Is it really expired, or what?
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (29171)
July 23, 2022 9:26pm CST
Once a month, I make sure the food in my pantry (dry, such as pastas, etc. and canned items), and put the oldest first. I try to keep things current, and not go past expirations.
I have a good friend who is absolutely weird about expiration dates, especially on canned or packaged foods. If the product says use by Aug. 1st, she tosses it at least 2 weeks before that. I tried to tell her, that's not necessary. The 'use by' date is the recommended date. Food in a can does not just automatically say to itself, hey, it's Aug. 1st. I am no longer edible, so I must be destroyed.
There are a lot of articles on this. Canned goods are good for a bit past the expiration dates. If you have something due to expire shortly, eat it, fix it, toss it in the freezer if that works, or give it to someone who would eat it right away. I have opened food I bought that day at the grocery, and it was bad. Food that shouldn't have been that way, like crackers not due to expire, and so forth. The sell by date doesn't mean it dies that day, it means sell it by that day.
Do you keep your food rotated?
16 people like this
16 responses
@DevMrSamEleazar (13701)
• Philippines
24 Jul 22
Ohh. Glad you are not wasting those and have a great plan to not let it past expired date. But here we buying near expiry date food like can, bread or anything cuz we consume it fast and it's more cheaper
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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24 Jul 22
I try very hard not to waste food.
I do know from visiting other countries and from relatives in the UK that Americans have a tendency to keep a lot more food on hand than they do. I know I try to not go to the store very often, and have meals I've prepared in my freezer, as well as ingredients to make more meals. It's just easier for me to do it that way, and I know it saves money as I am not tempted to buy things I don't really need. The last time I was in Europe, the family member I stayed with went to the store every single day. I just can't imagine, but it seems everyone she knows does that.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
24 Jul 22
@MarieCoyle I always wondered about that. Why don't people in other countries keep food on hand like we do in the US? It makes little sense to waste gas and time going to the grocery store all the time. Buy what you need and have it on hand when you'll need it.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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24 Jul 22
@DaddyEvil
I remember the first time I was in a home in the UK. I was astonished that this was the home of a family of 6--mom, dad, and 4 children. The refrigerators in their kitchens over there just aren't big at all. Not mini-sized, but not nearly as large as our standard size here in the US. I don't know the answers to that, except they are just not used to keeping extra on hand like we are.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
24 Jul 22
"Sell By" and "Use By" are both arbitrary dates. Things can go bad on the store shelves but normally they won't. Dry foods can last forever as long as they are kept dry. Canned foods can still be good for a LONG time past their use by date.
https://www.mashed.com/31333/everything-thought-expiration-dates-wrong/
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
24 Jul 22
@MarieCoyle You're very welcome. I've told people on myLot that dates on most food products don't matter, unless it's milk based products, for a long time... I don't think anyone listens, though.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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24 Jul 22
@DaddyEvil
As expensive as food is now, we need to get all the milage we can out of our purchases. I'm not saying eat food that's rotten or anything, we just need to not be so wasteful. People going hungry and too much getting thrown away.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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24 Jul 22
Yes, they can. People don't realize that, and toss perfectly good food, which in this day and age is more than a shame. Thanks for the link, DE. I was going to post a link with my post, and the phone rang and yep, I forgot. 
2 people like this
@jstory07 (134752)
• Roseburg, Oregon
24 Jul 22
@MarieCoyle I buy a case at a time from Costco.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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24 Jul 22
@jstory07
I've been known to do that, I raised a house full of kids and it was simply necessary.
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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24 Jul 22
I don't wait that long to purchase more, if there is something I use constantly and I find it on sale for a really good price, I often buy several if I'm able, and if it will get used in the allotted time.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118650)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Jul 22
A big reason they have "sell by" dates is so that grocery store clerks will keep product rotated when stocking the shelves. Most of that food is good past the "sell by" dates. Even some of the foods that have expiration dates are usually still good past those dates, as long as it's close.
