\u201cUse by\u201d and \u201cbest before\u201d can look similar on a package, but they do not communicate the same thing<\/strong>. A use-by date applies to foods that are highly perishable from a microbiological point of view and marks a safety limit. A best-before date indicates the period during which a food retains its specific properties when stored correctly.<\/p>\n

The difference at a glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

<\/th>\n	Use by<\/th>\n	Best before<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Main question<\/strong><\/td>\n	Safety<\/td>\n	Quality and durability<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Used for<\/strong><\/td>\n	Highly microbiologically perishable foods<\/td>\n	Foods that may lose quality before necessarily becoming unsafe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
After the date<\/strong><\/td>\n	Do not consume<\/td>\n	May still be suitable if stored correctly and the package is intact, although quality can decline<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n What a use-by date means<\/h2>\n A use-by date is used where, after a relatively short period, a food may constitute an immediate danger to human health from a microbiological point of view. It should therefore not be treated as a mere quality suggestion<\/strong>. Once it has passed, smell or appearance cannot establish that the food is safe.<\/p>\n What a best-before date means<\/h2>\n A best-before date indicates how long a food retains its specific properties when properly stored. After that date, aroma, texture, colour, freshness or stability can deteriorate, but the date alone does not automatically make the food unsafe<\/strong>.<\/p>\n This does not mean foods last indefinitely. Storage instructions still matter, the package should be intact and the nature of the product matters. Oxidised oil, a damaged can or badly stored food may be unsuitable even before the printed date.<\/p>\n Storage conditions are part of the date<\/h2>\n A date only makes sense alongside instructions such as \u201ckeep refrigerated\u201d, \u201cstore in a cool dry place\u201d or \u201conce opened, consume within\u2026\u201d. If the cold chain is broken or the food is stored incorrectly, the printed date is not an independent guarantee<\/strong>.<\/p>\n What changes after opening<\/h2>\n The printed date normally relates to an unopened product stored as instructed. Opening can introduce oxygen, moisture or microorganisms and change the food environment. That is why after-opening instructions matter more in practice than the fact that the printed date may still be months away.<\/p>\n Can smell, colour or taste decide safety?<\/h2>\n No. Sensory checks can reveal some quality deterioration, but they cannot prove the absence of dangerous microorganisms<\/strong>. This is especially important for use-by foods. For best-before foods, appearance and smell can help assess quality together with packaging and storage, but they do not replace product-specific safety rules.<\/p>\n Different foods, different deterioration problems<\/h2>\n Our guide to how long preserves last<\/a> focuses on shelf-stable packaging and spoilage signs; whether EVOO expires and how it deteriorates<\/a> is mainly about oxidation and loss of quality; and how to assess fresh meat condition<\/a> addresses a much more perishable product. The presence of a date does not make these the same problem.<\/p>\n If a food is close to its date<\/h2>\n Plan consumption, freeze only when appropriate and before<\/strong> the relevant safety limit, and follow the manufacturer\u2019s specific instructions. A best-before food need not automatically be thrown away the day after its date; a food past its use-by date should not be \u201crescued\u201d simply by cooking it.<\/p>\n The simple rule<\/h2>\n Use by: safety; do not consume after the date.<\/strong> Best before: minimum quality; interpret it together with storage and package condition.<\/strong> In either case, swollen, leaking or damaged packaging or unsafe storage conditions override any reassurance from the printed date.<\/p>\n Official sources<\/h2>\n \n AESAN: consumer food-safety FAQs<\/a>.<\/li>\n Regulation (EU) No 1169\/2011<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n \n Related reading<\/h2>\n \n How long does cooked meat last in the fridge? Safe storage times and handling<\/a><\/li>\n Vacuum-packed meat smells strong when opened: when it is normal and when to discard it<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Use-by and best-before dates do not mean the same thing. Learn what each date indicates, when safety is involved and why storage conditions matter.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13442,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[445],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guias-y-consejos"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t