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Past Date Question

4 years ago

Everyone is probably out enjoying their Saturday, but I thought I'd ask anyway. I forgot I'd bought a vacuum packed package of baby back ribs. It has a use or freeze date of July 18, 2019. This is the 20th. Think it's safe to go ahead and cook them? I'm really kicking myself.

Madonna

Featured Answer

lindac92

4 years ago

I have a friend that calls it a "rot date"....assuming everything is rotten and poison the day after the use by date.
Its fine! but as has been said....sniff it....but I always sniff meat before cooking.....and be aware that un cryovacced meat always has a little odor....rinse it and sniff again. Bad meat is very hard to miss!!

Comments (8)

carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
4 years ago
2 days? I'd do a nose test. The smell of spoiled meat is unmistakable.
bcskye thanked carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
They tend to error on the safe side when dating packages. Assuming your fridge may not be set on correct cold. Cryo-vac is the best packaging so chances are it is fine.

Yup, the sniff test. if you have ever left a package of fish or meat in the kitchen garbage at room temp overnight, you know that unmistakable scent. Our wet small garbage can is a pull-out under the sink. I can smell it entering the kitchen the next morning if we had forgotten to take it out the night before.

Get it in a hot 400 oven with a dry rub asap. I cover mine with foil and braise for 5-6 hours cut into sets of four ribs. Turn down to 225 after an initial high heat half hour. Later onto a grill to finish. (recently I've been using SousVide instead of the oven).

Winter ribs we have often finished in the oven uncovered with a wet mop. Grilling is best but not necessary to get a tender rib if grilling is a PITA.

Personally I think pork smells weird even fresh. But off/bad is nasty.
bcskye thanked sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
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chloebud
4 years ago
I agree^...probably fine with just 2 days but check the smell. Hope you're still not kicking! ;-)
bcskye thanked chloebud
plllog
4 years ago
Totally. If it smells fine and there's no white rot liquid it's fine. Especially since it's going to be cooked. I've had meat go off before the date, but the date isn't a magic timer like those idiotic bombs in the movies. They're the date before which, if it does go bad, they'll refund your money.
bcskye thanked plllog
annie1992
4 years ago
I agree, it's probably fine. I'd open the package, sniff. If it smells like pork, or doesn't smell, then I'd go ahead and cook them.

Annie
bcskye thanked annie1992
bcskye
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you to everyone. They did smell and look good so I prepared them as sleevendog suggested. Will get several good meals from them.

Cloebud, I'm not kicking myself any longer and the bruises should disappear quickly. LOL!

Madonna
chloebud
4 years ago
Madonna, I just hate those darn "meat might be bad" bruises! ;-)
bcskye thanked chloebud

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