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Food

Use by dates

(56 Posts)
farview Tue 24-Sept-19 08:45:50

Have a packet of sweet pointed peppers.they look fine but the use by date is September 9th... would you use them?
When we buy loose veg etc it's not dated ..we go off appearance..use by dates are scary ?

twiglet77 Tue 24-Sept-19 22:44:03

I use my eyes, nose and common sense to judge whether any food item is no longer fit to eat - not labels.

Wheniwasyourage Wed 25-Sept-19 07:11:24

I am pretty sure that tins have a Best Before End Of date rather than a Use By date (still in bed, so I can't be bothered to go and look blush ) so it's just an indication rather than an instruction. Obviously if a tin is blown or rusty, the contents would go in the compost or the waste food bin, depending whether it's vegetable or meat/fish.

I agree with all who say to use the peppers unless they are slimy or mouldy, and even then, don't put them in the bin unless you really have no other choice of disposal method.

oodles Wed 25-Sept-19 10:11:49

Even if they have lost a bit if nutritional value they will add taste and fibre to a dish. With fruit and veg the dates are for stock control, when you buy some fruits eg kiwi often they are still not ripe by the date on the packet. British apples and potatoes are harvested in the autumn and are kept to the next year, store carefully and ignore the dates. Would anyone eat a green potato if it was within the date on the bag?
Best not to put potatoes in the fridge if they get too cold the starch changes and they taste sweeter. Obviously if something is mouldy you don't eat it.

Blinko Wed 25-Sept-19 10:15:36

I never take any notice of 'use by' or even 'sell by' dates, let alone 'best before'. No problems so far (that's 72+ years..)

willa45 Wed 25-Sept-19 15:42:15

Bell peppers are expensive here in the US and when I don't use them all, they spoil in the fridge. Packages come with several, so I've started freezing half of them as soon as I bring them home.
Rinse, dry, cut up in strips and (plastic) bag them. Freezing changes the texture but not the flavor or color. They defrost somewhat squishy and soft, but they'll cook up the same as if they were fresh.
I no longer throw away my Bell Peppers and freezing works for me as I seldom eat them raw anyway.