Use by dates

[Missingwine13]

You can tell I’ve been woken up too early and been overthinking this for a while and it probably is a really stupid question…

Do you take ‘use by’ dates on food to mean to cook by the use by date or to cook and to eat by the use by date?

Meat, for example; I always cook by the use by date but can possibly use it up in meals up to a couple of days later than that.

I also know that a lot of people ignore use by dates but if you do go solely by use by what do you do?

It's the former. Cook by the date. So you are doing it ok

I think we place too much value in use by dates. It’s not like the food inside knows what date is printed on its packaging and immediately goes off on that day. I’ve used meat beyond the best before, looking and sniffing will tell you if it’s off, the dates are indicative and based on many things. As for fruit and veg it’s obvious if they are off and mouldy.

There have been discussions about red meat having too conservative dates. I agree with that. Not sure if they changed it now to longer ones or not

It’s a cook by date. Once you’ve booked it you extend the life of the product.

Cook by the Use by date and then you have a few days afterwards to eat it (if put in the fridge) and longer if put in the freezer