Does the date on the package matter? How to tell if you can still eat that

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You reach into the cupboard for an ingredient for a meal only to notice the "sell by" date has come and gone. You don't want to waste food, but should you eat it? Eating spoiled food puts you at risk for a variety of illnesses, so using a little caution is always a good idea.
Sell By vs. Best Buy vs. Use By
When you look for an expiration date, you'll likely notice that most food is marked with either a "sell by," "best by," or "use by" date. Understanding the difference can shed a little light on how long a food item lasts.
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Sell by: The sell-by date refers to the last day that a store can sell an item. This also typically refers to the last day the food is at its peak freshness, according to WebMD. You can still eat the food for a few days later but the quality may be less than the best.
Best by: Again, this label refers to the quality of the food, not necessarily the how safe it is to eat. You can safely consume foods after the best buy date.
Use by: This date is a recommended date by the manufacturer and indicates the last day of peak freshness. You can usually still consume food for a few days after this date.
When to toss it:
Milk and yogurt are usually good for about a week after the sell-by date. Eggs last about three weeks after their sell-by date. A simple trick to tell whether or not your eggs are fresh is to put them in a glass of water. Eggs that lay flat are still fresh. If they stand up on one end, they're getting old, but still safe to eat. If they float: toss 'em.
Mold is a good indicator that the food has gone bad. Moldy cheese, in particular, is a popular debate: can you just scrape the mold off and keep eating? According to Business Insider you can eat the mold off cheeses like Brie, Gorgonzola and Roquefort. Toss any cream cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese and sliced cheeses. Cut the mold off Swiss, cheddar and Colby cheeses before eating.
Other moldy food rules:
Hot dogs: Throw them out.
Salami: A thin white coating is okay, anything else should be tossed.
Pasta: Toss it.
Bacon: Toss it.
Jelly: Toss it.
Fruits and Veggies: Cut the mold away and enjoy from harder foods like carrots and enjoy. Softer fruits strawberries should be tossed.
Bread: Throw it out. If you see a little mold, chances are there is mold growth you can't see.
Any food that is slimy should be tossed. Wilted lettuce and celery can be revived. A sniff test is also a good test. When in doubt, toss it out.
Foods that last Forever
On the other side of the coin are foods that can sit on your shelf for years and years without going bad. Foods like honey, rice, sugar, maple syrup, pure vanilla extract, hard liquor, white vinegar, cornstarch, and salt will last for years if stored properly, according to Still Tasty, so don't feel pressured to toss them out.
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Feel free to eat cereal, pasta, bread, yogurt, frozen veggies and condiments after their sell-by date. The quality will go down but they're still safe.
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