QOTD 2/3

minionlover

Do you get rid of food that is past its expiration or "best by" date?

catwine

Depends on the food.  Dairy, yes. Meat and bread, no.  The majority of the bread and meat we buy is expiring soon so we get it at a good price then freeze it.

WillyH19

Not particularly. We are terrible about cleaning out the fridge. 

I think I found something in there the other day that expired in 2013, oops!

I do get rid of dairy by the expiry date though. 

mana8503

Not really, I sniff test it if it's dairy and close to the date. 

ramstein1027

Not bread or grains, but dairy and meat usually.  I clean the fridge out pretty regularly.  We eat a lot of fresh stuff so it gets funky in there if I don't.

islandmonkey8

Eh. We get rid of it if it goes bad. Dairy rarely gets to the point of going bad. Mustard, ketchup and stuff? Hell no. I don't even think that stuff can go bad!

mrshall1027

I'm pretty picky and will not eat anything past it's expiration date unless it's meat that was frozen.  Even then, it can't be too long after.

goatlady12

I feel like this is a confession... I sniff test everything.

However, if I'm making food for other people I will not use anything past expiration date.  

consciousdear88

Some stuff, yes. I'm big on getting rid of dairy if it hits that point. Other stuff, it's hit or miss.

xxjen015

Dairy, if I've actively been eating or drinking it, I'll continue use for a couple days after. Meat, unless I froze it by expiration, I won't use that. Condiments and such, unless it looks, smells, or tastes funny...it's fair game.

sjs1013

I am very crazy about that.  I drink organic milk now that has a long expiration date.  I used to get rid of milk, regardless of smell on the expiration date.

Salad dressing used to get thrown out, but now I kind of roll with it. 

I have an irrational fear of mold.  I throw out bread if I think it might be moldy.  With bread, expiration dates mean nothing. 

I used to throw things away at the expiration date.  A few months ago, the Today show did an article about expiration dates on foods.  Most of them are just because they are required by law to put one on them.  Most items canned/jarred items are good for a long time past the date.  Now I take it in stride.  Except when I comes to O.  With things for her, I strictly follow expiration dates.

I also used to throw away medications.  My allergist told me that most medications are good for a while past the date.  He said he has medications in his house that are years past the date.  I will use medications for a little past the date, but not more than a few months.