Any time most of us talk about storing food, canning, or buying in bulk when things are sale, the question comes up — “What about expiration dates?” There’s an article in the online version of our local newspaper about expiration dates. After reading it, I had to smile and I thought to myself . . the dates don’t really matter! And honestly, in my mind . . they don’t! Commonsense is what matters to me.
When grocery shopping, I’m real picky about dates on cheese, milk, raw meat, and things like that. If there’s meat that has a “sell by” date of today or tomorrow, and it’s marked down, I’m grabbing it. But if it has a near expiring “sell by” date, I’m not getting it. As far as canned goods, I will look for the freshest use by or sell by date I see. Once I get it home, of course I freeze any meat that isn’t going to be used right away but most canned items, I don’t don’t worry a whole lot about. Salad dressings, mayonnaise and anything with oil in it seems to go bad but canned veggies, dry beans, rice properly stored . . I just don’t worry about. If I open something and it looks suspect or smells funny, I toss it.
With eggs, it’s pretty easy to know if they’re fresh or not. Fill a deep bowl with enough cold water to more than cover the egg. Place the egg in the bowl. If it sinks to the bottom, it’s good. If it floats, toss it. If the big end sinks but the tip stands up, it’s still ok but should be used soon. Of course, my eggs don’t come with expiration dates but we use them, sell them or give them away way before any of them go bad.
So . . use your own judgment about those dates and remember that not everything that’s past the sell by or use by date is necessarily no good.
Diana in RR,TX says
When we lived overseas (Asia) if I went by the expiration dates I probably would have bought very little from the stores that catered to us Westerners! Opened a can of coffee one time-the coupon had expired very early the year before! By the way, the eggs were not refrigerated. Had only a couple bad ones in the 10 years living there. Like you said, if it smells bad, the lid is convex-out it goes. Otherwise, we pretty much eat it! I also look for the meat now that is reduced because it is at the sell by date it comes home and goes in the freezer. Have bought some really good cuts like that. back to freezing pumpkin for pies. That has been my job for the afternoon. Have enough for 10 pies so far!
Toni Wood says
I so agree. Always use what my grandmothers used, your nose for smell, eyes for appearance and lastly taste. It’s what everyone used until Uncle Sam said we didn’t have enough sense to take care of ourselves.