We were over cooking out with friends one afternoon recently. The Mrs. fixed simple appetizers, and had emptied packages of chips, crackers and dip, in addition to slicing some cheese off a block. I picked up one of the bags of an item I'd never had and noticed the expiration date was over 2 months past. I started then to look at the other packs that other things were in, and everything except one cheese item was at least two weeks past the date. Needless to say, I stopped eating and then texted Mrs. BTG about what I'd seen. She, too, stopped eating the apps. Thankfully, we had brought the steaks for everyone, and they had been cut that morning.

How long after the "best by" date will you continue to consume a product ? This is something that is bothersome to me....almost a phobia. I tend to toss something a day or two after the stamped date, regardless of the product. Milk, I will do a sniff test, but it stays no longer than 3 days past, if that long.

Proteins are typically cooked the day or day after of purchase, unless I'm buying pork shoulders to freeze to smoke later

Y'all good eating expired stuff?.

It depends on how it's stored. Lots of food tastes just fine well after the expiration date if it was in the fridge. If I don't see mold and the wife thinks it still smells ok, I will often eat it. She usually wants to throw it out if it's past the date because she seems to be more sensitive to food quality, but I am more of a cheapskate and hate to waste edible food. My gut rarely complains.

I wouldn't serve outdated food to guests though.

12:01 am on the day after posted expire date and it is in the trash.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/trash-it-or-eat-it-the-truth-about-expiration-dates/

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According to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, manufacturers put "best by" or "best if used by" dates on their products to let retail stores and consumers know how long their products are expected to maintain their best taste and texture.

These dates aren't required by federal law (though some states require them) and don't necessarily indicate a product's safety (with the exception of baby formula). In fact, perishable products are usually safe to consume beyond their "best by" date if they've been handled and stored properly.

But there's no hard and fast rule here it's ultimately up to you to decide whether it's a good idea to go ahead and make that omelet du jour, or to toss the eggs and opt for a bowl of oatmeal instead.

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If it's non-perishable, the date doesn't matter too much unless it gets stale and it just doesn't taste good. Perishable is probably a little different, just need to pass the spoilage / smell test.

I take a hard line on dairy, dairy-based, and meat products.

More liberal on non-perishable items and generally apply a sensory/common sense test.

"Best By" is so subjective. "Existential Threat" would be more useful, IMO.

I had forgotten about a cup of crab soup in the back of my fridge that expired last week. It's still factory sealed, and has stayed cold and I love crab soup so I think I might still risk it.

I largely don't care. If it doesn't smell rotten or have visible mold, I'll probably eat it.

Up until about 90 days ago I'd been the same way my whole life. Would eat whatever, whenever as long as it didn't seem off.

Then I had my first old-food GI issue three or four months ago. I got my weeks confused, and ate leftover pizza with lots of meat that I thought was a little over a week old and looked/smelled fine. It was actually a little over two weeks old. Within 30 minutes I knew something was wrong. Spent the next several hours regretting ever being born.

I'm still fine eating salad dressings and certainly sealed foods like canned goods well past their best-by date; even dairy I'm fine with as long as it doesn't smell sour.

But for cooked leftovers with meat, they're gone after a week for sure. Maybe less depending on the type of meat and presentation.

Used to hang out with a buddy who stocked shelves and managed inventory for lays chips in area stores. Most of the times he had boxes of chips just past their date in his truck, and we just stocked up to take home. It was great!

I'm probably not gonna mess around with dip past the date, but as long as the chip bags were sealed, no issues for me.

bsorry11 said:

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I take a hard line on dairy, dairy-based, and meat products.

More liberal on non-perishable items and generally apply a sensory/common sense test.

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One possible exception to that is yogurt. I took the graduate level course in Food Microbiology and I remember the instructor who has an international reputation in food safety matters, once making the point that yogurt can be used far past its expiration date. I never asked but I presume that only applies if continuously refrigerated.

I throw too much stuff away just because it's close to the date. Much of probably just as good as the day I opened it. I'm terrible with that.

Times like this are when you're happy to have a dad who is a NC State food science graduate. If I ever have any questions, I just call him. He always says that the government had to out those on there for looks. He never lays attention to them when it comes to canned goods, boxed goods, chips, bread, etc. He will pay attention to meats, dairy(eggs, etc but not cheese). He always told me if you put it in the freezer, you can eat it years after it supposedly expires. I trust his judgement.

I don't pay much attention to "dates", until I open them. Generally it is consumed the same day. Opened condiments are refrigerated, but I pay attention to the condition, sight, smell, etc. I don't keep dairy products long, except cheese. I'll trim any molds from block cheese.

I'll keep vinegar based/packed foods WAY longer.

Expiration dates are an item of contention in my yin yang marriage. If it doesn't smell bad or taste bad, I'll keep it. My wife routinely overrides me and empties the pantry and refrigerator of all expired items. It pains me when it's pickled items or canned goods, or even pasta. It doesn't happen often though as we don't buy out too far ahead. Mostly after a big gathering at the house and we buy too much.

As a gesture of good will though she does leave my hot sauces, Asian, and Hispanic spices and dried goods alone.

If meat is 1 week+ old, I can usually smell it. If it passes the sniff test I'm good.

I've only ever had food poisoning from Papa Johns (twice) and a random kebab place in Amsterdam. So my only real food rule is no Papa Johns

Holy moly man that's some TERRIBLE luck with Papa John's!!

Only fast food joint that I know for a fact ever messed me up was Cap'n Ds. Man that was bad night. Never had cheap seafood again.

My wife had a coworker that used to say she was going to Durham to get some good seafood, Captain D's. We got a solid chuckle at that for years.

With that said, I would dominate some Captain D's if someone brought it over. I haven't had it in years, maybe over 10, but I used to enjoy their breading. The crumbs in the bottom of the box were the best part of the meal.

Big difference in best by and use or sell by dates.