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Read articleBest before vs use by: what food date labels really mean
"Use by" is a safety date and "best before" is a quality date. Food past its use by date should not be eaten, even if it looks and smells fine. Food past its best before date is usually still safe, it just may not taste or feel as good. Mixing the two up is the most common reason people bin good food or, worse, eat food that is not safe.
Best before vs use by at a glance
| Use by | Best before | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is about | Food safety | Quality (taste, texture, colour) |
| Typical foods | Fresh meat and fish, ready meals, chilled salads, some dairy | Tins, pasta, rice, biscuits, frozen food, many long-life products |
| After the date | Do not eat or cook it | Usually safe, check it looks and smells right |
| Can you freeze it? | Yes, up to the use by date, then follow the pack's instructions | Yes, before or after the date |
The exact wording differs by country. In the UK and EU, "use by" and "best before" work as above. In the US, labels such as "sell by", "best if used by" and "use by" are mostly quality or stock-rotation guides, with infant formula being the main case where dates are about safety. When in doubt, check the guidance from your local food safety agency.
What to do when a food date has passed
- Use by date passed: throw it away. Harmful bacteria can grow without changing the look or smell.
- Best before date passed: look, smell and, if the food is something you would normally taste, try a small amount. Dry goods, tins and frozen food are often fine for a long time. Anything mouldy, swollen, leaking or with a bad smell goes in the bin.
- Not sure which date it is: read the words, not the position on the pack. Treat anything unclear on fresh meat, fish or ready meals as a use by date.
Opened food has a different clock
The printed date only applies to the sealed, correctly stored product. Once you open it, the label often says something like "use within 3 days of opening" and that shorter limit wins. Cooked leftovers also have their own short life in the fridge. The easiest way to follow this is to note the date you opened the pack, and use whichever deadline comes first.
Other dates worth tracking
Food is only part of it. Several things around the home carry expiry dates that are easy to miss:
- Medicines: out-of-date tablets and liquids should go back to a pharmacy. Many have a shorter life once opened, such as eye drops.
- Cosmetics and sunscreen: look for the open-jar symbol, which shows how many months the product keeps after opening.
- Documents: passports, ID cards, driving licences, visas and insurance cover. A passport that expires in a few weeks can stop a trip.
- Warranties and subscriptions: returns windows and free trials run out quietly.
How to track expiry dates and waste less food
- Put the oldest at the front. Move new shopping behind older items in the fridge and cupboard.
- Keep a list of what expires soon. A weekly look at what is close to its date beats finding it at the back of the fridge.
- Set reminders ahead of the date. A reminder a week before leaves time to cook it, freeze it or give it away. For documents, 30 days or more gives time to renew.
- Freeze before the use by date. Bread, meat and cooked meals freeze well if you act in time.
- Record what happened. Noting what you used and what you threw away shows which foods you keep over-buying.
An expiry date tracker for food, medicine and documents
Days Until is an expiry date tracker for exactly this. Scan a best before or use by date from the label with your camera, and the app counts down the days, sorts items by what expires first and sends a reminder 30 days, 1 week and 1 day before. Tap "Opened it" and the countdown switches to how long the item keeps once open. Food, medicine, cosmetics and documents all go in one list, with no item limit, no ads and no account.
Just want to know how many days remain until a date? Try the free days until calculator. For more on keeping track of what runs out, browse our home and expiry tracking guides.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between use by and best before?
"Use by" is a safety date: do not eat the food after it, even if it looks and smells fine. "Best before" is a quality date: food past it is usually still safe, it just may not taste or feel as good.
Can I eat food after the best before date?
Usually yes. Look at it and smell it, and if it is something you would normally taste, try a small amount. Dry goods, tins and frozen food are often fine for a long time. Anything mouldy, swollen, leaking or with a bad smell goes in the bin.
What should I do with food past its use by date?
Throw it away. Harmful bacteria can grow without changing how the food looks or smells.
Does opening food change its expiry date?
Yes. The printed date only applies to the sealed, correctly stored product. Once opened, a label such as "use within 3 days of opening" wins, so use whichever deadline comes first.
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