Do you eat food that’s expired if it still smells and looks fine?

[UGetPaid]

It depends upon the food. As some have said, many dates on canned and boxed items aren't actually expiration dates but instead are "best if used by" dates.  With milk and other dairy products, the date is usually a "sell by" date.  I think most dry goods simply put a one year "best if used by" date on the box.  I guess if I haven't eaten it in a year, what the heck did I buy it for in the first place? LOL! (I know that things sometimes get lost in the back of the pantry cupboard as new stuff is bought and put away)


Milk in our house rarely lasts to the date that is on the container. We usually buy it a gallon at a time and probably go through 2 gallons a week - give or take. So it is almost always used up well before the date. (But I still grab the jug with the latest date on it when I am selecting one from the grocery store cooler).

[LiverDerchie]

 

[Azanne07]

Yes I do depending on what it is the expiration date is the date the companies feels that the food goes bad but depending on how the food was handled and what not there may still be life in it. Frozen foods have expiration dates but how are they bad when they have been frozen

[countrygirl12]

I do not encounter this often. But, life is not free and nor is food. So why not? If it looks fine and such..... And there are no witches to be snitches. I hear this is an American thing. Plus, there are all sorts of games that go on with expiration dates and someone has had to slip up on milk at least once. Maybe you use the milk in something that gets baked.

I have never heard that phrase before. lol  I don't think there are any games played with expiration dates.  That is very serious.  And if anyone "slips up" on the date on milk or anything else that stuff has to be put on hold and cannot be sold.  If milk is spoiled or sour or clabbered from being old you can't even use it to bake because it will ruin it.  If you use milk that is old and smells and tastes old in say muffins it will make the muffins taste bad too.

[countrygirl12]

Yes I do depending on what it is the expiration date is the date the companies feels that the food goes bad but depending on how the food was handled and what not there may still be life in it. Frozen foods have expiration dates but how are they bad when they have been frozen

The frozen dinners will form ice on them after so long and they will taste old.  Technically it won't kill you if you eat it.  But who wants to eat food that tastes bad?

Some canned food the can will swell or rust after so long.  Def do not use it if this happens.  Esp the swelling.  If the seal is broken it can kill you if you eat it.

[heypeg]

Of course the expiration date is a recommendation.

[adriarobi]

Food is not "good" one day, and somehow is "bad" the next day.

Food companies protect themselves with a date, and they also want you to throw it away if "expired" so you will buy new.

Unless it is 6 months, or a year, a lot of stuff I just find ways to use it up.

If you are concerned about the date, find a way to use it to stretch your food supply, and not waste the money.

 

[vickysue]

We give away food all the time at the Ministry of Hope that has a pull date on it of more then a year, companies pull it so they can replace it with new. But unless something is wrong with it like the seal is broken or the can is pouched up on the lid or leaking or rusty it is usually still good and the companies donate it to charity's . EPA  is always checking us and tell us it is good up to 5 years although we have never had that long. We do though pull baby food on the use by date and through it away.

[autumnsparklemom]

If it is a day or two pass the date yes, after a few days I will throw it out.

[rob110]

Negative, I throw it out.

[elvisdo]

I will eat food that is expired if it isn't too far past the expiration date.  I think the date printed is usually the SELL BY date.  Leftover home cooked food, I try to eat by day 3 or 4. 

This is usually correct. It's mostly SELL BY date. My wife is notorious for throwing things out one day after the date and I usually point this out to her.

[mamatygress]

I do.  Most things are good beyond their expiration date.

[Skyisbluetoday]

      I try not to eat expired food any more. I did that years ago and got sick from it. It was an accident that the meal was prepared with expired food. I look at the dates on food, if its expired I throw that food away.     

[LenoraMinogue]

It depends on the food that expiring. Some food is a little more sensitive than others. But yes, if it's a little after the expiration date and still seems fine, then I'll usually still use it.

[judylucas]

You like a lot of things have to use common sense to decide to use or throw  out