mince beef out of date yesterday

[TheoriginalLEM]

would you? should i?

Is it not use by on meat in that case unless it's been frozen, then. No personally I wouldnt. They have use by dates for a reason.
It's not worth risking your head down the toilet or the wild shites.

I's eat it.

Well, actually I wouldn't because I'm a vegetarian, but if I ate meat then I would.

I had a steak that was three days out of date a couple of weeks ago - all fine and I had it medium rare!

They build in a massive safety factor into use by dates. A couple of days out of date isn’t a major issue and you’re going to cook it anyway so you’ll kill off any bugs anyway.

I can't believe that adults are really so nervous about eating food that might be a couple of days out of date - don't any of you buy stuff from the butcher which doesn't have a date on it? Food hasn't always been sold with 'dates' on it you know. .

I would and you should!

That's true, Ragwort - but unlike those of us who grew up in the 70s and 80s - before the appearance of the best before date, I think people who have grown up trusting these dates haven't had the opportunity to learn the skills to judge whether food is OK to eat or not.

I remember my mum having a special cup, that she used to break each egg into, so she could sniff it, before putting it into whatever she was cooking.

Yes I would.

My DH would eat things a month week past the use by date. Luckily I run a tight ship where the fridge is concerned so it never comes to that. But honestly...

But yy a day is fine.

Just for you Wagglebee The secrets of a Yellow Sticker Queen.

I swiftly cruise my favourite shelves looking for bargains. I scan the premium sausage stand which is conveniently close to the premium meat aisle, then I head for the Just Cook chicken ready meals, then the pizzas and then desserts. Sometimes yellow stickers are all I have in my basket.

People are coy where I live so no sharp elbows are required. I think many of them are embarrassed to buy reduced food - like the person who chose the full-price chop over the reduced one today. I was itching to grab it but hung back out of politeness because she was in front. She didn't even consider it. That's just mad to me. Either you're going to eat it tonight or tomorrow or stick it in the freezer.

The reductions in my mum's two local Sainsbury's were unbelievable - she'd pick up a fillet steak reduced from £7 to £1. I think it's that a lot more people probably shop online there than in my local store so they get stuck with stuff and reduce from about 2pm.

One of our best days was the day I drove over to her in a borrowed Lotus Elise. Where she lived was very TOWIE.

It was tiny and it went like a rocket. On the way back she asked to stop in Sainsbury's. She loaded her trolley with tons of reduced meat - really good stuff. I got a bit nervous about being able to get it back and she told me not to be so stupid. She packed it in the boot, which was about the size of a kitchen sink, like a Jenga master. She then stacked everything else under her legs and on her lap to the ceiling.

There was no back seat but we drove home with some free range chickens behind our heads.

Rear view mirror was useless, I couldn't see out of her window but there was a driver's side mirror.

The last time was when I had to go to her solicitor to sort out her will. I stopped off in Sainsbury's on the way to the station. I had six bags. It's what she would have wanted

So Use by dates have only been around since the 70's. I never knew that. Looks like we're both partly right.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2009/jun/16/food-waste-best-before-dates

I didn't know that, WaggleBee. But my parents bought meat in bulk (half a pig, a quarter of a cow), and split up the (already butchered) meat before freezing it, so there were no use by dates. I think they were a lot less prevalent too.

I'm sure dates on eggs didn't become common until the late 80s or early 90s - when the salmonella thing happened. I suppose it took longer to breed chickens with built in printers in their bums than to change the printed labels on stuff.

Ah we have either a very posh supermarket where no-one is near the reduced bit but nothing in it is what I'd like anyway. 700g of smoked tongue for example and for some reason there's always about two dozen cartons of orange juice. Always. Or it's Asda, in which case it's elbows, knees and anything else that can be used as a weapon. M&S can be very good but it goes like lightning. I've honestly never really looked that much but you've inspired me.

at your Mum buying all the meat. She sounds fab.

Thanks for the tips.

SDTG They still haven't updated the local farm chicken's bums. I have to employ the egg floating method when we get them from there if they're not used up in a few days.

You need a Special Cup, like my mum had, WagfleBee. It was a cornishware teacup that had lost its handle - I am sure that is very relevant.

Wagfle?

I do have a blue and white Cornishware jug somewhere. Maybe this is its moment to shine.

Before you do the sniff test wash the meat in water if it smells bad don't eat it

The vital thing that I forgot is that I work from home, so can go there at about 3.30pm - 4.30pm which is the optimum time for my supermarket. That's not possible for everyone. I follow the people with the sticker guns. I try to be discreet but I'm sure they know my game.

I'm not ready to do the thing my mum and her friends did, which was to present things to the sticker gun crew saying: 'Look, this is today's date and I've got to catch the free bus back soon. Reduce it now. Please.'

Last time I popped into my mum's Sainsbury's, the check-out woman asked how she was because she hadn't seen her for a while and I said she'd died. She was very upset. So she wasn't that much of a pest even though she'd hoover up all the meat

She must have known she was going because the freezer was almost clear. But on her death bed she gripped my arm and said: 'There's a Gregg's steak pie in the freezer and I want you to have it.' I did and it was very nice

I like smoked tongue in a sandwich with horseradish or as part of a cold meat plate with gherkins and silverskin onions wagglebee

Limited, that was such a sweet story about your mum. And very glad you enjoyed the (last) pie (in her freezer) which she obviously really wanted you to have! < so it wouldn't go to waste? >

I hate waste too, so I'd probably also be telling my kids what's in the fridge with my dying breath if I knew I was a gonna!

limited that's such a lovely story about your mum. Really made me smile.

i did!

Yes. Don't get use by dates on our mince. If it smells roughly okay it gets eaten. Same with everything else. Enjoyed a yoghurt tonight 3 weeks out of date. Smelt and tasted fine.