Salvage Food Stores...would you shop?

[KristaTX]

This one is in our city http://www.towntalkfoods.net . I've never been to it, but some of our friends go there occasionally. Mostly they just buy chips and snacks for their kids' lunches - stuff that doesn't really "spoil". They say it's Frito-Lay and other national brands.

It's just not my thing, though. But if I had kids or had a really tight budget, I might go there to buy things like that. But I'd never buy meat or dairy. I'm too picky about that.

But without a really tight budget, I'd probably be just about as likely to go there as to Aldi. I've been to Aldi twice, and thought it was gross .

 

[ForAandA]

We go to the Wonder Bread outlet once every 2 weeks. With 6 people in our house bread goes fast! It also freezes very well. Bread is only 99 cents a loaf, and is usually within 10 days of expiration.

I used to go to the Entemann's outlet every Sunday and buy a few boxes. Nowdays they are almost as expensive as the grocery store. it really isn't worth it.

When we first had DD #1, we would drive from NYC to NJ to go to ALDI. This was back in 98-99, before gas prices were crazy. We would make a day of it, and fill our van up! Nowdays all of my local grocery stores double coupons, and I can usually do well with specials.

We don't have a salvage store. Would have no problem trying it though .

 

[pls5286]

If you have someone in your family with a penicillin allergy, you need to be very careful about using bread and bread products that are past their expiration date. Just because you can't see the mold, doesn't mean the spores don't exist. We have had this happen with my son and pancake batter that had just expired so I still thought it was good. Unfortunately, it had microscopic mold spores in it. Thankfully we had an EPI-pen at home.

 

[Grog]

I used to live near a "bakery outlet". It had Entenmanns, Oroweat (Arnolds on the East Coast), Thomas' English muffins, and Bob's Mill, and I think a few other brands? The stuff always had at least a few more days before the "sell by" date.

I go to a Mrs Bairds outlet that has all those brands. Love the bargains and since most of it ends up in the freezer the exp dates don't really matter. I only have to shop there every couple of months. Between free items (one per $6 spent) and their frequent buyers club card (free, they just punch holes in it when you use it. After about $30 you get something free) you can make out like a bandit. Went there last week and got the following...

Eight loaves of Orowheat bread
Three packages of tortillas
Three packages of English muffins
Three packages of bagels
Two packages of Hamburger buns
Two packages of snack pies

Grand total... Just over $21

 

[tvguy]

TV Guy, Canned Food Outlet or something like that on Watt Avenue by Whitney (I think it's Whitney). (between Auburn and Marconi). They have some salvage in there.

Since there is only 2 of us now, I just hit WinCo but I wouldn't have a problem with slightly out of date can goods.

I go by there everyday going to work, but have never been inside.
Thanks


I guess technically 99 cent stores and Dollar Tree are salvage stores, but never have seen anything in there that was anywhere near it's expiration date.
I thought most of their stuff was over stock or stuff that was shipped to the wrong place and it was cheaper not to ship it back......I remember seeing Schnucks store brand shampoo here, that's a St. Louis area grocery store chain.

 

[AndreaDM]

We have a store nearby called The Bent-n-Dent run by some local Amish folks. DW buys quite a lot of stuff there.

We also have an Amish bent n dent. I stop by every few weeks to stock up on coffee, Starbucks for $3 a pound, and on a good day they have k cups and Tassimo discs! . They don't sell any dairy, meat or produce, strictly dry goods. I've also got some of the pricier olive oils for dirt cheap and some OTC meds. Not everything is there because it's outdated, sometimes is just surplus or the packaging got damaged.

 

[Coconut36]

I go by there everyday going to work, but have never been inside.
Thanks


I guess technically 99 cent stores and Dollar Tree are salvage stores, but never have seen anything in there that was anywhere near it's expiration date.
I thought most of their stuff was over stock or stuff that was shipped to the wrong place and it was cheaper not to ship it back......I remember seeing Schnucks store brand shampoo here, that's a St. Louis area grocery store chain.

99 cent/Dollar stores mostly take overstocks, take items where they are discontinuing them or items where the look of the package is changing and they want to get the new one on the shelf.

Sometimes they take in items from out of country (hence the reason there was an issue a while back with toothpaste sold there) as well. In general I don't think they sell anything that is past the expiration date though..at least not that I have seen around here

 

[aprilgail2]

But without a really tight budget, I'd probably be just about as likely to go there as to Aldi. I've been to Aldi twice, and thought it was gross .

We had one open by me- I went in to check it out and really was nothing great- I bought a couple things but didn't like the way they tasted so wouldn't go back and I certainly would never buy meat there!!
I wouldn't shop a salvage store nor do I buy anything edible at the Dollar tree or dollar stores and I don't eat anything past the expiration date. Just picky I guess!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Was the can dented? I have always heard that if a can gets dented, it messes up the film on the inside that preserves the contents, thus the spoiled food.

If a can is dented on the seam (top or side if there is a seam there), it can let in air which will cause spoilage. If the dent is elsewhere it is usable.