Very dull question about lamb

[MostIneptThatEverStepped]

If you had a leg of lamb that had a best before date of December 24th (stupid Tesco!) would you feel safe cooking and eating it on the 27th December?
I have a stupidly small freezer already bursting at the seams but equally don't want to poison everyone!

Will you be taking anything out of the freezer tomorrow? I'd cook it and slice up, and then put in the freezer as soon as something else comes out. Lamb is fatty and would probably be a bit rancid if you leave it otherwise.

I would, it'll be fine, Supermarkets are way over cautious with their dates.

Do you have any neighbours who could freeze it for you for 24 hours? You could them thaw it out again in the fridge. It would keep that way.

I would.

Hmm freezing it for 24 hours is a good idea...maybe I can sacrifice some lesser freezer items (make soup?)

My first instinct was nah it'll be fine but...it would be horrible if it went off.

Thanks for the good advice everyone!

I think it would be fine but I would and try to find a way to freeze it. I would be worrying it might go off every time I open the fridge door and see it. I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as in the back of my mind I’d be thinking about food poisoning. Sorry.

It’s best before 24th
Not it no good to eat after the 27th

It will be fine to cook on 27th it’s wrapped up and in the fridge

I wouldn’t bother freezing it as by the time it’s frozen you need to get it out again to defrost - more likely to have problems doing this than just keeping it in fridge

It won’t be a ‘best before’ on raw meat, it’ll be a ‘use by’. Best before dates are ok to ignore if you check the quality before use. I’d pay more attention to ‘use by’ , if it was the day after, I’d use it, but three days after and considering you’ve probably got it in a domestic refrigerator crammed with Christmas goodies which you will be in and out of. It’s unlikely your fridge will be working to a temperature to keep your lamb safe.
Cooking the lamb thoroughly will kill any nasties. Personally I’d cook it either tomorrow or Christmas Day, And use it either for supper or Boxing Day lunch.
I wouldn’t risk keeping it to Wednesday either raw or cooked. If you’re thinking about freezing it, check the label, it may well say ‘previously frozen do not refreeze’.

Right! Best plan, cram in the freezer. Next best plan, cook tomorrow and slice up. Dodgy plan, blast in the oven on the 27th and hope for the best 😂

24tj is the Use By date btw. Again, thanks a lot Tesco!