Longevity of Foods

[cb977]

StillTasty: Your Ultimate Shelf Life Guide - Save Money, Eat Better, Help The Environment

[RosieC]

Great link Sue.

Here in the UK there are two markings. 'Best Before' and 'Use By'. If it's the 'Best Before' you are generally fine to eat it after the date, if it's a 'Use By' then you shouldn't.

I tend to go on the general principle that with meats I stick to the 'Use By' date. Many other things then if it looks/smells OK it probably is.

[camille1585]

Good info! Although I'm a bit surprised by what they say about goat cheese. The description they give of an 'off' cheese (odor, mold, appearance) are the criteria I have for a good goat cheese. The moldier and smellier the better I say!

[RosieC]

I'm not a fan of moldy cheese, but I will just cut the mold off a hard cheese if it's got a bit old and eat it anyway.

This reminds me that I have some white stilton in the fridge which was bought before last christmas! I only eat it very ocasionally but about a month ago it was still good to eat.

I have a vauge memory of hearing that Goat's cheese is different though... can't remember though as I've never knowingly eaten Goat's cheese.

[Paul]

Good site!

At the risk of grossing some folks out however, I thought it rather amusing in a way about milk past its prime. I'm not a milk drinker though occasionally I do have some around. If it has gone sour (but not moldy) I keep it and bake with it. There are recipes that call for sour milk. While such recipes today simply call for adding vinegar to milk, they were originally developed to make use of milk gone sour.

[Oscarman]

Great site Sue - thanks!

In the kitchen some of the sayings we have....

'Best Before' doesn't mean 'rotten by'

Life begins at 40! (40° F), referring to the temperature danger zone 40-140° F.