Expiration dates

[Syn D]

My husband is having a problem with the problem I have with expiration dates..
He says I throw things away to soon.. We just went through the spice cabinet and he found some spices missing, I said they expired.. Well, he had a problem with that.. I got informed "When I was a kid, my mom didn't worry bout expiration dates, and I am still alive". I was then informed to not throw food away unless I ask him if he'll eat/use it.. For me that's not a problem, if he is willing to eat/use fine, but I wont.. If it says it expires on lets say 9-5-10 (his birthday/today) I'd throw it away..

How do you work with expiration dates, do you throw away immediately or use for sometime after?????

[Neeley]

Depends on the item.

Spices lose their kick so to speak in time, but don't go bad to the point you're going to get ill. I still use them within a reasonable amount of time after their "use by" date.

My uncle works for Nabisco as an account rep. Part of his job is to go into the stores and remove products that are close to their "use by" date. If an item says "use by October 1,2010", then he has to remove it a month before that date. As a result, he has all kinds of Nabisco and Kraft products. He gives everyone in our family Oreos, Triscuits, South Beach bars, Ritz, etc...all are either about to go out of date or have just gone out of date. As long as it is within six months or so of it's date, we consume it.

Refrigerated items like sour cream, salad dressings, mayo, etc...I don't use if it is more than a week or so after the date.

With eggs, I do the float test. If it passes, we still eat it.

[stinkbug]

Spices, I buy small amounts in bulk unless it's something we use a lot. Spices loose their potency, so I replace those often. Canned foods....within a few months. I've noticed expiration dates have gotten shorter. I rarely find anything that has a date more than 6-8 month out.

[Happy Dope]

I'm way anal re: expiration dates. If it's near the expiration date, I get very weary about using it. If it's the date of, I may not use it. If it's after, forget it - it's not in my house anymore.

[mndtrp]

The only thing I stop using by the expiration date is milk. I've been burned one too many times with sour milk. Otherwise, it will generally stick around until used.

The Truth About Food Expiration Dates

Expiration Dates

[Palooka]

If it's expired, I toss it. But I'm freaky about stuff like that.

[Paws]

~Dairy products I will use a day or so after the exp date, but no more than that.
~Most other food items, As long as it's sealed, I'll use after the exp date, within a few months...
~Produce doesn't usually last until the use by date, so when it's no longer fresh, it gets thrown out.
~Cleaning products, I keep until they're used up.
~OTC meds, I use by the exp date or they're thrown out.

[frugalfranny]

Spices lose their potency.......but I still use them. Not going to replace all my spices every three to six months --like they rec. NOPE!!

I am careful with dairy products.........esp. if it is 'ultra pasteurized' - which won't smell bad. Also careful with tomato products.......other than that, I eat it. Usually don't have too much that is past date that I have to worry about.

[Lorelei]

Something like milk, where you can obviously tell if it's good or bad, I'd use a day or two after if it seemed fine. I have accidentally used spices a couple months after the date with no problem. Usually, though, if something is expired, especially a canned good, out it goes.

My husband feels the same way as yours about food. We keep a few things around that only he'll eat because he thinks they're still good when I'm ready to toss.

[leighcat]

Depends on the item.

Spices lose their kick so to speak in time, but don't go bad to the point you're going to get ill. I still use them within a reasonable amount of time after their "use by" date.

Refrigerated items like sour cream, salad dressings, mayo, etc...I don't use if it is more than a week or so after the date.

With eggs, I do the float test. If it passes, we still eat it.

Me too.
I won't use baking mixes like brownie mix or bisquick past the date. They can be dangerous!

[hippytreehugger4ever]

I don't worry about the expiration dates. If something like milk is past the sell by date and it goes sour, just use it for baking. Canned foods are generally fine for a year or two past the date on the can before the quality is affected, unless of course it's bulging or leaking. We still have Chex that expired 12/09 and there's nothing wrong with it.

[tnkyfrugalgal]

leighcat, I am just wondering what possibly would be in bisquick or brownie mixes to make them dangerous to use if it is after the expiration/use by date. Since these are items I don't usually buy I have never heard anything about this aspect. Please explain.

[frugalfranny]

This might help...........

Food Product Dating

The dates aren't as big of deal as some think..........quality drops, but for the most part things are okay.....if not spoiled.

[The Muse]

I use expiration dates as a guideline but common sense gets final say in my house. If it looks and smells ok, I'll use it, but I don't usually have things that are more than a month or two out of date.

[jas]

leighcat, I am just wondering what possibly would be in bisquick or brownie mixes to make them dangerous to use if it is after the expiration/use by date. Since these are items I don't usually buy I have never heard anything about this aspect. Please explain.

I read somewhere awhile back that after the use by date some kind of mold can grow and it can be deadly to some people. I don't use cake mix or any of the other mixes after the expirationdate. hope it helps