Buying "soon to expire" meat

[Snadra]

Looks like I'm in the minority here, but I don't even like buying it within a day or two of the use by date. Not sure if it's mistrust, paranoia, ignorance or what but I am an absolute date freak about all foods-meat included.

Jeff

Just to be clear, we are not talking about meat that has expired, but is nearing the date. Or at least thats what I'm talking about. Typically, I see it slightly discounted a few days before expiry, and more heavily discounted as expiry approaches. I have never seen meat for sale past expiry (and if I did I would complain to the manager), and rarely on the day of expiry.

[jvalentino]

Looks like I'm in the minority here, but I don't even like buying it within a day or two of the use by date. Not sure if it's mistrust, paranoia, ignorance or what but I am an absolute date freak about all foods-meat included.

Jeff

Just to be clear, we are not talking about meat that has expired, but is nearing the date. Or at least thats what I'm talking about. Typically, I see it slightly discounted a few days before expiry, and more heavily discounted as expiry approaches. I have never seen meat for sale past expiry (and if I did I would complain to the manager), and rarely on the day of expiry.

Thanks for the clarification- that may have been my misunderstanding.

[nickrey]

In my local experience it is quite often the more expensive "organic" or "free range" chickens that often go unsold and are price-reduced. This is typically where I get the raw ingredients for my chicken stocks. After all, if they're going to be pressure cooked to extract any last vestige of flavour they're going to be safe, plus you get the added advantage of real chicken taste.

[Jmahl]

Rip the plastic, smell it. If it smells good buy it and use it. Buy nothing ground.

[qrn]

I buy "used"beef when ever it looks ok(no brown sections)and always when I am gonna grind it up for hamburgers.assuming there is a suitable amount of fat in it,never do fish or other stuff

Bud

[maggiethecat]

The middle-aged discount beef at my local independent grocer (with Union butchers)is impeccable. They don't do discount ground beef, poultry or fish.

[Mjx]

Rip the plastic, smell it. If it smells good buy it and use it. Buy nothing ground.

This seems kind of unfair to the shop and other shoppers, and isn't particularly reliable; many of the most dangerous bacteria produce no odour at all.