Use by date

[Wobblyheart]

Okay, this might be silly but... if a packet of raw meat says use by 23 June would you cook it today or was 22 the last safe day?

I would use it today.
It does not go off at midday of last night.

I’d cook it today.

I would cook it and eat it today.

If it smells ok it will be safe, especially once cooked. The retailers use the date to be on the safe side for them. Obviously if the meat or food has been not stored correctly ie out of the fridge it doesn't matter what the date says on the packet! It's a fairly recent thing to put dates on everything best before is about texture and flavour not safety...use by is a warning that the item could go off and be unsafe to eat..but the food doesn't know the date

I’d cook it today and eat it at any point over the next couple of days. The use-by clock stops when you change the state of the food.

I take it to mean use by the end of the date.

I'd cook it today and probably tomorrow if it still smelt okay 🤷‍♀️

Agree with fortunata yes I'd probably cook it even if I don't eat it..but it will more than likely to be ok tomorrow too

Honestly, if it smells okay, it'll be fine. I swear some supermarkets are too cautious with there dates and I sometimes will cook meat within one or two days past the eat by date if it smells fine - unless fish or chicken, that goes straight in the bin.

Yep, as long as it smelled all right. I use the date as a rough guide. You are cooking it.

I take the date it says to be the last safe day so I'd cook and eat it today (or freeze).

23rd is technically the last safe day. I'm fussy with these things and would also feel safe cooking it on the 24th. I often buy yellow stickers and have them the following day. This is true for microwave meals, including chicken and uncooked chicken meat.

It's never failed me.

The use by date is the day written.

You can still use later if it seems ok, but would not go beyond 2 days