Many food items can be eaten after their ‘best before’ date (Picture: Getty)
Ideally, you’d eat everything before the ‘best before’ date printed on the packet.
But sometimes, a random takeaway or an unexpected meal out means you don’t get time to eat everything from your food shop as and when you’d originally planned.
Fortunately, it’s not the end of the world, as you might still be able to eat it a day or two later – if it’s definitely a best before date (a guide to food quality) and not a ‘use by’ date (there for food safety reasons).
Here, we explain which foods it’s generally seen as okay to eat after the best before date.
Plus why it’s a different story for the ‘use by’ date.
What foods can you eat after the best before date?
Can you eat eggs after the best before date? (Picture: Getty)
Technically, anything frozen, dried or canned should be fine to eat just after the best before date. Again, it’s more of a guide, and the food might taste slightly different.
Here are a few examples:
Frozen foods will be suitable to eat after the best before date for time, if it was stored as per the packaging’s instructions.
Eggs can be eaten for a couple of days after the best before date, says the Food Standards Agency. Make sure they’re thoroughly cooked.
Bread can last for two weeks past the best before, if you keep it in the fridge, according to TooGoodToGo. Best for making toast, they say.
White rice can be eaten post best before date, if you’ve stored it in an airtight container. (Do check it before you go to cook, though).
Dry pasta can last 24 months after the best before date, again if it’s stored in an airtight container, according to BBC Good Food Australia.
Store dry pasta in an airtight container (Picture: Getty)
Source:: Metro