I try to keep food rotated at my house, so that we never have to throw away anything that goes bad. But it never fails that I put fruits or vegetables in the crisper tray in my fridge and then promptly forget stuff is in there. Then a few weeks or a month later I'll look in there and realize that what I had in there before has gone bad. I'm horrible at that. But otherwise, I'm pretty good about keeping foods rotated and fresh.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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24 Jul 22
Yes, when things are out of sight, they can be out of mind! I do pretty well. It's amazing that some people think the ''sell by'' date means the day after that date, the food is bad. No, it isn't--that's the date they want it to move on!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118650)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Jul 22
@MarieCoyle I’ve eaten and drank many foods and drinks that were past their expiration dates, and I’m still alive and kicking!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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24 Jul 22
@moffittjc
Me, too. A person has to use common sense, which unfortunately seems to have mostly gone out of style.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (58290)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
24 Jul 22
We stockpile dry goods, and its good for six months past the date and sometimes more.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (58290)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
24 Jul 22
@MarieCoyle My grandma in law has a ten by ten room which we built shelves in. It has dry goods and coffee and such in case things get too hard and rough at the stores.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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24 Jul 22
@thislittlepennyearns
The idea of running out of coffee sends me into utter panic. Must have coffee! That room is a good idea. Fill 'er up!
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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24 Jul 22
It just makes good sense to do that. I bargain shop and have dry goods ahead, they get used up.
@Kandae11 (53698)
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24 Jul 22
@MarieCoyle l started being extra careful about expiry dates after buying a box of Quaker oats from the corner grocery. When l got home l checked and saw the expiry date was the previous year, naturally l returned it. I think it was very dishonest of the owners to be selling expired goods in their store.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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24 Jul 22
@Kandae11
Yes, I would think they would have noticed an entire year. Wow.
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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24 Jul 22
I know I automatically look at every expiration date when I am buying things. I am also guilty of checking dairy items closely and buying the ones that have the best use-by date. Yes, I am that person.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170787)
• United States
24 Jul 22
I don't. As long as food looks, smells and taste good. I eat beyond the expiration date.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36545)
• Toccoa, Georgia
25 Jul 22
I rotate it. I think a canned good can go at the most two months past the expiration date.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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25 Jul 22
I rotate, too. Supposedly canned goods are good to eat for at least a year after the date, but I haven't messed up that much and never had mine that long.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73892)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Jul 22
No I don't because I never have too much food onhand being alone, I do keep track of the inspiration dates and if I don't eat something right away I put it in the freezer,
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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25 Jul 22
According to experts and many others, we should have at least a week's worth of food in our homes. At least, that is what I have recently read and heard.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (80049)
• United States
26 Jul 22
Yes I do rotate my food in the pantry so the newest stuff is in the back. There have been occasions when I've found a can of soup or something that expired the year before
I do remember the days when nothing had expiration dates on them.and my grandmother would only throw out a can if it started to bulge
I do remember the days when nothing had expiration dates on them.and my grandmother would only throw out a can if it started to bulge1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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26 Jul 22
Oh, yes, I well remember. I do my best to keep it moving in the right direction, sometimes something gets away from us.
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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25 Jul 22
I don't throw it out then, either. The cost of food is so high, it just isn't wise to let it sit and rot, but the food just doesn't automatically die on the date on the can or package.
1 person likes this
@DesirousDreamer (34780)
• Peoria, Arizona
24 Jul 22
We had to teach my grandma the ways of the Shelf life date doesn't mean that is when something goes bad, that there are signs when food goes bad. If a can isn't puffy, package hasn't been often, and so on, it isn't expired. She would toss out half a gallon of milk because of the date on it and my mom said No, and she took it and the milk was still good for another week! The idea of wasting food is just so sad.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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24 Jul 22
Most of the time, the food is just fine, I would never toss something good just because it has reached the expiration. I am glad you convinced grandma!
@Beestring (13419)
• Hong Kong
24 Jul 22
Yes, I keep food rotated. I eat the oldest first. I check the expiry date on the food I buy.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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24 Jul 22
It's a good habit to have, and keeps our food current. Good for you.
1 person likes this
@sica98 (2441)
• Malaysia
25 Jul 22
I never let food like that go to waste even if they are slightly past their expiration date.Just the other day I bought some grocery stuff that was near their expiration date and it was on offer and I still bought it.I simply put in front of the other newer stuff in the cupboard and use it sooner.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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26 Jul 22
I do that often. Not going to pass up a good buy on something I use often, just use it before the older stuff.
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.Knock on wood
@JESSY3236 (19008)
• United States
9 Aug 22
My mother gave me some mini milk carton that had dates of Aug 1 and Aug 2. I drank them after the date and they were good. No, I don't rotate them. But I have throw away old medicine that was way past its date.
@Deepizzaguy (95084)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
24 Jul 22
My home like to eat the oldest foods first and the newest foods to be eaten last.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29171)
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24 Jul 22
George, that's the way it should be with everyone.
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