Sell by vs. use by dates?

[cbayer]

I bought a pot roast a few days ago. Today, I looked at it and noted that the "sell by" date is today. There is no "use by" date. I can't freeze it (too big for my teeny weeny freezer). Do you think it will be OK to stay in the fridge until Monday when I planned to serve it to guests? Or should I cook it tomorrow and just reheat on Monday? It looks and smells just fine right now and is in the coldest part of my fridge.

:shrug:

[pengillian101]

1. I bet it will be fine on Monday.

Sell buy date for meat is expecting you to bring it home and refrigerate for a few days before you actually use it or freeze it.

Tell ya what happened to us last month - (we shop every 3 weeks) - the milk and 1/2 and half dairy had a sell by date on THAT date we purchased it. It's all still good. Dairy stays a very long time.

Fresh vegies also stay a very long time if stored creatively. I learn every month how to do that.

Meat - not so much long term. But I think you're good over a weekend.

Hope some meat expert weighs in. My thought would be that when is starts turning from red to brown, I'd cook it. But I do not know!

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Readying on a cooking mag last week

I had a similar question. Meat will be fine 3-5 days in the fridge, and 3 days if unfrozen, I guess because the fibers get cut in the fridge.

It was the Professional Home Kitchen mag I think

http://www.americastestkitchen.com/

I have a similar issue for stew meat.

[Warpy]

11. Meat turns red under fluorescent lights

and will always start to brown in the fridge. That's why when you cut into it, you'll see only the surface is red and the interior is brown.

Meat under fluorescent lights that is turning brown is what ends up in the markdown area, but it's still good. Just cook thoroughly to kill any bugs that might have started growing.

[Warpy]

2. If it's kept well refrigerated, it should be fine on Monday

The best beef is aged, anyway, and since it's going to be a pot roast, I think we can assume it will be cooked pretty thoroughly so any bugs it's grown between now and then will simply not be an issue.

You can usually fudge a few days for meat, one day for fish before you have to cook it with tomatoes and garlic, and a month for cultured milk products like yogurt, sour cream, and buttermilk. Yes, the latter are good for up to a whole month past the "sell by" date. They do get progressively more sour, though, and the buttermilk can separate. They are, however, safe to eat if mold has not appeared, the lactobacilli killing off anything else until the milk sugar is completely gone.

[sandnsea]

4. It can depend where you bought it

There have been stores that I wouldn't trust meat for 24 hours, let alone an entire week-end. I'd just smell it regularly to make sure it's staying fresh. Frankly I'd never believe that any meat would last until Monday, but maybe I'm just paranoid.

[Tesha]

5. I'd go by smell and feel...

and if I had any doubt, I'd marinate it then wrap it tightly.

Oh, and if it's "borderline", you might want to wash the
surface of the meat. Remember, most of the initial bacterial
activity will be confined to the surface of the meat and you
can actually remove a lot of that (and their residues) by
washing.

(No soap, though! ;) )

[cbayer]

6. Thanks everybody! Great advice all around.

I am going to check it today and tomorrow, but try to wait until Monday to cook.

Love the advice about other products as well. I get to the store about once a month, so I am always working on how long I can keep things and how to best store perishables.

:hi:

[Tesha]

7. If you need to hold milk for a while...

...we've found that Hood "Simply Smart" milk lasts quite a long time.
It's a "filled milk" product* and ultrafiltered and ultrapasteurized so,
unopened, it lasts a very long time and even once opened, it last
quite a bit longer than conventional milk. We don't drink much milk
but need it from time-to-time in recipes, and we can manage to
get all the way through a half-gallon of this stuff before it spoils.

Tesha


* "Filed milks" are reduced-fat or no-fat milks that have extra
milk proteins added back into them so they seem to be the
equivalent of a higher-fat milk. "Simply Smart" comes in a
1% (2%?) milkfat version and a fully-skinned version; we buy
the fully-skimmed version.

"Smart Balance" from another company *MAY* be a similar
product but we've never bought it so can't opine on it.

[cbayer]

8. Great, I will look for it. I love milk and it is always the first thing I run out of.

In Europe, they sold a lot of milk in cartons that can be stored without refrigeration for longer periods of time, but I haven't seen any (except in these little lunchbox sizes). I keep looking, though.

:hi:

[book lady]

12. Kroger has milk in cartons in the Detroit area...I think it is a quart size

[grasswire]

9. pot roast is always better the second day anyhoo

..so I think I would cook it off if I had the time to do so. I just hate that smell of old meat when the wrapper comes off.

Even not, though, you're probably fine.

[cbayer]

10. I really didn't have any qualms about cooking it ahead other than I like the vegetables

to be cooked in the broth for the last hour or so.

Still smells all right, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

:hi:

[hippywife]

13. Maybe start it in a marinade now.

Something acidic (little balsamic with a little red wine) will kill any bacteria and start the tenderizing process. I bet it will keep it just a tad longer.

[cbayer]

14. Good idea. I going to make it an Asian pot roast, so I will start with some soy sauce

and rice vinegar.

:hi:

[hippywife]

15. Perfect!

That oughta do it and give you a little more confidence that it will hold til Monday.

Enjoy your meal. :hi:

P.S. Any pineapple or pineapple juice in the house? Would be a great addition.

[pengillian101]

16. Hia hippywife!

Good to see you posting again - you've been missed. :hi:

"P.S. Any pineapple or pineapple juice in the house?" cbayer can't find any in her house, remember? She's that lucky gal sailing the seas! :-)

[hippywife]

17. Hi, gilli.

I do remember where she is and that her abode is a boat. Don't recall reading there was no pineapple, tho. Did I miss something? :shrug:

How's things up your way these days? :hi:

[pengillian101]

18. I think Al Gore has been visiting northern MN.

;-)

It's hot, hot! Mid 80's in May - uffda fida! I'm used to wearing sweatshirts until July/August. I'm melting...

I just noticed in a different thread that you have a new puppy! How cute is he! I haven't seen you around, hope your new job isn't wearing you out and that you are feeling well!

:hi: