I went to Sprouts today and an item on my grocery list was parmesan cheese for a baked chicken dinner. I came across this brand called BelGioioso on sale for $2.99. Sounds great because there's parmesan cheese as well as 3 other cheeses so I could make pizza too, but when I checked the expiration "best by" date, it had already passed, 7 days ago!
I decided to put the cheese in my cart anyway (since these were the last 2), and when I got to the cashier I asked her if I could get the items free since it's already expired? She said yes, of course, and apologized for the inconvenience.
I am not too concerned about the best by expiration, because it's still sealed and it's a hard cheese type, should be fine. I do not see any mold either. Overall, doesn't hurt to ask especially since they'll toss the food out right in the trash.
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I think that stores should donate past date items to shelters and food banks. But, many of the donation places in my area won't take items that are past date. This is stupid and wasteful.
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How long can you keep a ham slice after its best by date?
Judy from Clinton, MA
If you have any doubt in your mind, throw it away. Is it really worth it by taking a health risk? When you purchase meat in the near future I would eat it the next day.
Don't take a chance! Instead, if you don't feel you'll cook a ham steak within a few (maybe 2 or 3) days, cut it up with clean scissors, freeze it on a tin or tray in the refrigerator freezer. When it is solid, put it into a plastic bag or doubled, clean (used) bread bags, use a twist tie on bag and freeze it. This way, pieces will not freezer together and you can take out only part of the meat to cook if you so choose!
Nett Hounsell
if you have not opened it put it in the freezer and then take it out only as you are going to use it and if you have opened it put it into indavigual freezer bags and then freeze it untill you are going to use it.
I have a bottle of Fruit Fresh, still sealed, with a use by date of March 2021. Is it still safe to use for freezing peaches?
As a general rule companies post their 'expiration/use before' dates a short while before their research shows it should not be used.
If a product is completely sealed and only a couple of months past the 'use by date' I believe it would still be safe to use.
But - if you have any doubts about using it, then I would say to discard it.
Unless it smells funny or looks funny, 2 months past the date it should be just fine. You could always message Ball and ask them:
www.freshpreserving.com/
Post back what you learn!
I have out of date Bisquick. Is there anything I can do with it besides throwing it away?
By Janice
How far out of date is it?
I have used Bisquick by adding a small amount of baking powder to it and it was fine. As long as it was bug free and not rancid smelling it should be OK. You could test it by making a small batch of pancakes or biscuits and see if it rises.
I too freeze my bisquick when I get home, I put it in gal freezer bag. I have never had problems with it rising for cakes or biscuits.
I was cook for 35 yrs and find freezing flour, cornmeal and such a way to keep items fresh
Many consumers wonder if it is safe to eat canned foods that have passed the expiration date on the can. This is a page about using expired canned food.
