Kitchen

[ScrapHappy]

I picked up some hamburger patties the other day.  Thought the date was later than it is.  The date sell by 11/16.  Is that the same as the expiration date?  Do you think it's okay to use or just play it safe and buy some more? 

[PINKdogWOOD]

Truth be told, when I buy groceries I don't even think about looking at the dates. In your case if you were planning to have burgers for dinner tonight, I'd go for it. just make sure you cook them thoroughly.

[software]

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@ScrapHappy wrote:

I picked up some hamburger patties the other day.  Thought the date was later than it is.  The date sell by 11/16.  Is that the same as the expiration date?  Do you think it's okay to use or just play it safe and buy some more? 

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I would use it.

I would either freeze it immediately or be sure to cook to full temp, 160 degrees minimum.

The date indicates shelf life, not necessarily use by date.   It's confusing but use common sense.   I buy "old" meat all the time, it's marked down on the last day.   I just make sure it's not spoiled, then cooked well done.

It's sad to see stores throw out so  much food that's still good.   I don't know how they determine the sell by date, but it's very conservative.   

[tends2dogs]

I agree.  Use it today or freeze it.  It will be fine.

[Carmie]

Selling dates are used by the store on a voluntary basis.  They put this date on mostly perishable items so they know when it is time to pull the item off of the shelves or lower the price for quick sale.

It does not indicate in any way that the product is unable to be used. It is not a date to be used by the consumer at all.

I always browse the meat counters and look for products that are close to the sell by date and have been marked down by half.  My store uses yellow tags.  I buy just about everything I have room for in my freezer.

[suzyQ3]

I am particularly concerned with ground meat. If I'm not going to use it that night or the next, I'll freeze it.

[Zhills]

The "sell by" date is the last day the store will sell it as "fresh." 

The stores allow for you to store it 3 - 5 days, safely, after the date it is sold . . . . the meat manager!

[RedTop]

No, it is not the same as the expiration date.   As mentioned, it is the sell by date.  If not sold by the 16th, the store has to mark it as reduced on the 17th, and let the buyer decide on whether to take a chance, which I usually do.  Unless I’m in the store super early on the 18th, the meat is usually pulled by 10 a.m. on the 19th, if it didn’t sell.   

[Toppers3]

From my understanding, the "use by" date is the one that should be watched on an item.

I personally use products past their sell-by dates, especially when they're non-perishable foods like crackers, cookies, and cereal--things like that.

I too will buy meat that's on sale when it's close to its sell by date and I'll either cook it or freeze it, as others have mentioned here.