To expect longer best before dates?

[FizzyPink]

Generally spend about £100 pw on a Tesco shop but since we’re saving to buy a house next year we’ve decided we need to cut back so I tried out Aldi last weekend.

Overall I was super impressed at the amount I could get in there having only used it for odd bits previously. However, the majority of the meat and veg I bought only had a best before date of a couple of days. One packet of chicken went off the same day I bought it!

I admit I should have checked the dates as I was buying it but would you expect longer on fresh items? Also is this a trend with Aldi generally or was I just unlucky? Is there a better day to go? I went as soon as it opened on Saturday morning.

It's Aldi.

Freeze the meat. I don't rate their fresh stuff at all.

I don't pay any attention to 'best before' dates - the food will be fine after it, it just might not be as fresh.

If it's chicken, however, I'm guessing you're talking about 'use by' dates - for many things (fruit, vegetables, dairy) I generally ignore these too and go on how the food looks and smells. I wouldn't mess about with meat or seafood though, and when I buy meat I generally pick the longest date I can find on the shelf. If I know I won't use it before the 'use by' date then I put it in the freezer until I need it.

Check the date, often stuff at the back of the shelf has longer dates. Freeze meat and keep on top of being organised with meal planning and defrosting it in time. I do find things like mushrooms or strawberries go mouldy more quickly so it's a case of being a bit smarter and only buying what you need, maybe slightly more often.

You should have checked the dates before you bought, it's not hard! I always pick from the very back of the stock and only take the longest possible dated ones. And freeze if necessary.

Yes @Sparklfairy that’s what I tend to do anyway as we meal plan religiously, it’s mainly the veg I was disappointed with.

On the subject of defrosting, I took a packet of chicken out the freezer yesterday lunchtime and it’s been defrosting in the fridge since. DP has just announced he’s going out tonight so only me eating at home, would it be okay to keep it for tomorrow instead? I could cook it tonight but more inclined to get a takeaway if he’s out

It's your responsibility to check the use by dates before purchase.

It's Aldi 🤷‍♀️

It's when it's ££ M&S food that I find annoying, at their prices you should be able to pick up produce and not have to check use by dates!

I love Aldi but I always check dates and shop more than once a weeks for fresh produce.

I always check the use by dates especially on meats. If my husband picks something up, I make a point of checking, because he doesn't bother sigh. Apart from last week when I forgot to check some beef he picked up and when I came to use it just a couple of days later it was over the date (funnily enough, this was Tesco). I have generally found Aldi to be okay, apart from once when some deli chicken that was on display was already past its date, so we pointed it out to a member of staff.

I took a packet of chicken out the freezer yesterday lunchtime and it’s been defrosting in the fridge since. DP has just announced he’s going out tonight so only me eating at home, would it be okay to keep it for tomorrow instead? Yes it's fine. But if you're worried, cook it tonight, put it back in the fridge, and re-heat it tomorrow.