How realistic are best before dates?

[KatyMac]

Just checking and sugar doesn't have one - but is fairly vulnerable to damp/pests etc

Rise is 2021 & pudding rice 4/19 which seems daft as rice (although vulnerable like sugar) is fairly inert

For pests are tupperward/plastic boxes any good or can mice/rats eat through them?

I tend to give best before dates less respect than use by dates. Even with food. I store food in glass jars.

Oh yeah, I use food safe moisture absorbers.

What are "food safe moisture absorbers" ?

And how about Tins and sealed plastic bottles (like fruit or squash)?

Hi, if I decant, say, uncooked rice into a glass jar, I pop in a moisture absorber (cheap off Amazon) to try to keep it dry. They are like the bags of silica things you get when you buy electrical goods or shoes. Some people just save them in a jar and use those as and when. There are food safe ones that aren't that expensive.

Tins can keep forever (ish). Apart from ones with dints in them. Squash in bottles, I'd probably let them run a year or so past their sell by. But I'd always check if there was a use by. We don't really have squash but if your family likes it, definitely have it.

Generally they drink vast quantities of juice and I think squash is better than water

That's what I thought about tins - plus it's fairly obvious if they are off when you open them

I just worried plastic crates aren't really pest proof - plastic bags are useless I guess

Flour is tricky too

Flour can go in glass jars too - keep your eyes open for big ones in sales and/or at IKEA.

Or things called Mylar bags - again Amazon is your friend.

ARe glass jars better than plastic/tupperware?

I am off to Ikea before Christmas

Oh Mylar bags? do they need to be heat sealed?

Learning loads thank you

You can heat seal if you want. My vacuum sealer refuses to seal them - I clip them with a food clip. They are harder to gnaw into than plastic bags if you get my meaning. As for plastic boxes versus glass jars? If you have a stack of boxes use them. Glass jars can be pricey if money is a bit tight.
Make the best of what you have.

bellini Is there a particular kind or brand that you use? Just looked up 'moisture absorber' on Amazon and it's a bit overwhelming, but I would like to make sure that my food stays fresh and usable for as long as possible so they make a lot of sense.

@AnotherShirtRuined - I did the massively scientific approach of the cheapest - or possibly the second cheapest - with the best review rating.

Don't forget, there are food safe ones which have yellow granules. I went for this route too.

Thanks bellini. I'll have another look.

I have just been in my ordinary store cupboard - I am regularly eating things several years out of date so apart from buying as long a date as possible I'm not really going to worry

just about to make mince pies from mince meat from BBE 12/06!!

With bought ready rolled pastry as I'm too ill to be faffing about with making/rolling pastry!

I was pondering this today as I was buying the dried fruit for my breakfast box (using stacking boxes within an unused wardrobe) as was surprised at how short the shelf-life of raisins was.

I figure they just get a bit dried out decided I was ok with a ten month shelf life. Once I've sorted out my boxes I'll keep a list and rotate out.

I lied was mistaken it was 01/06!! & they were fine

I am a bit concerned that the dtes are very short on things like jam/syrup etc

It seems very short sighted

It's a bit cheeky putting a short best before date on jam etc. Once it's in the jar it can last ages. More about stock churn and making money, methinks.
If you open something and it smells bad, don't eat it. If it doesn't smell bad, it's ok.

Exactly my dad used to say if it goes bad, rancid, stale, bad, mouldy or off; eat it - ideally before it does

If it never goes off - treat it with caution!

I ate a Christmas pud at the weekend with brandy butter dated 2016- wasn’t rancid or green and still here to tell the tale 😂

Best Before dates are a quality indicator, rather than a safety one, so generally safe to eat but may be soft / stale.
Use by is a safety indicator. There's a margin of error built into the dates, but treat with caution.
A few things like sugar, vinegar, salt and alcohol over 10% ABV, don't legally require fates.

Dates!

Useful info here thanks.

I ate a tin of peaches a few weeks back dated 2015, I'm still alive :)