Beef mince past use by date - bin it?

skintchick

I personally always deliberately keep mince until it goes brown, as it tastes nicer, and I have not died yet!! A couple of days over date is fine for beef.

Chicken and pork are a different matter, and I never buy lamb so can't comment.

But it would have been fine to use. I'm also one for trusting my nose on this issue - or my cat!!

squeaky

I used to do that too because cats are notoriously fussy, unlike most dogs

But I can't do that any more because Sally is not interested in any human food at all. Unless that means that ALL my food is rotten? Nah...

cymro1170

honey wrote:

I could do with one of those icons too! I had to throw a whole free range chicken away yesterday because it went out of date on Saturday! I'm still annoyed now but it wasn't worth the risk.:mad:

Walks away muttering: I must be more organized, I must be more organized.

You're in a different ball park when it comes to "off" chicken.....

Addy

I'm with the sniffit-and-see brigade! Use by dates are all well and good, but I do think the manufacturers tend towards overcautious - who can blame them in this litigious society.

I've inadvertently given the kids fromage frais which is a week out of date, and they've not had any adverse reaction

competitionscafe

bingo_bango wrote:

TBH, I would rarely use mince more than 24 hours after purchase, and I'm a time served butcher. You CAN use it, but the risk of food poisoning becomes greatly increased in minced meat after 24 hours. Whole joints will have a slightly longer shelf life.

I agree with this - using your own judgement is all very well and I am not a slave to use by dates for most products but minced meat i would not take a risk with - I have also been told that minced meat should be used or frozen within 24 hours. (This is also why most sausages contain preservatives).

I have had a bad case of food poisoning (12 years ago and not from my own cooking ) I don't think that it's worth spending 2 or 3 days feeling like you are dying (and feeling very weak for days afterwards) just for the sake of saving a few quid. I could go into graphic details but you probably don't want me to. Lets just say the picture on this site is very appropriate!! -->
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/foodpoisoning1.shtml

Rave

Actually now I come to think of it, when I was a student I left some raw chicken legs in the fridge until they'd unmistakeably begun to turn a bit- there was a definate hint of green about them and they didn't smell all that great. As an inveterate tightwad I wasn't prepared to bin them so I shoved them in the oven and cooked them for a good hour or so, and although they weren't great to eat I didn't get ill. Now I'm older and wiser I almost certainly wouldn't take a risk like that but it goes to show that thorough cooking does kill germs.

Curry_Queen

arkonite_babe wrote:

I'm exactly the same. I have been in a situation previously where I have opened a packet of ham, still well within its use by date and once I get a whif, euuuuch. No way, it goes in the bin. I trust my senses to tell me what's good and what's not.

Oh the times I've done that with chicken before now which was still within it's sell by date ... URGH!!! ... now that's one food I wouldn't take a risk on, and every bit of poultry I use gets the sniff test whether it's in date or not LOL! :rotfl:

miacat

i have used mince a few times when it's gone over a couple of days.( yep i trust my sense of smell,) it tasted just fine and i'm still here!

cymro1170

I think we're all too over cautious these days.
Low fat spread instead of butter, Semi-skimmed milk instead of full fat.....

We're all a bunch of sofites now!
Gas fires and central heating........

Didn't have any of it in the olden days

robnye

we freeze mince on day of purchase, then use 2/3 days later...... by then the use by date has come and gone.......