Do you periodically inventory your pantry and refrigerator…..

Ronni

Ronni

Well-known Member
Location
Nashville TN
…..for expired items?

I will do so periodically, and put the soon-to-expire items in the front so I can use them before I have to throw them away.

When I organize a client’s pantry, it’s shocking how many items have expired, sometimes years before!!! Nothing I personally have is years beyond its expiration date because I periodically go through everything.

What about you?
 

Oldeagle66 said:
No need to, I just remember those type of things and keep the dates in my head.
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You must have way less stuff in your pantry and refrigerator than I do! There’s no way I could remember, other than a vague idea that “seems like it’s been awhile since I bought this.” 🤔

But then again I cook every day, sometimes twice a day, so I have many staples on hand.
 
Ronni said:
You must have way less stuff in your pantry and refrigerator than I do! There’s no way I could remember, other than a vague idea that “seems like it’s been awhile since I bought this.” 🤔

But then again I cook every day, sometimes twice a day, so I have many staples on hand.
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No, they're both full and I cook everyday. I'm just good at remembering that stuff.
 
I don't have a lot of food on hand. I keep a running list of groceries to buy in the kitchen. Every time I'm low on anything, I add it to the list and buy it the next time I shop, so there's nothing very old here. I did notice the mayonnaise date the other day, and it expires next month, so I added it to my list, and when I get more, the old jar will be trashed.
 
I use a magic marker to mark the dates on stuff. I rotate so new stuff goes in the back.
That way when I look in there those dates nag me to eat up the old stuff first. I hate to shop.
I tend to stock up when I go so I have a pretty stocked pantry and freezer.

My problem is more the fridge. Its just me so sometimes I dont get to stuff right a way and things go bad.
I also end up tossing things cause I cant remember how long theyve been in there and I dont want to be pizened.
So now I mark everything with a magic marker. Im doing better. No you cant have that till you eat those vegetables. :D
 
My pantry is very well stocked. Like @Veronica, I mark everything with a permanent marker with the Best By date. There is no such thing as an Expiration Date. The only items that I have found that actually "go bad" are the lemon juice in a bottle and rice.

Everything is rotated. I have canned stuff with 2023 Best By dates and they are just fine. I began stocking extra food when I first moved here, thinking I may be snowed in for a couple of weeks. Then covid came along. The local store has a "crate sale" every October, where canned goods are marked down 50%. I sorta went a little crazy stocking up and I am so glad I did. The prices now are over two times the prices I paid a couple of years ago.

If you are tossing food that is past its 'BEST BY' date, you are wasting it.
 
I have the important items. Milk, eggs, orange juice and bananas. Hamburger and Chicken are my freezer items.
I shop weekly and buy what I have planned for my meals that week. If I skip a day, food can add up.
I try to use the unused food as early as I can. Fish I buy fresh at the Seafood Market. I eat it the same day I buy it.
 
I like to keep a stash of soups, canned fruit and beans --things like that when it looks like the snow is near. You can eat all of these cold if you have to. I keep my fridge up to date with things. I order food twice a month so I don't have a slim end of month supply. My freezer always has good choices till the next shopping date.
 
The fridge is cleaned out the day before trash day & we get rid of anything that needs to go.

I go through the shelves in the spring & fall to check on things. Since we cook from scratch, all of the basics are on the shelves. I may keep one or two things that aren't used a lot, but are needed for a recipe.

I try make sure the expiration/BB dates are spaced out, but they are still good even past those dates. For me, the easy way to keep a wide range of dates is to replace what I used on the next monthly shop.
 
Ronni said:
…..for expired items?

I will do so periodically, and put the soon-to-expire items in the front so I can use them before I have to throw them away.

When I organize a client’s pantry, it’s shocking how many items have expired, sometimes years before!!! Nothing I personally have is years beyond its expiration date because I periodically go through everything.

What about you?
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Yes. I like an unexpired frig.
 
GoodEnuff said:
My pantry is very well stocked. Like @Veronica, I mark everything with a permanent marker with the Best By date. There is no such thing as an Expiration Date. The only items that I have found that actually "go bad" are the lemon juice in a bottle and rice.

Everything is rotated. I have canned stuff with 2023 Best By dates and they are just fine. I began stocking extra food when I first moved here, thinking I may be snowed in for a couple of weeks. Then covid came along. The local store has a "crate sale" every October, where canned goods are marked down 50%. I sorta went a little crazy stocking up and I am so glad I did. The prices now are over two times the prices I paid a couple of years ago.

If you are tossing food that is past its 'BEST BY' date, you are wasting it.
Click to expand...
I mark my pantry items too. When they are coming up on best buy date I get them out on the counter to remind me to use them.
 
I try.

I check dates on processed cheese, lunch meat, yogurt, etc…

I’m not so good with the condiments, pickles, olives, etc…

I keep track of leftovers using a three day eat, freeze, or toss, rule.

I live in fear of becoming the old timers that I grew up with where the fridge and the pantry became dangerous and disgusting places as they got old.

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