expired salad dressing ---

[mafibisha]

How long past the expiration date do you use it?

I'm making a fab salad later tonight for dinner (DH and kids away) and just realized my fave bottle has expired!
I'm so bummed!
It smells and looks okay --- it expired in April though ---

So how long do you use yours past the date? Or do you?

 

[lakelandgal70]

I am probably in the minority but I throw things out when the expire. Even if they smell and look ok. Would rather be safe than sorry lol

 

[luvmy3]

What kind of salad dressing is it? I just realized that my ranch dressing expired in June I gave it to the kids last night so they could dip their cukes and carrots in it. Nobody complained about any horrible stomach pains
I did throw it out though. I assume it has enough preservatives in it to last a long time, but I do worry when its dairy based. Didn't want to push our luck any further.

 

[msmama]

Like pp said, I'd be more likely to use it if it were non diary based. I probably would never even check the expiration date, lol.

 

[Q-man]

Depends on how much of that time was in the fridge vs on the shelf for me.

 

[Kristibo42]

I always use expired things.

 

[ZehnJahren]

Expired in July? I'd give 'er a whirl.

Expired in April? Toss it.

 

[scrapquitler]

How long past the expiration date do you use it?

I'm making a fab salad later tonight for dinner (DH and kids away) and just realized my fave bottle has expired!
I'm so bummed!
It smells and looks okay --- it expired in April though ---

So how long do you use yours past the date? Or do you?

If it looked and smelled okay, and was NOT a creamy one, I would use it. If it was a creamy one, I probably would throw it away. If it was a new bottle that I was about to open and I realized it was expired, I would use it until I had a chance to get to the store to buy a new bottle. We aren't that picky in my house, and it hasn't killed us yet. In fact, we don't get sick very often, so maybe our immune systems are just robust because we are in contact with everything.

 

[TwoAtDisney]

Depending on type of salad dressing - 1 to 4 months whether on shelf or refrigerated - http://www.eatbydate.com/other/condiments/bottled-salad-dressing-shelf-life-expiration-date/

 

[holden]

In case you want to try something that won't expire... give up bottled dressing. We don't use it. We squeeze some lemon juice and add olive oil. You could also do balsamic vinegar and olive oil. There are tons of great at home recipes out there that are easy to make. Just a thought.

I wouldn't use expired dressing. I also remember reading that you should never use salad past the date - it grows bacteria quickly!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

My thought is... is it worth it to possibly be spending the evening up chucking and feeling miserable.

 

[superchime]

http://www.stilltasty.com/

Probably too late for your dinner tonight, but I love this website for figuring out what is ok to eat and what I should toss.

 

[mafibisha]

http://www.stilltasty.com/

Probably too late for your dinner tonight, but I love this website for figuring out what is ok to eat and what I should toss.

Great site, thanks!

OP here - thanks everyone for the replies.

I tossed it, just to be safe. Although reading the above site (which I love and bookmarked) I think it would have been okay.

Better safe than sorry though!

 

[AnnaS]

I just threw out three bottles last night. Wether or not I want to use it, if someone in the house saw the date, no one would touch it. I know I would not be using three bottles within a week or two. I also threw away two boxes of graham crackers (one opened) and a box of instant mashed potatoes. I have a habit of buying more than I need, on sale, have a back-up and once in a while I have to check my shelves and throw away some things.

 

[pampam]

Usually, such items say "best before". It is suggested you try to use these things before the date, because the quality will start to go down after that specified date. It doesn't say it expires. Expires usually means dead. My DH throws out things on the date mentioned. I don't. I believe such processed foods have enough preservatives in them to last for a bit after the date, but yes, the quality will eventually go down, so they are best used before that date if you can. However, for myself and Dd, we rarely eat processed foods. All our foods are made by me, including salad dressing, ketchup, barbecue sauce etc. DH, on the other hand prefers store bought foods, so if he wants to throw it out, thats ok too.

 

[mafibisha]

I just threw out three bottles last night. Wether or not I want to use it, if someone in the house saw the date, no one would touch it. I know I would not be using three bottles within a week or two. I also threw away two boxes of graham crackers (one opened) and a box of instant mashed potatoes. I have a habit of buying more than I need, on sale, have a back-up and once in a while I have to check my shelves and throw away some things.

That's definitely DD1 also. I do toss items quickly that are made of flour due to those little thingys called .....? Not fruit flies but .... can't think of their name! HAHAHA

Usually, such items say "best before". It is suggested you try to use these things before the date, because the quality will start to go down after that specified date. It doesn't say it expires. Expires usually means dead. My DH throws out things on the date mentioned. I don't. I believe such processed foods have enough preservatives in them to last for a bit after the date, but yes, the quality will eventually go down, so they are best used before that date if you can. However, for myself and Dd, we rarely eat processed foods. All our foods are made by me, including salad dressing, ketchup, barbecue sauce etc. DH, on the other hand prefers store bought foods, so if he wants to throw it out, thats ok too.

I believe this too. I did toss the salad dressing though because it wasn't worth the risk PLUS I looked at the calorie count --

 

[HM]

DH pulled a bottle of dressing out of the pantry the other night. When he tried to pour it, it would not come out and when he squeezed it, it was really thick. Looked at the expiry date.....2009. Nope, not using that one.

I'd have used something that expired in April, after doing a smell and taste test.

 

[LilyWDW]

Not knowing what type of dressing it was, I would say toss it. However, I only use Bolthouse Farms or Maple Grove Farms dressings which DO have an expiration date, not just a best by date.

 

[OklahomaTourist]

How long past the expiration date do you use it?

I'm making a fab salad later tonight for dinner (DH and kids away) and just realized my fave bottle has expired!
I'm so bummed!
It smells and looks okay --- it expired in April though ---

So how long do you use yours past the date? Or do you?

Make sure that for any given product you're looking at a real "expiration" date rather than a manufacturer's "Best By" date. The former is for food safety; the latter is more to for the manufacturer to get you to buy more stuff under the illusion it might be expired.

Many if not most products, especially unopened, are shelf-stable long beyond their "Best By" date. Most times, manufacturers will have a customer service number you can call and ask them what the true shelf-life is.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Article in recent Washington Post about this subject.

Food waste has reached record levels. In the United States, an estimated 40 percent of food is thrown away. It happens at the farm, in transport, at supermarkets and in people’s homes. Last year, a study estimated that the average American family of four wastes $1,560 worth of food annually.

Clearer expiration dates on food cannot alone solve the problem. But a new report, co-authored by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic, argues that revising the convoluted system of date labels would be a simple and straightforward way to slash food waste.