Expiration Dates

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The Water Cooler

Expiration Dates

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Using a big,black Magic Marker, I try hard to remember to write the expiration date of every food item that comes into this house.  I write the date on the top of the can or side of th

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Forums » Baking Forums » The Water Cooler » Expiration Dates

Expiration Dates

posted at 12/10/2010 6:44 AM EST

Nancy G

Posts: 6428
First: 6/23/2010
Last: 5/22/2013

Using a big,black Magic Marker, I try hard to remember to write the expiration date of every food item that comes into this house.
I write the date on the top of the can or side of the jar in large enough print that it's easy to see at a glance.
That way I always use the oldest thing first.

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Re: Expiration Dates

posted at 12/10/2010 7:25 AM EST

Ann N

Posts: 992
First: 10/7/2010
Last: 8/28/2011

NANCY;THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. I " ROTATE MY STOCK" as I learned to do when working in retail stores; PULLING OLDER ITEMS FOWARD & FILING IN FROM BEHIND. For items needing to be used w/in one or two weeks (once opened)I do as you do & never have to toss away spoiled food items.Somewhere on the pkg/can/box is/are directions stating the proper storage method & life once opened.If you cannot find that info; call the TOLL FREE # & ask; They should be pleased to help you keep their product useable for a "reasonable length of time".
In Response to Expiration Dates:

Using a big,black Magic Marker, I try hard to remember to write the expiration date of every food item that comes into this house. I write the date on the top of the can or side of the jar in large enough print that it's easy to see at a glance. That way I always use the oldest thing first.
Posted by Nancy G

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Re: Expiration Dates

posted at 12/10/2010 7:38 AM EST

Renee C

Posts: 1172
First: 9/10/2008
Last: 5/21/2013

I do the same thing when I am bulk vacuum sealing meats. I write the date I am sealing, the number of chops, chicken breasts, etc., the weight (like a roast or a pound pkg. of hamburger) and the what it is.

Ex. 12/10/10 4 Chicken Breasts
12/10/10 1 lb Hamburger

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Re: Expiration Dates

posted at 12/10/2010 8:38 AM EST

JOHN H

Posts: 483
First: 10/5/2008
Last: 12/5/2011

Good deal Renee. That is the exact same routine I use. Works very well too as long as no one else stocks the freezer.

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Re: Expiration Dates

posted at 12/10/2010 9:30 AM EST

irma d

Posts: 528
First: 10/6/2010
Last: 6/11/2011

I like your idea, it will work for us. Thanks for sharing this idea

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Re: Expiration Dates

posted at 12/10/2010 10:00 AM EST

Mary L

Posts: 1637
First: 8/8/2008
Last: 5/21/2013

Good idea will post it on my freezer

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Re: Expiration Dates

posted at 12/10/2010 2:14 PM EST

CAROL B

Posts: 478
First: 8/20/2008
Last: 2/15/2011

I do that, too, Renee, when I put anything into our freezer. I use Ziploc bags and always write what's in it and the date I put it into the freezer. Do it with meat, veggies, fruit, whatever.....
I also try to do what Ann does and rotate my cupboard stock. Each time I stock the cupboards after shopping, I pull the older stuff to the front and put the newest behind. Most items these days do have expiration dates on them, but I have found a few that do not. I always check the dates in the store before purchasing. I only did it occasionally before until one time I got home from shopping and saw a Swanson tv dinner I'd bought had expired long before the day I bought it! Now I check the dates while in the store!

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Re: Expiration Dates

posted at 12/10/2010 9:56 PM EST

H. M

Posts: 1468
First: 9/9/2008
Last: 5/21/2013

Great idea to check the dates of everything you buy while in the store. I have found some of the stores around me don't always cull the expired items. If I find something on the shelf that has since expired I usually drop it off at the service desk so they know about it.

When I worked for a shopping service, located inside a grocery store, I used to just let the stockers know so they could pull from the shelves before the boss found out lol. Sometimes though entire cases of things would arrive from the store's warehouse with out of date codes. Fortunately those never made it on the shelves.

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Re: Expiration Dates

posted at 12/10/2010 11:03 PM EST

Wa-Ha K

Posts: 317
First: 11/6/2008
Last: 9/6/2011

I send canned items or unopened items (not refrigerator/freezer items) that are near the expiration date or best by date to the food bank. It is gone within a few days to someone who will be able to use it quickly.

As a volunteer at one, I have learned that expiration and best by dates are basically to help the manufacturer sell more. Would you believe that canned/processed foods actually have a shelf life of several years? And foods sealed with a vacumn sealer will keep for 1-3 years in the freezer?

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Re: Expiration Dates

posted at 12/10/2010 11:08 PM EST

Jeannine G

Posts: 173
First: 9/9/2008
Last: 5/20/2013

I try to use before the expiration date but sometimes a few escape me & I get so mad. When I'm looking for something else, that's when I find the expired one in the closet. I've told the kids not to shift but they do - either to the back or side of the closet.

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Re: Expiration Dates

posted at 12/11/2010 5:25 AM EST

Mary Jo T

Posts: 1061
First: 10/2/2008
Last: 5/10/2013

I agree that rotation is the best thing. Not only do I do that with food but cups that come from the dishwasher get put in the back so the older ones are used first.

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Re: Expiration Dates

posted at 12/11/2010 6:16 AM EST

Angela F

Posts: 1089
First: 8/8/2008
Last: 4/18/2013

What did we do before there were expiration dates? Now living in FL I know how important the expiration dates can be since I have had several cans leak due to the heat.

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Re: Expiration Dates

posted at 12/11/2010 7:45 AM EST

Nancy G

Posts: 6428
First: 6/23/2010
Last: 5/22/2013

Mary Jo - rotating ANY dishes never entered my mind .... what a GOOD idea. Thank you!!
Next time I'm downloading the dishwasher I'll rotate one pile of stuff. The following time I'll do another ............
When everything is rotated I'll do that 'habitually'

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Re: Expiration Dates

posted at 12/11/2010 10:07 AM EST

Mary Ann S

Posts: 2725
First: 1/16/2009
Last: 5/22/2013

I'm a great user of zipper bags for leftovers and freezing. I always try to write the name of the contents and the date on the bag. You always think you'll remember what's in the bag, but after a while one does not.

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Re: Expiration Dates

posted at 12/11/2010 10:33 AM EST

Susan H

Posts: 69
First: 1/5/2009
Last: 2/26/2012

That's a great idea. How many times do we push things to the back and forget them?

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Re: Expiration Dates

posted at 12/11/2010 11:10 AM EST

Millie B

Posts: 979
First: 8/8/2008
Last: 5/22/2013

thats a great idea

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Re: Expiration Dates

posted at 12/11/2010 1:30 PM EST

Nancy G

Posts: 6428
First: 6/23/2010
Last: 5/22/2013

Last night I was heading to bed whtn the news came on my bedroom TV.
I dumped an underwear drawer onto my bed and sorted .... many items went into the trash.
What a nice, straight drawer.
Isn't it amazing that a kitchen chat works in the bedroom too?

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