We were given frozen smoked salmon that expired a long time ago
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (52217)
Staten Island, New York
February 11, 2020 4:37pm CST
Hubby and I went to his parents' house Sunday and ended up staying for dinner. Before we left, his mom gave us some food related stuff to take home. I didn't even see what she packed for us.
When we came home and hubby unloaded the stuff I saw that she gave us frozen smoked salmon. I looked at it. Its color did not look appealing to me at all. Hubby said it's probably because it is frozen. I then noticed the date printed on the packaging. Don't remember the exact date but it was best by August 2019. There is no way I am going to eat this salmon. And I will not let hubby eat it either. Why would she freeze smoked salmon and keep it there for so long? And why would she give it to us if the date long expired?
I wonder what the date on the two packs of frozen rack of lamb is that she also gave us. Last time she gave that to us it had expired a long time ago as well. And I threw that out. I will have to go check.
5 people like this
6 responses
@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
11 Feb 20
I agree with @marguicha that best buy is not the expiry date. Over here the stamp says "best to consume before" the date indicated but it is still edible and palatable after that date. We have lots of the so called "expired" chocolates that we still eat simply because it had stayed too long in our fridge.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
11 Feb 20
@lovebuglena oh, I'm sorry I don't know the allowable period. But I guess if the food is remained frozen then it can last for months.
@lovebuglena (52217)
• Staten Island, New York
11 Feb 20
@Alexandoy In this case 6-7 months have passed since the best by date. I don't know when she bought the smoked salmon and how long it's been in the freezer but I am assuming the smoked salmon was frozen for at least 6-7 months.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52217)
• Staten Island, New York
11 Feb 20
How long after the best by date is a product still edible?
2 people like this
@marguicha (230365)
• Chile
11 Feb 20
I would have eaten it. Best buy does not mean it is expired. And "smked" means that there is more time to eat it.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52217)
• Staten Island, New York
11 Feb 20
But if something is best by mm.dd.yyyy does that mean you can eat it many months after if it was frozen?
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@marguicha (230365)
• Chile
12 Feb 20
@lovebuglena Yes. I have some home frozen meat that I bought months ago. If it is well sealed, it will last longer.
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@LadyDuck (502846)
• Italy
14 Feb 20
@lovebuglena Something smoked is still good to eat. I would be more concerned about non cooked meats.
@lovebuglena (52217)
• Staten Island, New York
13 Feb 20
There was no expiry date on the package. Only a best by date.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128854)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Feb 20
There is a difference between "best used by" and "expiration date." I'm trying to remember back to my grocery retail days, but my memory is a little foggy. I know it depends on the food product, but in general most food is still good up to 30 days after the "best used by" date. August 2019 was quite a while ago, so I'm not sure I would trust it, but in general if it has been frozen that whole time, then technically it probably could still be eaten.
@lovebuglena (52217)
• Staten Island, New York
13 Feb 20
I have no idea if it was frozen that whole time. I think best by would mean it is still good to eat after that date but it may not be as flavorful or as fresh or something like that. But still, it can't be good for consumption many many months after that date.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128854)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Feb 20
@lovebuglena If you can’t be 100% sure it was frozen the whole time, then the safe thing to do would be to throw it out. Better safe than sorry.
@lovebuglena (52217)
• Staten Island, New York
13 Feb 20
@moffittjc Yep. That is what I was thinking of doing. But I don't get what the point is of buying smoked salmon and then freezing it. Why not just buy it when you want to eat? Especially if a person lives very close to a lot of food stores.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222813)
• United States
12 Feb 20
If it was frozen before the expiration date, it should be fine. If it was frozen to being with, then I agree.
@lovebuglena (52217)
• Staten Island, New York
13 Feb 20
The package only had a best by date. I have no idea if she froze it right when she bought it or sometime later.
1 person likes this
