl · 31-01-2013, 10:10

A few days if kept refrigerated is fine by us - although rice is a frightening one to keep!

I can't do soggy salad from bags even if they're not passed a date! I don't eat meat or fish but I'm careful with chicken/fish for hubby.
Eggs a few days out are ok if the weather hasn't been too hot.

I use common sense - when we got home after Christmas my daughter had thrown the contents of my fridge & I knew some was still in date for another week; tbh I think it was my son in law to be, he's paranoid.

I've bought houmous with a good week or so on the date and its been off, so I make my own now. My daughter is a manager for our biggest supermarket & I know how things are stocked - in fairness they're pretty strict but there's always something along the line that could happen.

Johnnys Arcade · 31-01-2013, 11:31

Things like cheese & soft drinks are Ok, But I would NEVER eat out of date MEAT , POULTRY or SEAFOOD. That is just asking for food poisoning. Smell is as good a test as any. If iT smells bad CHUCK IT!

c4rv · 31-01-2013, 12:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by potatolegs

I have a rule. If it has a BB date, I could eat it up to a week later (a month for crisps) I love stale Wotsits.
Use by dates, I only go over 2 days at most (except milk which like you, I am very wary about)

ETA - I do the egg float test too.. If it floats it's bad, if it sinks it's Okay.

I believe the float test does not work on eggs that have been stored in the fridge

sy278 · 31-01-2013, 12:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by petit-pois

I'm really strict about dates. Even Best Before dates. I

Best before dates are all about tatse and quality, there is nothing wrong with them beyond these dates, just taste may be slightly compromised or texture slightly different.

BB dates are also likely to be banned soon, due to the amount of food wastage they cause.

Use By dates are safety dates as beyond these dates the food may have dangerous bacteria levels.

30-01-2013, 20:20	#1
Northcroft Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: North Essex Posts: 421	Do you take any notice of use by dates? I don't give a fig about them I eat eggs which are a month and more out of date, they don't stink I eat butter which is weeks out of date Crisps can be a year out of date for all I care And chocolate Only things I'm wary of is milk/yogurt/orange juice

30-01-2013, 20:22	#2
potatolegs Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,602	I have a rule. If it has a BB date, I could eat it up to a week later (a month for crisps) I love stale Wotsits. Use by dates, I only go over 2 days at most (except milk which like you, I am very wary about) ETA - I do the egg float test too.. If it floats it's bad, if it sinks it's Okay.

30-01-2013, 20:23	#3
maurice45 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Quahog Posts: 28,142	You'd eat gone-off ggs but not orange juice?

30-01-2013, 20:23	#4
Auntie Climax Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 873	Nothing lasts long enough in my house to go out of date.

30-01-2013, 20:24	#5
EStaffs90 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Underneath Tom Hiddleston Posts: 6,712	I have a rule - if it smells funny, then I don't eat/drink it. I currently have yet to come to harm.

30-01-2013, 20:29	#6
Northcroft Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: North Essex Posts: 421	Quote: Originally Posted by maurice45 You'd eat gone-off ggs but not orange juice? No, eggs which are a month out of date aren't gone off Besides, it's very easy to tell if any eggs off before and after cracking the shell

30-01-2013, 20:29	#7
j4the1 Inactive Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: London Posts: 629	If it looks good it's ok.

30-01-2013, 20:29	#8
Sammi_Roberts Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 851	Quote: Originally Posted by Auntie Climax Nothing lasts long enough in my house to go out of date. Haha same here I think I need to put DONT eat before dates on our food.

30-01-2013, 20:30	#9
maurice45 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Quahog Posts: 28,142	Quote: Originally Posted by Northcroft No, eggs which are a month out of date aren't gone off Besides, it's very easy to tell if any eggs off before and after cracking the shell The see if it floats test?

30-01-2013, 20:34	#10
Suzywong 63 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 603	Quote: Originally Posted by EStaffs90 I have a rule - if it smells funny, then I don't eat/drink it. I currently have yet to come to harm. Same here,i have eaten yoghurt a week out of date and even gave my OH cheese that was 3 months out,though I didnt tell him,and we are still here. If it smells ok and has no mould I dont really mind,though I wouldnt eat out of date fish.

30-01-2013, 20:38	#11
Dan Fortesque Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancashire Posts: 25,833	If it looks and smells ok then it usually is.

30-01-2013, 21:03	#12
burnt toast Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: London Posts: 2,418	Cheese doesn't go out of date.. you just cut the green bits off and eat it. Milk does no harm when it's off. I use milk until it goes funny in tea and then it's time to chuck it out. I got into conversation by email with customer services at Quorn because it says on their slices packaging.. use within two days of opening, so I asked what happens after two days. She said nothing happens, you can eat it till it goes dry. She also said you could freeze it when it says on the packet not to freeze it. So packet instructions are rubbish.

30-01-2013, 21:11	#13
Northcroft Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: North Essex Posts: 421	Quote: Originally Posted by maurice45 The see if it floats test? If it rattles it aint a lot of cop I'm actually chomping on some Bombay mix now, best before sept 12, taste alright to this bloke

30-01-2013, 22:11	#14
gemma-the-husky Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 17,858	i expect a nice sticker with a reduction, when studd approaches the sell by.

30-01-2013, 22:25	#15
whoever,hey Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 30,072	I go by smell.

