Re: Use by dates

Here in Adelaide we have a store selling food over it's Use by Date . I'm selective in what we buy, but have never been affected by any food. Prawns and some seafoods are one thing I watch carefully.

Like mollie I always check meat in the supermarket for marked down prices, bring it home and put in the freezer. Also buy veges, fruit and do the same for that. Especially veges I can use in soup, dice it up and put it in containers in the freezer until I make some. Fruit which I can use in pies. It's amazing just how much you can cut off your food bill doing things that way.

Remember years ago when nothing had a use by date, so the only way to see if it was still alright was to taste and smell it.

Re: Use by dates

I do believe fruit and vegetables loose a lot of their nutrients as they age.

Re: Use by dates

Absolutely. I eat loads of stuff that is "out of date" and, like others, buy stuff that is discounted because it has reached its "use by" date. That's what freezers are for! If you think about it, the "use by" date has to have some leeway built in or the shops would be at risk of poisoning us all

So there is almost always a few days after the given date that it is safe to eat.

Re: Use by dates

I bought some Christmas mince pies; the label on the packet said use before 30th November

Re: Use by dates

Just as well you didn't bring 'em here matey, they'd be hard put to last till the 20th, let alone 30th November.

Re: Use by dates

Lol I have to make them as we want them because they are something various members of the family cannot resist

Re: Use by dates

Julie darlin' - Dragon used to make 3 dozen of them at a time. We all (George, my sisters and I) would stand round in the kitchen waiting for Dragon to lift them out of the oven. I don't think she ever got to put them on the plate to cool, we'd be eating them hot straight out of the oven - fabulous!!!!

Re: Use by dates

Memories ! I have fond memories of my gran making them and the entire family waiting for them to come out of the oven even my Mum would raise herself from her stupor for a mince pie !

Re: Use by dates

Yes Julie - memories. At one time, Dragon borrowed from a neighbour a large cake tin (it had a false bottom that lifted out - but Dragon didn't know this). She made a large chocolate cake. As she was lifting it out of the oven she put her hand underneath the tin, the bottom lifted out, taking the cake with it and the cake rolled on the floor then broke apart. I remember sitting on the kitchen floor eating chocolate cake off the floor - it was fabulous!!!

Re: Use by dates

LOL that reminds me of first time I baked in a loose bottom tin, we had happy dogs that day never seen 3 terriers move so fast !