Have you checked at "Still Tasty"? It's a pretty good resource for these kinds of things. -Grainlady

Here is a link that might be useful: Still Tasty

Grainlady,
Thank You!
Still Tasty answered my questions and I have bookmarked the site-just hope I remember it the next time i have a question!

Liz

The canned goods would not bother me if stored in my pantry. If they were in a hot garage all summer, i would get a fresh one. If cans get hit by hot temps or freezing temps, it might be ok but it changes the taste, so that would be a doubt. 'Best by' dates are used for shelf stocking stores and a date a manufacturer decides when it still maintains a consistently good flavor. I've noticed canned goods in some small specialty stores with dates near 10yrs old. A bottle of seltzer 2005. Not dangerous, just not good and 'fresh'. Unopened bottles and cans are fine after the dates, especially 2013. More a personal choice. If for a holiday meal, fresh is a better choice. Or my choice anyway.
Buttermilk, dairy, eggs...i don't use past the 'use by' dates usually, but have consumed a week or two late, by accident, and was fine, tasted fine. (out of town, didn't notice). If stored in a good cold fridge, things do last longer. If a teen tends to leave it open, and it is stuffed without much cool air circulation, you might not make it to the use-by date.
Dairy is tested by the producers so you are getting a decent suggested date.
Cans could last safe for consumption for years.
I use some of the sites like Grainlady posted when in doubt.

sleevendog: My evaporated milk has been stored in my basement so no heat/freezing problems and my unopened buttermilk in the refrigerator (no teens). The reason I wondered is these are "Best By" dates rather than "Use By" dates or expiration dates.

The site indicated the evaporated milk was o.k., but just gave a flat out two weeks time in the refrigerator for buttermilk--didn't even mention "Best BY" or "Use By" dates.
I was going to use the evaporated milk for pumpkin pie, but if you are saying fresh would be better, I will go that route. I have no problem buying fresh/current, I just hate wasting food.

Liz

I just bookmarked that website. I had never heard of it before.

Then we have the 'sell-by' and the 'exp-by'. One of the sites explains it. Google 'use-by vs
best-by'.
At a recent family reunion, my mothers fridge just did not feel cold enough. It wasn't, and i was cooking alot of seafood. Lots of people and she was 'organizing'. Dad probably turns it down to save a penny. I just turned it down and kept delicates in the way back. Bought her a thermometer and found the coldest spot. Good to do for holidays.

I think both the buttermilk and the evaporated milk are probably fine.

As noted, the "best by" date is different than a "use by" date or an expiration date. It does not denote a safety issue, it's a quality issue. In something like a pumpkin pie, with pumpkin and eggs and spices and sugar I don't think you could taste the difference between yours and a new can.

I've kept buttermilk far past the "best by" date, even past the "use by" date. We've had that discussion here many times in the past and the consensus seems to be that for nearly everyone, buttermilk keeps for a long time. I think it's fine too, but I'd open it up and pour some. If it comes out in chunks it's bad, LOL.

Seriously, though, open it up and pour some, (both the canned and the buttermilk) it's probably fine to use, but if you are uncomfortable using it, at least it's not expensive or difficult to replace it.

Annie