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Saving Food

June 17th, 2006 at 02:54 am

OK, so the title is a bit disingenuous. I only decided to save the food because I was so disgusted at what I had to throw out as I cleaned out my fridge. So I salvaged what I could.

We had company last weekend, and I bought fresh basil, parsley, cilantro and sage. I used a few tablespoons (max) of each, and left the rest in the fridge. Fortunately, I was able to save it. I chopped it all up and froze it, so I will have "fresh" herbs next time I need them, until my herb garden fills out. Ditto with some celery that was starting to go, but would be perfectly good in soup. I also froze a cup of chicken broth and about 1/2 of a 28 oz can of tomatoes. I throw out WAY too much food and need to get a grip on it...

I also started going through my pantry and checking expiration dates. I usually do a pretty good job of rotating stock. However, there are a few things that don't have dates stamped on them (they use factory codes instead - I don't get why they can't put the date on). Anyway, some of these don't have contact numbers, or their websites don't have info on shelf life, so I need to be creative and figure out how to get that info so I don't waste the stuff.

I'm also doing the same in the bathroom. I've acquired quite a few tubes of toothpaste, deoderants, mouthwash, etc. through freebies and rebates and I need to check the dates to see when they expire, and prioritize their use.

A bit off topic, but I have a question for Flash. Do you have any idea why coupons don't all expire on the last day of the month? I have no problem with the 6-weeks or so they give me before they expire, but it's SO annoying to find a coupon that expired on 6/17. Why not 6/30? Don't get it.

Tomorrow, our town is having a fair and fireworks. Free, though we'll probably get dinner there. (The fire department sells hot dogs, burgers, beer, and soda as a fundraiser). Other than that, we'll be pool side. I need to get a few gifts for Father's Day, but I have gift cards, so there shouldn't be too much cash out of pocket.

On the challenge front, I need to call Citibank about that first bonus, and mail out another gas voucher. But nothing came in so the total is the same. I also mailed out the coupon train earlier in the week for $4.05.

New Total: $1079.75/$2000

Outstanding items: $100 (Citi bonus 1), $100 (Citi bonus 2), $2 (Chandon rebate), IDT Phone card(s)(?), $5 (PNC gas voucher), $5 (PNC Gas Voucher 2), $10 Shoppers Essential Voucher, $20 Passport to Fun Voucher, $30 Sprint phone card.

Coupon Train Total: $33.24

2 Responses to “Saving Food”

  1. shadon Says:
    1150514784

    Jump on the FDA site and punch in "use by date". It will give you some guidelines about what the different terms mean. Here in Australia, most manufacturers err on the side of caution with their dating and a lot of the dating refers to quality rather than whether the item will make you sick if you consume it after the date. As an example, I am still eating minced chilli (jar) that had a best before date of last July. Haven't been sick yet, but maybe it's not as "spicy" (quality has reduced) as it was (or maybe I'm just becoming immune to it I eat so much spicy food Wink ).

  2. shadon Says:
    1150515191

    Okay, couldn't help myself, from the FDA website:

    "Expiration" Date
    The calendar date on the packaging of a food that indicates the last date a food should be eaten or used. (Also see "Best If Used By," "Sell By," and "Use By" Dates.)

    Food Safety Implication: Foods that are purchased or used after the expiration date could contain spoilage bacteria or pathogens and may not be safe to eat.

    Food Safety Precautions:

    * Don't buy foods after the expiration date has passed.

    * At home, throw out foods after the expiration date has passed.

    "Best If Used By" Date
    A calendar date on the packaging of a food product, which represents the recommended time limit a food should be used within for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.

    "Sell By" Date
    A calendar date on the packaging of a food product that indicates the last day the product can be sold.

    The "sell by" date tells the retailer how long to display a product. It guides the rotation of shelf stock and allows time for the product to be stored and used at home. The date is quality driven, not a food safety concern.

    "Use By" Date
    This is the last date a consumer is recommended to use a product while it is at peak quality. This date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a "sell by" or food safety date.

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