To make tonight's dinner with lamb mince that has a "use by" date 18/09?

[TheRealAmandaClarke]

And if not. Wtf am i gonna make with it?
Dinner is for me, dh (don't care about our tummies tbh)
And more importantly for dcs aged 4 and 18 mo.
My instinct tells me its ok. My paranoia is nagging at me though.

Apologies for dull thread btw.

[Trooperslane]

I'd definitely use it.

[OwlCapone]

Use it provided it doesn't smell. Food doesn't magically go off at midnight :)

[nomdemere]

Absolutely fine, definitely. Obviously if it smells funny, bin it (but that would have been true yesterday too). And make sure its cooked thoroughly and hot all the way through (also would be true if it was still within date).

[TheRealAmandaClarke]

Ah thanks. I think i will use it.
Moussaka? shepherds pie?
Anything more exciting less work ?

[nomdemere]

I am making spaghetti bolognese today - not really more exciting though! And freezing part of it for lasagna next week.

[aylesburyduck]

I'd use it. I was brought up in a family who paid no attention to use by and best before dates!!

It will be absolutely fine and if you cook it you can then freeze it.

[aylesburyduck]

minted lamb burgers?

That's my only suggestion other than that I'd have said moussaka or shepherd's pie.

[Pinkje]

I would if it was from M and S. But yes, smell before use.

[DreamerOfStars]

No I wouldn't.

I stick by use by dates. I know years ago people worked on the sniff method, but their meat wasn't potentially transported all over the place before arriving here (they would have known where it came from and how old it was).

[MrsJossNaylor]

Of course you should use it!!

[TooBigNow]

I wouldn't use it.

[SistersOfPercy]

I made Spag Bol last night with mince that went out on the 17th, it was fine. If it looks ok, smells ok and you cook it well there shouldn't be an issue.
A little common sense goes a long way with food.

[Minikievs]

It's only one day over. If it's been in the fridge and smells fine then I'd use it

[JustAShopGirl]

I would

use by dates have to cover the whole range of people - did you keep it chilled on the way home? did you put it straight in the fridge - is your fridge 5 deg or lower, etc..

lamb will have been hanging in cold storage for ages anyhow - if you have taken care to store it correctly it will be fine well past the use by. (just like beef)

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

Use it. Food doesn't magically go off at the stroke of 12.

[PlumpPartridge]

Absolutely definitely use it!

I mean, cook the hell out of it and don't leave whatever you've cooked at room temperature overnight, but definitely don't throw it away!!

[firesidechat]

I would definitely use it.

I know it's not quite the same thing, but I opened a large packet of tortilla chips with a best before date of 30/11/13. You would never have known - still very crispy and tasted perfectly fine.

[OwlCapone]

I stick by use by dates.

Even if an item smells off before the use by date or do you use your common sense?

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

Lamb and beef mince are fine unless badly stored.

(I have once had words with Tesco over beef that turned brown well before it's date.)

We had two day over Turkey mice in Tuesdays curry, no ones any the worse.

[Alicebannedit]

As others say, do the sniff test and use common sense.

Vegetable stir fry - a bit of chopped ginger and onions and garlic are good to start with, then whatever else you have hanging around, plus the mince?

Bon appetit

[TheRealAmandaClarke]

Thanks. Im leaning towards shepherds pie.
Ooh any scottish lamb recipes to celebrate our continued union?

[hormonalandneedingcheese]

It's fine. Unless it smells, use it. If really unsure, nuke the meat for a minute in the microwave.

I eat a lot of stuff after the guideline dates. The only thing I won't is raw chicken. I ignore the freeze for dates too, have eaten stuff 2 years old in the freezer and it's been fine.

[hormonalandneedingcheese]

Shepherds/cottage pie is good. Use plenty of garlic and mixed herbs :)

[chesterberry]

I was processing this wrong and thinking the '09' referred to 2009 and thinking you were mad to even consider this, even if it had been frozen I think five years is a bit much.

Then realised you mean it went of yesterday. Unless it smells/looks odd it will be fine!

[stripedtortoise]

Yup. For sure. It's only a day out.
And by the way, spag Bol is my favourite so when should I come
Over?