Ultimate Use by/sell by challenge

C_Mababejive

We all know how many thousands of tons of food are binned each year in the UK just because people panic over the sell y /use by date.

And so i now proudly present the ultimate use by challenge for those old school aficionados of food husbandry who can remember the days before these dates when the closest thing to a fridge was a cool,tiled larder cupboard with a couple of flyscreened vents to outside.

My entry today is..

Yesterday 17/3/14in my work lunch box i packed a danone Activia yoghurt with a use by date of 18/2/14

It was duly opened at lunchtime,looked,smelled and tasted as good as new and was enjoyed with no ill effects..

newthrift

I would be interested in taking on this challange. I don't worry TOO much about sell by / BBE dates. Use by I do vary depending on what it is, but I will take a wiff at it see if I think it's safe or not!

I keep meaning to do an order on the approvedfood website.

tiny_courageous

I don't worry too much about BBE, am working my way through an approved food stockpile most of which is dated 2011-2012.

Use by I'm a bit more careful on, but the sniff test goes a long way.

pm2326

Having porridge for tea tonight

Porridge dated 12/2013
Raisins dated 02/2014
Cashews 06/2013
cinnamon 06/2013

Milk is only thing in date !

~_Aridjis_~

I have quite a few spices that are out of date, but not fresh things.

newthrift

Used a Coleman's chicken chaussear dry packet mix for tea tonight that was dated BBE June 2013! Tasted lovely

TravellingAbuela

Currently using a bottle of Booth's BBQ sauce which I use when I make Hunter's Chicken - it's dated BBE November 2011. It's fine and it's been open in the fridge for around 6 months - despite it saying on the label "once opened consume within 6 weeks"!! I take no notice whatsoever of BBE dates and even "Use by" dates are often ignored if the sniff test deems the product safe to eat!

Lilyplonk

I'm getting much braver at 'use by' and 'best before' dates.

The things that REALLY MATTER, such as chicken / pork / fish / shell-fish / soft cheese are the definite nono's.

I'll 'take a chance and sniff' at lots of the 'dairy products' - including spreads / cheese with no ill-effects, so far - though I've got into the habit of grating large amounts of cheese and storing it in bags in the freezer. When I see a HUGE block of 'whoopsied' cheese, there's no way I'm leaving it on the shelf just because I don't think I can use it within date ....... .

I've also learned my lesson where fruit/veg are concerned - they darn near crawl into the kitchen bin by themselves when 'their time is up' . Most veg gets used up in soups and most fruit gets stewed then frozen to be eaten with yoghurt. I actually prefer apples when they're 'past their best' - much kinder to my teeth .

Occasionally, a 'green leafy thing' has got left in a cupboard in the dark when the fridge drawer is full - but they pretty soon let you know of their own accord that they're 'past it'. Nothing quite like the smell of an ancient cauli / cabbage / courgette to awaken the nostrils :rotfl:.

Whoopsied Bread now gets split into half-loaves and frozen - try to keep wrappers so that they're 'more or less' in one that resembles what kind of loaf it is . Had to start doing that after I heard dgd2 (age5) telling her mother (my DD) that 'Narnie's bread has green furry spots' :eek: .

Lots of 'ood' herbs/spices - tough luck, they're getting used! They're dried for goodness sake - would worry if damp got into them though.

Cereals are kept in 'air-tight containers' - just check for crawlies (weevils etc) before using . Same with flour - though I don't like using that if it's gone more than 2mths past date - I find the SR Flour loses is raising power.

Just can't get my head around why manufacturers label pickles etc 'Once opened refrigerate and use within 6wks of opening' ................... they're soaking in vinegar to preserve them!!!!! My nan didn't have a darned fridge and her pickles just sat on the shelf in her cupboard for weeks - same with Brown Sauce - and I'm still here to tell the tale.

I've also used eggs that are up to 3wks past their date - just crack them into a cup and have a sniff. If they're 'off' you certainly know about it :rotfl:. The only time I wouldn't break that 'Best Before guideline' would be with young children, older people or anybody with 'niggly/serious digestive issues'.

BAGGY

It really aggravates me when my friend, who is a 'use by loon', brings round OOD food to us because she wont risk it. Things like 'This bread runs out today but should be ok'. Has it got spots? Is it still squishy? Then use it! Also whoever heard of veg being grown with BB dates.
She once bought round tea that had run out. I had to point out to her that, 1 it was grown with out a BB date, and 2, it used to take months if not years on a tea clipper from India to get here. Acouple of months aint gonna make a difference.

C_Mababejive

A good tip for bread products eg bread sliced,rolls,subs,ciabatta etc..if they feel a bit..er..firm..just blip them in the microwave on medium for about 20 secs..good as new

morg_monster

We found a can of mushroom soup with a BB date of August 2008 last week... we moved into our house December 2009 so it moved with us!! I think there's a decent chance we bought it in the first shop we did in our rented flat in summer 2006...
Anyway we did open it with plans to use it in a pasta bake, but it smelled gross so we tipped it down the sink. Think 5.5 years might be pushing it a little...