[purpleblackqueen]

How far past the Best Before Date do you wait before throwing things out?

I have always thrown stuff out if slightly past the BBD, but am now wondering why, as somethings are still good if just past the BBD.

[♥~Bodhichitta~♥]

For me it depends on what it is. Any pantry items - eg flour, biscuits etc I will keep quite a while past their best before date.

However any fridge items I generally won't use if they go over.

I am overly cautious though

[Chocolate Addict]

It depends on what the product is. If it is pantry stuff like rice, flour, sugar then I pretty much ignore the best before dates.

If it is fridge stuff like sauces I do a sniff/taste test.

Dairy stuff, I do sniff or taste but only a day or two past use by.

I sell chocolate and have some here (not for sale) that is 12 months past best before but it has been stored properly and is totally fine.

[purpleblackqueen]

For me it depends on what it is. Any pantry items - eg flour, biscuits etc I will keep quite a while past their best before date.

However any fridge items I generally won't use if they go over.

I am overly cautious though

All fridge items are ditched once the best before date has past here too,

[lifehacker]

I'm pretty fussy about dates but if it's a 'best before' then to me that means exactly that - it's going to taste better eaten before the date but not kill you if it's a bit over it so I'd probably go a few months over with some things.
If it's an expiry date (use by) like on milk, yoghurt then I would only go a day or so over.

This post has been edited by Mummyone1: 09/12/2012, 01:39 PM

[beccajayne]

I am the same as pp.

Pantry items are ok, just check for anything that doesn't smell or look right.

Anything in the fridge I generally chuck out after the date.

[applepie83]

Wow! I was just thinking the same thing. I am in the middle of a massive cull of pantry items. I was wondering what could be saved beyond BB, ie. herbs, chocolate powder.

It has made me sick thinking of how much money I have wasted with food items that I have not used. Something to work on in the future!

[Funwith3]

My decision is always based on smell and taste. I made a Christmas cake today which needed plum jam. Unfortunately my plum jam had quite a bit of mould growing on top. Jam does this sometimes when it hasn't been used for a while.... I scraped the mould out and used half a cup of the rest of the jam in my cake. Fingers crossed for Christmas day!!!

[TherophosaBlondi]

Best Befores can go quite a while over.

Use bys I go maybe a couple of days and then do sniff/smell/taste. If they don't smell/taste right they go.

Unfortunately my plum jam had quite a bit of mould growing on top. Jam does this sometimes when it hasn't been used for a while.... I scraped the mould out and used half a cup of the rest of the jam in my cake.

To avoid this turn the jar upside down. The jam will be up against the lid so nothing will grow and the bottom of the jar is sterile so, again, nothing with grow.

[blackcat20]

As a PP said, "Use by" shouldn't be used after the date stated (and cannot legally be sold), but "Best Before" means you can use your own judgement. Sniff and taste, and if you aren't happy, toss it out.