299813 Fri Feb 11 21:35:55 -0800 2005 6 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1663142 Just wondering fellow hounds... Was cleaning out my fridge the other day and found some items we had been consuming after their expiration dates. Cream cheese being one item... (2 weeks gone) and bacon another item. (3 days gone) How far do you push your food? Do you ever get the feeling the producers use expiration dates as a marketing tool to get you to replace items faster than what is needed? I have to say, the cream cheese was identical in taste and texture to the day I bought it. Granted, it was Philly or something mass produced and probably full of stabilizers and preservatives. The bacon was cured, and tasted fine. In my defence, I am a new mom and have been a bit too harried to be on top of the fridge inventory - I am usually much more particular about it's contents. But it got me wondering... is 'Best Before' best for us - or the food producers?? Fri Feb 11 21:35:55 -0800 2005 0 Shiro Miso 1 1663143 Expiration dates exist for a reason, and are sometimes mandated by law, depending on product and jurisdiction. However, I view them more as guidelines than hard and fast rules. I doubt very much that they are part of any grand marketing conspiracy by dairies, etc... the vast majority of people buy a fresh container of milk at the store because they drank the last one, not because they let it sit around in their fridge too long. I am a New York City resident, and have always been amused by the expiration dates stamped on milk containers here... I have a quart of 2% in the fridge right now with a sell-by date of Feb 20, "except in NYC, Feb 17." Because, you know, milk spoils faster in the five boroughs. Bottom line: If it smells fine, and it tastes fine, eat with gusto. I *totally* wouldn't give a second thought to eating bacon that's three days over the date (it is, as you say, a cured meat) or for that matter cream cheese that's a little past its expiration date, as long as it smells and tastes okay. - er Link: http://enrevanche.blogspot.com Fri Feb 11 22:11:33 -0800 2005 1663142 0 enrevanche 2 1663152 These dates are often considered "sell by" dates for the store, rather than the consumer. With bacon and cream cheese, I hate to admit it, but both of them are good to me until I see mold. Sat Feb 12 07:18:16 -0800 2005 1663143 0 coll 3 1663174 And sometimes I just scrape off the mold! Especially bacon, which is going to be cooked at high heat anyway. Sat Feb 12 20:30:53 -0800 2005 1663152 0 Ruth Lafler 2 1663171 What's up with that?? Seriously... NYC dates are 3 days earlier? I don't get that at all. Sat Feb 12 19:02:21 -0800 2005 1663143 0 Shiro Miso 3 1663179 My curiosity got the better of me. I did a little research. Article 111 of the New York City Health Code specifies the regulations for the sale of milk in New York City. You can find a copy here (it's a PDF file, so you'll need a copy of Adobe Reader, and also some patience, as it's roughly fifty pages long): http://nysdfi.org/docs/NYChealthdeptArticle111.pdf The relevant section is 111.33, which specifies that milk cannot be sold in NYC more than nine days after pasteurization date. Evidently, standards in the rest of the state permit sale up to twelve days after pasteurization, but NYC felt a need for stricter regulations. There is a lengthy legislative history, showing how the permissible sell-by date has been extended over time as refrigeration technology has improved. - er Link: http://enrevanche.blogspot.com Sat Feb 12 22:34:38 -0800 2005 1663171 0 enrevanche 1 1663147 Now that I have started learning to cook, I have become quite confused about these dates..2 cases 1. Clarified Butter. Went into one of those gourmet stores saw clarified butter. the date was 2 months away and the container was quite large. i wouldn't be able to use this all up. i call the company and enquire about other sizes. I was told that I shouldn't worry about those dates because they keep stuff around for 2 years. the rep told me to take out what i need to use and store that at room temp and to use that up in six months. the remainder, put in the freezer. when i need more, thaw in fridge take out the amt. i need and store at room temp. for usage. Put back remainder in the freezer. These ppl are STRANGE! 2. Demi-Glace. I bought the small one. Not using all that much. Called the company today about storage conditions.the rep specifically said that I should ignore the sell-by date. keep the silver seal on the container, put it in a tupperware or ziploc bag with as much of the aire removed. guy said that as long as I keep water and dirty utensils out of it, it will keep for up to a year after the opening date. STRANGE! Other thing. Buttermilk? Fri Feb 11 22:55:43 -0800 2005 1663142 0 nikki