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best before is a suggestion for best taste and consistency. most, if not all times, it won't go "bad" in the sense that you'll get sick from it as long as it remains sealed.
Mmmm, IMO they are both just suggestions, though I do realize that a 'use by' is probably going to go really bad at some point, rather than just lose flavor or quality. It freaks my daughter out that I eat eggs that are weeks past their 'use by' date, but if they don't float I'm not throwing them out because somebody stamped a date on the carton.
Mmmm, IMO they are both just suggestions, though I do realize that a 'use by' is probably going to go really bad at some point, rather than just lose flavor or quality. It freaks my daughter out that I eat eggs that are weeks past their 'use by' date, but if they don't float I'm not throwing them out because somebody stamped a date on the carton.
I totally agree. Sometimes it seems those dates are like the weather forecast -- just a guess.
Mmmm, IMO they are both just suggestions, though I do realize that a 'use by' is probably going to go really bad at some point, rather than just lose flavor or quality. It freaks my daughter out that I eat eggs that are weeks past their 'use by' date, but if they don't float I'm not throwing them out because somebody stamped a date on the carton.
I think it really depends on the food. Mostly go by how it smells and tastes. Usually most products are good for quite a while after the date, but if it doesn't taste good, why would you want to eat it, regardless of the date on the package?
I have some pink Himalayan salt that says it's over 3 million years old but must be used by next March.
It must be no good when it reaches 3,000,001 years old. haha
Here's a run down:
Use-By: This label is aimed at consumers as a directive of the date by which the product should be eaten; mostly because of quality, not because the item will necessarily make you sick if eaten after the use-by date. However after the use-by date, product quality is likely to go down much faster and safety could be lessened. Sell-By: This label is aimed retailers, and it informs them of the date by which the product should be sold or removed from shelf life. This does not mean that the product is unsafe to consume after the date. Typically one-third of a product's shelf-life remains after the sell-by date for the consumer to use at home. Best-By: This is a suggestion to the consumer on which date the product should be consumed to assure for ideal quality.
Personally, I pretty much only care about the sell by date. I want the freshest stuff when I buy it so it will last the longest. After I buy it, I don't bother looking at any of these dates. If it looks good and smells good, I figure it's okay to use. Now, if it tastes stale then I might throw it out.
Like another poster pointed out, bad eggs float because of the gasses that build up inside them. Since ou can't smell or see the inside, that's a good way to test them.
I really doubt if makes any difference period. Technically they seem to mean the same thing and neither means they have to be used by a certain date; it an opinion more than a fact.
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