Do you eat food that's past its sell-by date?

I usually always throw away food that is past the expiration date. If it's slimy, wet, or smells funky, throw it away. The sell by date is different than the expiration date. I think as long as you eat it within a couple days of the sell by date, then you're o.k.

In some foods it does. Just smell it and see if it gives off a very reeky odor... And take a look at how it appears to be in the container. I am very funny about eating foods past the due date too... If you have doubts, just throw it out..

A lot depends on the food itself. If it smells strange or has a slimey or greasy feel to it, then throw it out and particularly if it is a meat product (chicken, turkey, lamb, pork, beef etc). Food is generally packed with 2 dates on it. One is "use by" and the other is "best before" and often they are different dates as well. The dates are "chosen" on the basis that certain foods are at the premium taste if eaten within say 7 days when it actual fact they cah be good for maybe twice that long, depending on how they are stored. We live in a smallish town and lots of stuff is expensive here as they do not have the turnover of product. But every few months we go to visit my partner's family in a large town and stock up on food. Much of what we get we then freeze until we want to use it, so when we take it out of the freezer it is often past the "use by" date. Those foods are kept in the fridge and will last as long as freshly bought producce. If you had no side or ill effects from eating the stir fry, then it must still have been okay.

Hi Liquorice, If it is a best before date rather than a use by date if it looks and smells ok use it. The only thing I really worry about on the dates is fish, pork or poultry as I won't risk that. Years ago we never had dates anyway and larders rather than fridges and if i looked and smelt ok we ate it. Emjoy. Huggles. Ellie :D

hello liquorice! I don't think it's still ok for you to eat it especially it already passed the expiration date. As what you told us it's a little bit damp. There might be any bacteria there now. I really don't know how to explain it because I am not an expert about food. But still don't eat it anymore.