31-01-2013, 01:06	#16
breppo Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cathedral of Motorcycle Racing Posts: 2,410	In The Netherlands there's a whole discussion going on after it became known that more than 400.000 loafs of fresh bread are thrown away every day. That's one in five loafs. And enormous amounts of pasta (25%), rice (40%), potatoes etc. On average 14% of daily groceries is thrown away by consumers. Taking into account food that is not sold at supermarkets, restaurants etc., and food that doesn't even make it to market, a staggering 40% of all food is wasted. Mostly because of those Best before... dates. Which have more to do with quality than food safety. Apart from fresh meat and fish, I don't care for those BB dates.

31-01-2013, 05:02	#17
Pixie Queen Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: My Own Little World Posts: 1,102	Quote: Originally Posted by Sammi_Roberts Haha same here I think I need to put DONT eat before dates on our food. I've not tried that yet but The Slavettes have started leaving post-its on food "Mum and Dad's - do not eat" This is just so they can eat it. Strangely it's usually the goodies like crisps, biscuits and ice-cream. Himself and I hardly ever eat biscuits, crisps or ice-cream. If we fancy ice-cream I make it. Then the two of us scoff it all before The Slavettes know it's there.

31-01-2013, 08:27	#18
grimtales1 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: St. Albans, UK, Team Wagner Posts: 42,874	I take more notice of Use By dates (things like milk and orange juice I'm very careful with). But I've eaten stuff like salami/cold meat that was a week past its Use By date and it was absolutely fine. With Best Before I really dont care, I've had butter that was weeks/months past its BB in the fridge and its fine. With potatoes cant they last for weeks (as long as theyre in the dark?) I thought you could just cut the sprouty bits off and cook them.

31-01-2013, 08:31	#19
molliepops Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: woking Posts: 21,678	Yogurt lasts a while after the use by date, it's milk gone off after all so will take a while to get worse. Cheese often we just cut off the mouldy bits, never come to any harm doing that. Eggs last ages, the float test will only tell you how fresh it is not if it's off, only way to tell that is to crack it and you very quickly know if it's OK or not doing that. Smell and sight are the ways to judge foowhollywholey ridiculous sell by systthroughlyghorly on the side of the shops IMO making people throw good food out and buy more of the same.

31-01-2013, 09:10	#20
smudges dad Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fort William Posts: 22,292	The one thing that makes me chuck is gone off milk (and cat sick, fresh litter tray, but they're not food) soa quick sniff and if there's any doubt it's out. Everything else should be fine, but I would be very wary about fish, chicken or processed meats, but a steak can mature for a bit longer. As long as veg are not mouldy or too soft, they are usable.

31-01-2013, 10:02	#21
petit-pois Forum Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: South-East England Posts: 645	I'm really strict about dates. Even Best Before dates. It's more in my mind than it is to do with taste. If I know it's "gone off" according to the packet, I'm put off eating it. I have eaten custard and also crisps that were out of date (by at least a month). I didn't know it at the time and I couldn't tell while eating them! I can tell when Coke is past it's Best Before date. It tastes strange. I bought a bottle in the local newsagents recently, took a swig and it tasted weird. Looked at the date and it was two months over. Now I check before buying. A little while ago I had a pack of 6 Sainsbury's eggs that still had a week left on the date. I had already cracked one which was fine. Cracked the next one and it was black! And stank sooo bad. Now I know you can't always trust the date on the pack!

DS Forums

Do you take any notice of use by dates?

31-01-2013, 10:10	#22
Utopian Girl Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 7,610	A few days if kept refrigerated is fine by us - although rice is a frightening one to keep! I can't do soggy salad from bags even if they're not passed a date! I don't eat meat or fish but I'm careful with chicken/fish for hubby. Eggs a few days out are ok if the weather hasn't been too hot. I use common sense - when we got home after Christmas my daughter had thrown the contents of my fridge & I knew some was still in date for another week; tbh I think it was my son in law to be, he's paranoid. I've bought houmous with a good week or so on the date and its been off, so I make my own now. My daughter is a manager for our biggest supermarket & I know how things are stocked - in fairness they're pretty strict but there's always something along the line that could happen.

31-01-2013, 11:31	#23
Johnnys Arcade Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: 114 Gorgie Road Edinburgh EH11 Posts: 2,744	Things like cheese & soft drinks are Ok, But I would NEVER eat out of date MEAT , POULTRY or SEAFOOD. That is just asking for food poisoning. Smell is as good a test as any. If iT smells bad CHUCK IT!

31-01-2013, 12:07	#24
c4rv Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Essex Posts: 16,218	Quote: Originally Posted by potatolegs I have a rule. If it has a BB date, I could eat it up to a week later (a month for crisps) I love stale Wotsits. Use by dates, I only go over 2 days at most (except milk which like you, I am very wary about) ETA - I do the egg float test too.. If it floats it's bad, if it sinks it's Okay. I believe the float test does not work on eggs that have been stored in the fridge

31-01-2013, 12:41	#25
sy278 Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 1,121	Quote: Originally Posted by petit-pois I'm really strict about dates. Even Best Before dates. I Best before dates are all about tatse and quality, there is nothing wrong with them beyond these dates, just taste may be slightly compromised or texture slightly different. BB dates are also likely to be banned soon, due to the amount of food wastage they cause. Use By dates are safety dates as beyond these dates the food may have dangerous bacteria levels.