consume by dates on food

[ColinJ]

If I ate meat or shellfish, I'd be fussy about them.

Things like milk, I sniff to check.

Dry foodstuffs like pasta or rice, I go months past the consume by date, sometimes even years.

 

[calibanzwei]

I was using bread on the 10th that had a use by date of the 3rd. Still good.
Shrivelled veg go in one-pot stews and I used 2 week overdue eggs before now - do the water test, all good

 

[Norm]

Just have to be sensible.
Mrs Ian will throw anything away even if it is one day beyond consume or use by date.

You are me and I claim my five pounds.

 

[swee'pea99]

Eggs last for ever. Rice and pasta even longer.

 

[Kestevan]

If it doesn't get up and make a break for freedom when I open the fridge door I'll beat it into submission and eat it.

 

[longers]

Having liberated a jar of marmalade from work today that was best before June last year, I'm not fussy. Tis unopened though.

I'm not sure about these pickled eggs I made in May last year.

Free to a good home?

 

[Bokonon]

There is at least 3 variations of food labeling:

Sell by is for stock management purposes. Shops don't want old stuff hanging around, but it is anyone's guesss as to when it stops being edible.

Best before means it won't have gone hard/soggy before this date depending on whether it is cake/biscuit but will be fine, within reason, after this date.

Use by really does mean this, and there could be considerable risk eating the product after this date.

I read 'consume by' to mean 'use by' so voted accordingly.

 

[tyred]

I remember old folks who cut the blue mould out of the loaf rather than waste it. They all lived into their 80s.

 

[XmisterIS]

I use the dog approach to testing food ...

Sniff ... sniff, niff, sniff ... bark ... sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff ... whine, howl ... sniff, sniff ... *lick* ... sniff, sniff ... CHOMP! ... belch ... wretch ... whine ... vomit ... scratch behind ear ... yawn ... walk away ...

 

[Bird Brain]

I bought this today by accident.It was fine.

 

[swee'pea99]

I remember old folks who cut the blue mould out of the loaf rather than waste it. They all lived into their 80s.

I routinely shave the mould off the parmesan before grating. We don't use it all that often, but I prefer it from a block, so I accept that I just have to take the mould in my stride. No big deal. 

 

[dellzeqq]

very heartening. Like you I find the amount of food we chuck away a terrible shame.

 

[darkstar]

Option 3, no to bothered about the numbers on the packet, so long as it smells/looks/tastes fine.

 

[darkstar]

...well, one hundred years, anyway.

I've eaten one of those eggs in China. It wasn't too bad, but I was with locals so really had to take it in my stride. Wouldn't have it again out of choice, but an interesting experience.

 

[Bird Brain]

very heartening. Like you I find the amount of food we chuck away a terrible shame.

Got to agree dell,that's why I always give it a try.