You bought food and tucked it all away in your refrigerator.  Two weeks later you remember about that special something you bought.  You dig it out only to notice that yesterday was the “sell by” date.  The other part of the dish you want to make is past its “best by” date.  Can you salvage this meal?

There are three kinds of dating that you can use to decide if the food you buy is fresh, safe or both.

Best Before, Better If Used Before or Best If Used By: these are used for food quality and indicate freshness.  Nonperishable foods (foods that don't spoil) are safe to eat after this date but may be stale or may have lost some flavor or texture.

Expiration, Use By or Use Before: these are usually found on refrigerated foods. Foods past this date should not be eaten. Yeast or refrigerated dough may not rise if used after this date.

Sell By: this is the "pull" date.  It is found on perishable (likely to spoil) foods like luncheon and fresh meat, chicken and other birds, fish, milk, soft cheeses, cottage cheese, yogurt, sour cream, dips, eggs in shell and ready-to-eat foods like sandwiches, puddings, salads made with dressing, etc. It is the last date a food should be sold.

Food past its "sell by" date can be sold if the store: 1) puts it in a separate display and labels the food as past its "sell by" date and 2) sells only food that is safe to eat (is free of mold, etc. and its package is not broken). The "sell by" date allows for, depending on the food and proper handling, a storage period in your home refrigerator before it is unsafe to use or eat.