Food expiration dates (inspired by egg thread)

[shelbyjosh]

Ever since I have been out of my mother's house, I have always tossed food that is beyond its expiration date. It just irks my mother!! She says all that means is that it can't be sold affter that date. I told her if that was the case there has to be a reason why: it isn't any good anymore!! I will only keep milk until the day printed on the jug. She says it is good for a week beyond that date. Does anybody know any different?

 

[monarchsfan16]

My mom has the same attitude as your mother and I've gotten sick eating the food in the house. So I personally go with your logic. I also won't eat deli meat that's been open for more than 4 days, drink OJ that's been open more than a week, etc. I don't want to go through being that sick again. I'm a believer that that date is the one things have to be thrown out by.

 

[Margie J]

What I toss depends on the item in question. Dairy foods like milk and cottage cheese go out by their expiration date or if they have been opened too long. Items like sour cream and yogurt I might keep longer. Eggs I test after seeing a report that claimed many eggs are repackaged and redated anyway. Dressings and mustards are often ok for longer than their "sell by" or "best quality by" date. Diet soda loses it's taste after it's marked date so that goes out. Deli items go out in days.

What concerns me more, regarding sickness, are foods that aren't prepped correctly or are stored improperly/too long after. Those probably cause more food borne illnesses than stuff in a can, box or bottle with a "sell by" date that is expired by a week or even a month in some cases. I often got sick at my Mom's house and I believe it was her food handling that was at fault.

 

[CEDmom]

Many dairy products are good beyond the expiration date. The date is really a sell by date. The higher the fat content though the shorter the life of the product. Non perishables are guaranteed up to 6 mo past the expiration (or sell by) date.

In most cases you can tell if a dairy product has gone bad. The one I don't fool around with is meat. I don't buy cold cuts very often because we don't eat them quickly enough. When I do buy them if they're not used within 3-4 days I toss them.

 

[slo]

My mother has the same philosophy as you and I somewhat have that same philosophy. I don't throw milk out on the printed date unless it smells bad. I don't throw away bread on the printed date unless it has mold. I do throw away eggs on the printed date because I can't smell or see if it is old.

Actually, each food I hold a different philosophy on when I should throw it away. I have become a lot more strict on myself about removing old items ever since my children were born, because I would feel so quilty if they became sick from old food.

 

[Lewski709]

I don't abide by expiration dates. For those of you who do, where does it end?

Make up, paint, toothpaste, pop/soda, meat...thay all have expiration dates (use by dates).

I've only ever had bad milk (YUK), cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs and watermelon. Never really had any other problems. I knew within a momet and spit the bad out. You can tell by the slime/smell on/of meat if it's no good.

I have a friend who is very insistent on throwing things out beyond the use by date. I LOVE it. I get a lot of things she says are no good.

 

[skiwee1]

I don't eat anything that expires, even if it is the same day. I also can't each luncheon meat after I've had it for 3 days. I keep it for two days and then toss it. I remember a friend of mine's mom used to buy the luncheon meat for school on Sunday and would feed it to her kids all week. Yuck! That stuff was 5 days old by the end of the week. Makes me want to gag just thinking about it!

 

[doxdogy]

I have kept milk up to a week after the expiration date. Just a quick whiff will tell me if it is still good. The only thing I do toss within a few days after purchasing is meat from the deli.

 

[DMickey28]

I have been in food service for a while and after being in that i am much more strict! My mother is not, however I was never sick there so I guess that's good.

I am picky about meats mostly. Chicken most importantly. I also hate to eat defrosted meat. I don't know why. I had an eye of the round roast I took out to defrost on Thursday night and eat Friday. By Friday night it was still hard a rock. Put it in the Microwave and defrosted it but decided to get pizza instead... into the trash it went and I bought another today. I could have put it in the fridge and had it Saturday I am sure but I couldn't do that!!! Such a waste... luckily they were buy one get one free so I didn't feel TOOOO bad!

 

[Lewski709]

I don't wash my fruits and vegetables either!

 

[Beth76]

It depends on what it is. My milk doesn't usually make it to the exp date, but I would throw it out on that date. I will sometimes eat yogurt a day or two past the date. I'm always extra cautious with raw meat. If I'm not sure, it gets thrown out. Deli meat I usually keep for 4-5 days.

 

[JayBee]

Originally posted by skiwee1
I don't eat anything that expires, even if it is the same day. I also can't each luncheon meat after I've had it for 3 days. I keep it for two days and then toss it. That stuff was 5 days old by the end of the week. Makes me want to gag just thinking about it!

I buy my turkey and Ham from the Deli......those big things stay there-in the Deli case- over a week, so it's really oK to eat it from your fridge after 5 days.Really.

 

[PhotobearSam]

I have used stuff as much as 2 days past the expiry date but that is it...

Kraft pruducts all have expiry dates that are just too short...I can't beleive that an un-opened bottle of salad dressing is bad after a few months?!!??

Deli meats are 4 days tops for us...I worked in a Big grocery store chain here in Canada and knew the Deli staff very well and have had lots of conversations on what can be kept and what can't...

If it were Hungarian Salami, I can keep it a week...

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by JayBee
I buy my turkey and Ham from the Deli......those big things stay there-in the Deli case- over a week, so it's really oK to eat it from your fridge after 5 days.Really.

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No thanks!