laundrycrisis Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 I am confused - please help :) Chicken purchased from the grocery store has a use by date that is a week out. But right below that it says to use or freeze within 48 hours of purchase. But the use by date would actually give six days past that. What is up with that ? I don't understand. Anyhow, I'm baking chicken I bought four days ago but has a use by date that is still four more days away. It has been refrigerated and smells fine and we will eat it. I have always gone by four days from the store like my mom did, not 48 hours. Is this living on the edge ? If it was still sitting in the store's case, it would be refrigerated, just like it was at my house. Right ? And they still have four more days to sell it ? :confused: Thanks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 If you freeze it right away, I think you can disregard the "use by" date. Once it's thawed or if it was never frozen, I try to eat it within 2 days. If it still smells good, no worries. If it's going bad, toss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted July 23, 2012 Author Share Posted July 23, 2012 I just don't understand having two dates - the use by date or the "use or freeze within 48 hours" when the use by date is still six days from that. Which to believe ? I pretty much disregarded the 48 hour rule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted July 23, 2012 Author Share Posted July 23, 2012 (edited) Okay, I found an answer, sort of. http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2006-09-30/the-truth-about-food-expiration-datesbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice Consumers should use or freeze chicken within 48 hours of purchase, but stores can keep it in cold storage and sell it up to the date on the package. The difference is they are assuming the store is keeping it at 30 F but a home fridge may be closer to 40 F, so it's only good at home for 48 hours. I grabbed a canned tea from the back of the fridge this chicken was in and stuck my thermometer in it. 35 F. Nice and cold, and it (the chicken) smelled fine. And I baked it to an internal temp of 200 F :D. Back to add: it rode around in the cart for about five minutes before check out, and was home and in my fridge ten minutes after that. I self-checkout so no lines and the store is a five minute drive. It was still very cold when I put it in the fridge. Edited July 23, 2012 by laundrycrisis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.