Is it still good?
 

Hubby and I are having a ... uh, a discussion. He's cleaning out the refrig and wants to toss stuff with a past date. I say it isn't necessary for things like:

A-1 Sauce
Chicken soup base
Hot sauces
Ketchup

I say that even thought the label says "best by 2016" there are so many preservatives (read: salt) that they won't spoil. What do you think?

For the few dollars that these items cost to replace, is it worth the chance?

Yes. Ditch it!

Ketchup if it hasnt separated seems to last forever

If you haven't finished something that's been sitting in the fridge for over two years, then it's not likely you're using it enough to waste the space in the fridge on it. Just ditch it. For ketchup, just ask next time you go ANYWHERE that has take-out service (including the supermarket deli area) for a couple of packets of ketchup. Keep them in the cupboard and throw them away after 6 months if you don't use them by that point.

For chicken base, it should have a sell-by date, which is not the same thing as a use-by date. Once it's opened, you can keep it in the fridge probably for a couple of months. And then throw it away.

Welcome to my parallel universe — Mr. Boomer and I have been having that same argument for decades.

He eats long-expired yogurt unless I intercept it. I have a nose like a hound dog so that makes me persnickety.

Now, for some marital advice: You said this is about the fridge. Do not even think about those cans in the pantry. :22yikes:

Boomer

Well! Color me surprised. I've kept Thai fish sauce for ten years. I call it "aged." lol. It does tend to crystalize over the years.

We do tend to smell stuff to decide if ok.

Anything though dairy based would go pretty quick after expiry date

I am as guilty as the next person about not checking expiration dates. After reading your question, I checked with my best friend, Google, and found this handy website:

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

I think this will answer more questions than asked.

some items like tubes of tomato paste last quite a long time in the fridge....pickles as well

I try to 'clean house' (and the shelves) every six months when I replace the box of Arm & Hammer...usually when we
change the clocks from/to daylight savings

The secret to a tasty meal is starting with good fresh ingredients....anything past it's prime is going to detract from the optimal
flavor of your efforts

now, left overs are another matter....if they haven't been frozen, 1 week in the frig and they're tossed

sure you can serve it to your husband , not like you would your dog.

Not just things in the refrigerator, but I go through everything I own on a regular basis and throw out the things I am not using. I think it is the best way to stay organized and neat.

That’s a good question. In my experience, many foods are good long after the arbitrary expiration date, especially condiments, but four years after? Maybe you don’t need it in your refrigerator. Why not toss it, safe or not? Make some room in there. Ground spices gradually lose their intensity of flavor. I’ve often used spices that are years old, but sometimes I have to use a lot more. Things like A-1, Hot Sauce, and Ketchup are often good several years after the expiration date. Smell them. However, ketchup (Catsup?) left on a shelf unopened, especially in light, may oxidize, turning a darker color. Sometimes that color is just on the surface, and a good shake hides it.

Canned goods are safe years after the expiration date, as long as the cans aren’t bulging, but the cells may eventually fall apart, so the texture becomes mushier. Mostly, expiration dates are more like “sell-by” dates—you don’t need to pay much attention to them. I buy a lot of food at what I call “bang and dent stores,” sometimes in dented cans, but usually simply with “sell-by” dates coming up soon or recently past. I may save 75%, and it tastes just fine. I buy pints of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream for a dollar!

Oil can definitely go rancid. A few weeks ago a friend made me chicken picatta using olive oil she had kept in a lovely decorative bottle for years. I could smell it from the living room, and the taste was, um, unforgettable. We ended up tossing it all. If you are about to use some oil you rarely use, smell it first. If it doesn’t smell sweet and delicious and delicate, toss it. Don’t buy more until you need it, and don’t buy a big bottle.

Things like breakfast cereals, crackers, cookies often get rancid. I’ve often opened something like that and found that it smelled off. This may be long after it’s expiration date, though. I’ve also found tiny spiders in flour I’ve had for several years in a sealed container.

Most drugs are good for at least 15 years after the expiration date.

Here’s an article on the topic from Wikipedia. The final paragraph deals with drugs.
Expiration date - Wikipedia

Here is what Consumer Reports says. Lots of good info here!
How to Extend Food Expiration Dates - Consumer Reports

This is finally an exciting topic, ditch them.

I dump it. Expiration date is usually about a year later so if you still have alot left its obvious its rarely used. Dump it and dont rush replacing

Past Dates. There is a vast difference between "use by" and "best before".
 

If it says "Best Before" then I would certainly continue to use it as the manufacturer is only saying that it might not be at peak condition after that date but is still OK to use. My Grandfather and then my Mother owned and operated grocery stores and we were all brought up eating everything that was past its "Sell By" date which seems to have been superseded by the other 2 warnings. Never had a problem with anything. If it says "Use By" then it is probably fresh meat of produce and I let my nose tell me if it is OK but only for a few days after.

