Quick Questions on food safety / sell by / use by dates

[Deleted User]

Me Neither!!! I'd apply the sniff test to see if it still smelt OK and ultimately the taste test and if it tasted 'off' when it had been cooked I would bin it but if it tastes OK enjoy your meal!!!

chocolatepennyfarthing

Just Discovered a Heston's hidden orange Xmas Pudding that should have been used by Feb this year. (think we were overwhelmed with puds and put this one away for later!).


Is this ok to use? If so, Are there any other ways to serve it than the traditional method. I'm not a great Xmas pud fan and was wondering if it can be incorporated in something like a bread and butter pudding recipe. Thanks.

ampersand

I have some too, from w8ros sell-offs, which is often the fate of ludicrously overpiced HB merchandise here in the Fens.

It will be fine. Freeze it if you want. They work well in icecream - scrummy:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=christmas+pudding+icecream+recipe%23&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-gb:IE-Address&ie=&oe=&gfe_rd=cr&ei=mvIGVOyjPOyq8wfl84CgBA&gws_rd=ssl

Google is your friend.

B+B pudding might be trickier. The inset orange will reduce the eggy bread factor and 'body' of the custard. Half and half with brown or wholemeal bread?

dawn_rose

I sniffed and ate uncooked as it tasted fine. Thanks for replies x

judi24

I have one in my cupboard too! I think I a a year behind! I think i used a year old one last year but also bought another one - only mu mum eats it and she's still here to tell the tale! I will be using the out of date one again this year - and won't be buying another one!!!

Linda32

Yes I do pay attention to use by dates. I honestly feel they are there for a very good reason and not just to make us buy more food.

Best before dates are completely different and are generally found on biscuits and cakes where a product is more likely to go stale and therefore not 'best'

Agentmomo

Hmmm, interesting question... Use by generally applies to meat, Fish, dairy, fresh produce and of course here you do have to be careful. My general rule of thumb is:
If it's meat or fish and reduced because it's close to "Use by" then buy it and freeze same day! Same applies to milk and cream.
If however it is cheese. Well my belief the older the cheese the better it is:)
I agree with Linda32 on the best before dates. This just means that beyond the date the product will not be at it's best, however can still be consumed

[Deleted User]

honeythewitch wrote: »

I would sniff and eat too. People survived without fridges for a long time.

Indeed my late and lovely Mum never owned a fridge,washing machine or microwave, but managed to raise three healthy kids on limited resourses during and after the last war.In fact I think I was about 10 before she actually owned and electric iron,before that it was the flat irons warmed up on the kitchen range or the gas stove.A very lady-like spit on them determined what the heat was :):)We ate what was dished up or went hungry,if the cheese got a bit ...erm old the manky bit was sliced very carefully off and if the jam got 'hairy ' that too had the 'hairy' bits taken off.She cooked with dripping in the frying pan from the sunday joint (if she could get one from the local butcher )we never ate crisps or junk food as it just wasn't available .Food was carefully bought stored and eaten.Milk in the bottle was kept in a pail of cold water at the top of the celler steps and butter was such a rarity in our house it was bought by the quarter pound from the local grocers who would chop a chunk off and wathed by my gimlet eyed Ma would wrap it in greaseproof paper .Tea was bought at first in blue paper cones (leaves of course no tea bags in this country until the 1960s) and weighed out from the same grocers along with sugar.Nothing was ever wasted and she was the queen of recycling bless her.Socks were darned from my two brothers and reknitted if they got too holey.:rotfl:Almost everything was reknitted or re-made if possible.I once had a very smart winter coat my Mum had made from some thick velvet material and she lined it with part of an old army blanket.Her old treadle Singer sewing machine kept us in clothes as everything seemed to be either on ration or just not in the shops
She would have loved this site

pigpen

if it has been kept properly no I take no notice at all.

Best before dates mean nothing other than it may start losing flavour after that date .. it is still edible but might not be as nice.. but that starts happening as soon as it is prepared I reckon.

USE BY .. again, treated with contempt.. I place more value in the ability of my eyes, nose and mouth to tell me whether something is not good to eat than a number that is a legal requirement on a wrapper!!

Trust your instincts

sparrer

Pleased you ate it and didn't waste it dawn rose. Best before dates are, as pigpen says, a recommendation to eat at its best. Use by dates cover the manufacturer so you can't sue them if you get ill after eating beyond the date on the pack. i.e., if I pour out of date milk in my tea and it curdles, it's off so I don't drink it as I might get a stomach ache. If it doesn't curdle I drink the tea. Waste not want not!