Hi friends! I’m Sonja, and today on Sonja’s Way, we’re diving into a super simple but often misunderstood topic that can save you tons of money—understanding “Use By” and “Best By” dates on your food products.
What Do “Use By” and “Best By” Dates Really Mean?
Contrary to popular belief, those little dates printed on food packaging are not always expiration dates. In fact, most of the time, they’re just guidelines set by manufacturers for peak freshness. That’s right—your food is probably still good long after the date on the box.
Here’s the difference:
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Expiration Date = For products like medications and some baking items. Don’t mess with these.
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Best By/Use By Date = A suggestion for best flavor or texture—not safety.
One Shopping Tip That Can Save You Instantly
When buying in bulk or stocking up during sales, always check those dates. Items sitting side by side on the shelf can have months of difference in their “Best By” dates—even if they’re the same product!
What I do? I take a permanent marker and write the Best By date on the front of each item when I unpack groceries. This helps me use the oldest items first and avoid wasting food (and money!).
Still Tasty? Check Online Before You Toss
Before throwing anything out, check StillTasty.com—one of my favorite resources! It tells you how long foods actually last past the “Best By” date. Martha Stewart’s site also has helpful food storage info for home cooks.
Save Money, Waste Less, Live Better
Understanding how food labeling works is a simple but powerful way to stretch your grocery budget. Don’t let dates scare you into wasting perfectly good food.
If you love practical, money-saving tips like this, be sure to subscribe to Sonja’s Way on YouTube and hit the like button—we’ve got tons of useful tricks coming your way!
