"Consume within x days of opening"

rebeccak

I've seen the mse article on best before and use by dates but it doesn't answer a question I have.

In addition to this date, a lot of products say "once open consume within x days or weeks". I'm just wondering whether this should be treated as the equivalent of a use by date or if it's just saying that it won't taste as good after this time?

e.g. Some bottles of fizzy drinks say consume with 3 days of opening and some don't have any guidelines whatsoever other than a best before date several months away. In my experience (limited to the shops I frequent), the cheaper supermarket own brands say to consume it within 3 days of opening whereas the more expensive brands don't - so is this a genuine difference in the products and it's worth me spending the extra money on the longer lasting product - or is it just the shop warning me that coke tends to go a bit flat after a few days but is still okay to drink?

I have used tomato ketchup and branston pickle that has been open longer than advised without any ill effects but I don't know if it depends on the product or if across the board I'm safe to just adopt the 'does it taste okay?' test and go ahead and use anything that does?

Sharon87

Just use your own nose and eyes to test whether something is good to eat or not.

For drinks it's more to do with the plastic bottle causing a funny taste, which is why they suggest not to re-use the bottle. I always reuse bottles for a certain period of time though.

I find the 'guide' on open food not to be very accurate as a lot of foods last way longer than they suggest and I've had no ill effects disobeying them.

Even meat, as long as it's stored correctly and used within it's use by date it's fine, no matter whether it says 'use within a week of opening'

Swipe

I never pay attention to those labels and have yet to get ill from it.

Owain_Moneysaver

Once a package is opened the product is exposed to the air which increase the rate of spoilage.

This will be most noticeable with products which are packaged in a protective atmosphere or vacuum packed as they're most sensitive to air.

Taste and smell is the best guide.

teddysmum

The use by, sell by,best before dates will give a safety margin,anyway.


I think another factor with fizzy pops is that they lose fizz once opened, so tend to taste flat.


I've used yoghurts, meats and cheese days after their use before dates, yet have thrown out pork or chicken before the date ; all because of smell.

iammumtoone

good question I have often wondered this myself.

I like the simplicity of best before or use by. I wish the same could be applied to the use within times. For example use within 3 days or best used within 3 days.

My sense of smell isn't very good so that method doesn't work for me. I can never tell when milk is just on the turn I only realise when my tea tastes funny.

I tend to work on the basis if the original date is best before then it is ok after the use within time but if the original date is use by then I take more notice of the use within time IYSWIM.

sarahj1986

I only echo what others have said, if it looks and smells ok I use it.

stephen77

It will vary from product to product.






Fizzy pop - will loose fizz.
UHT milk - will go off in a few days once opened.
Cheese - may get mould on the outside more quickly once opened.




As above if the product is protective atmosphere/vac pack. Opening it will decrease the shelf life.

System

I have jars of sauces in my fridge which have been opened a year ago or more. I'm still here.

I think manufacturers put consume within x days/weeks on their products as the ignorant people will bin it and get more stuff

Lynxe

If it looks off or smells off, I bin it. The only time I really check dates is when I'm actually shopping to get the longest possible - Once its in my kitchen, I judge it by my own standards.

Slinky

Our new fridge seems to keep stuff fresh longer than the old one. Double cream lasts at least a week past the use by date.


The one instruction you do need to follow is to decant stuff from tins into non metallic bowls after you've opened them as once exposed to air, some foods will start to react with the tin.