I’m glad you brought in this topic, because my hubby and I have had this same conversation a few times! I’m more like your hubby, I tend to toss things by expiration, he seems to keep things longer, even years after expire dates.

I do think it depends on the item, though. I love my condiments, and our fridge holds an entire shelf of those. I agree that ketchup seems to last beyond the expire dates. Hot sauce too, but — when these start to “separate,” the flavor changes and I toss them. I love mustards, and I’ll keep these beyond the “best by” or expire date until they get gloppy. Chicken base (or chicken stock) is something I don’t keep around after an expire date. It just goes bad after the date on it.

When in doubt, throw it out!!

Just a suggestion. A lot of cans/jars/boxes (especially those BOGO free items) tend to get lost in the back of my pantry. Recently I took a Sharpie and wrote the expiry date on the top. Now, cleaning out my pantry (usually just before my son comes to visit ������) is much easier.
As for the fridge - condiments are about the only thing I don’t toss if beyond the expiry date.

I tend to agree, especially about ketchup. BUT if hubby is DOING the job, I would let him do it his way and thank him. Tossing old stuff from fridge is kinda “gag me with a spoon” sort of job for me.

We have always found that stuff in the freezer kind of gets lost and found 6 months or a year after we bought it.

Generally if no ice crystals inside package usually ok.

You guys are too cute! We have had the same discussion with air quotes. LOL! people that believe in dates truly believe in them and you will never talk them out of it. Let him throw them out and buy new. Better safe than sorry. Hope you guys are well.

I have the same issue. I'm on the throw it out side of things, he isn't. But then again he doesn't throw ANYTHING out!

Proper hygiene prevents illnesses. A watery liquid will begin to separate on ketchup. It will turn to dark maroon instead of bright red. If either of these happen , it should go. It is good for 1 year past the printed date because the date stamped is already 15 months from the production date. Chicken broth will have a sour smell , you will see sentiment in the bottom or it may appear cloudy. Steak sauce has the same qualities. It will develop an odor, mold sometimes appears, flavor or appearance chances. But I say why take the chance. Is it worth getting sick over because you want a few more months out of it? Throw it out and go to the $1 store and buy a small bottle

Why take the chance? Throw it out...think of the germs & bacterium that could grow in there, waiting for you ingest. Ugly

Checking the expiration date requires glasses....

I vote for TOSSING.

The items you have listed are all sold non refrigerated and are safe past the best by date. They may not taste as good because of degradation and oxidation so would toss them for flavor reasons.

Wife and I used to discuss this question, but we don't anymore.
She chucks.
I eat.
Winner take all!

When in doubt, throw it out! Is a few dollars worth risking your health?

no no, get rid of it

Thank You, Thank You, Bjeanj,for this. I bookmarked it. One of us is for throwing aged food out, the other for keeping it. Funny, we never had these disagreements when he was Working. For example, he doesn't think dairy products ever go bad by the expiration date even when opened. Now with your reference we have a neutral source to support the discussions.

Frugality vs wisdom. When shopping I look at prices. For instance mayonnaise. A 16 oz jar may cost $2.00 and an 8 oz jar may be $1.25. Don't fact check I'm just using easy numbers as an example. Which did I usually buy? The $2.00 one of course. I'm saving per serving. In a year I used it maybe 3 times and wound up throwing out 1/2 to 3/4 of the jar. So now I'm a little wiser (a little not a lot). I buy the smaller quantity of stuff I may not use a lot of - 1 bottle of salad dressing instead of 12 different flavors, 1 jar of mustard instead of 4 (Dijon, Yellow, Spicy Brown and Chinese Hot). If and when I use up the one bottle or jar than I can get another or some other flavor. I have an unopened jar of Gold's Horseradish which was hard to find. Had to have it. If you're going to use Horseradish that's the one to get. After 2 or 3 years it's changed color even though it's unopened. I guess that's an indication of something. So, throw the expired stuff away. Only replace it when you actually need it and don't buy the replacement at Costco or Sam's. You'll have a hard time using up that 55 gallons can of Worcestershire sauce.
As for the statement "when in doubt throw it out". That concerns me a little. My wife keeps checking me out for an expiration date. She can't find one but she's starting to doubt. Should I be concerned?

If he’s cleaning out the fridge let him , when he’s done tell him the bathrooms are next then the floors could use a vacuum and mop ,then there’s the dusting and laundry and ask what he’s making for dinner

Dump it
 

If you've ever had food poisoning, then you would know that it's not worth taking a chance eating food that is past due in the refrigerator.

Hubby ? Check consistency the latest date is 3 years or 3 years from best purchased date

In the pantry I toss just about anything that’s expired. In the refrigerator, not as much. Stuff never seems to get old enough.

Taste best if used by date
 

I’ve never thrown away any food because of the taste best if used by date , the only food that has an expiration date is baby food . I have a friend that was getting rid of a bunch of food, so I took it, it was great .

Penny wise, dollar foolish

sometimes a magnifying glass