I know the purpose of expiration dates. And yes, many things might “expire” by a certain date.

Milk for example – I get it. But even that date can be arbitrary. While it is a suggestion, it is a STRONG suggestion. But there have been times when the date on the milk is a day past, and it’s still very good.

As a dad, one of the roles we accept is that of food smeller.  “Dad, does this smell good?”

So again, the date was just a suggestion.  It’s on there for a reason, but it’s not the absolute line as to when is it good and when is it “no good”

Here’s the question behind this post:

What is this “Best if used by” nonsense? Is that an actual expiration date or just a suggestion? What if I don’t need the food in question to be at its “best”?

What if I’m ok with this food product being “good” or maybe even being “average”? 

While I like my food to be at it’s best, I’m an average person and sometimes I’m okay if my food is good.

I’m okay if sometimes my food is “fine”.

I’m okay if sometimes my food is “okay”

Came across a jar of Chicken and Gnocchi that says, “Best if used by Nov 6, 2022”.

What if I had eaten it on Nov 7, 2022? Would it still, then, be at its best? If so, what if I had bought this jar in Europe and at 1:00am on November 7, 2022 boarded a plane and crossed a time zone, would this jar now be at its “best” when just hours earlier it was past its prime?

Or – suppose I live very near a time zone difference, if it’s 12:06am on Nov 7, 2022 then this jar is no longer at its best. But if I get in my car and drive 20 minutes away, crossing a time zone and it’s now 11:26pm Nov 6, 2022 – then is this jar of chicken and Gnocchi back to its “Best”?

It’s the same jar – so again, this “Best if used by” is just a suggestion.

I’m neither a math or geography expert and thinking about it made my head hurt.

If I went to a store and got a jar and it said, “Best if Used by Nov 7, 2022” and went back to the store the next week and got another jar and it said, “Best if used by Nov 12, 2022”. 

Let’s say I made them both, separately, on Nov 10, 2022, is not one of them not at it’s best, and the other is still at it’s best?

Would I taste a difference?

But I don’t really care if this Chicken and Gnocchi is at it’s “Best”. Good or even average would be great.

I’ll use spices and cook it correctly. I can take something good and make it great.

I know how us use and combine spices to add taste and different flavors to enhance a food.

But 2022?

I need my food packaging to say, “Dude, don’t even attempt to eat this past (insert date here)”

I did put it in the trash.

But I wonder how it tasted at its “Best”.

Where is my Time Machine when I need it?

If I go back in time, let’s say 10 years, when I exit my time machine, am I still the same age, 60? 

Or, if I’ve gone back 10 years, and I now 50?

And, for sake of argument, if I were to take this same jar of ‘Chicken and Gnocchi’ is it now less old?

It’s the same jar, just transported to a time that put’s it back in it’s “bast” condition.

Now I’m gonna thinking about this all day.

Dang it.

o

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