Do you periodically inventory your pantry and refrigerator…..

When I buy lunchmeat, there are 16 slices to a package. Two slices are a serving, so that's 8 sandwiches, but I wouldn't that many sandwiches before the meat goes bad. As soon as I bring home a new package of lunch meat, I make 8 wax paper wrapped servings separately in wax paper, then freeze them in a tupperware container. They can last a long time in the freezer that way. When I want a sandwich, I just take one wrapped package out. It will thaw in about an hour, or if in a hurry, it's just right heated in the microwave for 60 seconds.
 
Once I bring home shelf-stable items, other than rotating them I mostly ignore expiration or best-by dates because I know they're arbitrarily assigned by the producers. Think I'm joking? Check your sugar, salt, honey and other staples that don't degrade for many years - or centuries - they're all marked with expiration dates.

Fresh foods? It's obvious when they're heading south and need to be pitched. I use my nose, eyes and good sense as a guide.
 
Last edited:
Before they started putting dates right on the products, I used an office date stamp to mark them. I really appreciate having the date on the cans now. If I have multiple cans, I use a felt pen and put a large year on the front. I had some that were out of order.

What I’ve noticed if I find something that is past the BB date, it’s something I don’t really like. Then I let it sit there to annoy me. The charities refuse to take them.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
When I buy lunchmeat, there are 16 slices to a package. Two slices are a serving, so that's 8 sandwiches, but I wouldn't that many sandwiches before the meat goes bad. As soon as I bring home a new package of lunch meat, I make 8 wax paper wrapped servings separately in wax paper, then freeze them in a tupperware container. They can last a long time in the freezer that way. When I want a sandwich, I just take one wrapped package out. It will thaw in about an hour, or if in a hurry, it's just right heated in the microwave for 60 seconds.
Click to expand...

Im learning to freeze things too. I think I will finiish it up before it goes bad but then I dont and then I end up tossing it cause I cant remember how long its been in there.

I now mark my condiments with the date I open them. The condiment count down doesnt start till you open them.
I also buy smaller jars of stuff like mustard that I only use small amounts of for cooking. The husband had to have mustard on everything so back then I bought the humongous jars.

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 agree. I dont go by best by dates either. I do try to use the oldest stuff up first. Ever since covid it seems like the stores arent fully stocked. So I need to keep a stash of my most used stuff. And I will definitely stock up if theres a sale. I also take full advantage of when meats are BOGO.
MoBeans said:
I inventory the fridge many times a day. I usually walk away empty handed but keep coming back until my hunger overcomes my dislike of whatever remains in there.
Click to expand...

Same here. I hate to go out so I put off grocery shopping as long as I can by doing "fridge cleanout".
 
The freezers and the pantry are constant. This is to take advantage of loss leaders at the grocery stores. We are coming into the period that I find the best deals. Fall and Winter months provide the best sales on everything.

The up coming holidays bring baking items, canned goods including broths, many meat sales for the freezer. This is the time I stock up for the next year.

I am blessed to have a lot of storage and freezer space. I have shopped this way all of my life. My husband thought I was a nut until he saw the savings in the grocery budget. He really noticed when our son had overnights with friends. I always had bacon, sausage in the freezer and could throw together pancakes or waffles. Big pan of scrambled eggs, back then, no problem.

Did a shop today on lean ground beef and chuck roast. I will breaking down everything into recipe portions. The roasts will also be cut down to chunks for stew etc,,,,I am ready for cold weather!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top