Foods that can be used even after 'best-before' dates (view pics)

Every Indian household often regrets not being able to use a packaged food item before its best-before mentioned date but what if you could?Nearly 70% of all food items that are thrown away thinking they are inedible are packaged food or beverages. They are thrown out believing that even day post best before date means those items are not edible. Frozen chicken, fish items, baked goods and even packaged fruits & veggies are thrown away without knowing that they were still edible at that time. A leading food campaign firm went up to giant stores and talked to their managers finding how to know that if really a packaged food is harmful beyond it's 'best before' date. All of them answered unanimously, 'Just smell it'. One of the store managers said, 'Often people just sniff a bit and decide if the food it stale which is wrong. You must know these packaged food are wrapped either in celophine sheets, plastics or cans, therefore one must take out the food item run it under fresh water and them smell it.'Another store manager revealed how he himself use some items beyond their best-before date, according to him, "See not all items must be thrown out, okay if you notice some visible staleness then you must throw them away but all those best-before conditions are not exact. If a product shows best-before Sep'14 does that mean you can not use it on 2nd Oct'14."We bring to you some food items that one can use even beyond best-before date of course after thorough checking:Raw veggies: Tomatoes, cabbage, baby corns, cheese, onions, potatoes, and eggs.If these vegetables aren't showing visible signs of staleness then wash them under fresh water for sometime and then smell it. If they still smell rotten then put them away or else they are good to use.Tomatoes: Usually rotten tomatoes are easier to spot, and if you notice watery substance all over it or the skin has gulped inside out, it means they must be put away. But if their skin comes back to its usually shape after a slightly squeeze without spilling pulp it means tomatoes are edible.Cabbage: Unless you notice worms around their leaves, you must get afraid of using cabbage. Try dipping it in fresh cold water & salt for sometime and then run it under warm water. But this won't work if the product is being used months beyond its best-before date. Cheese: Normally cheese gives away a stale look from the outside at first but you must pluck the portion out wash it with fresh cold water and them smell it if the staleness still persists then throw it away. Animal products: Fish fillets, sausages, nuggets, frozen chicken & eggsFish fillets: Usually fish like cod, salmon and haddock, from the time of their catch stay edible for up to 4-5 weeks only if it's kept refrigerated until 5 degrees. Normally they still have almost a week to remain edible until they reach supermarkets, but it doesn't mean that they become stale post their expiry date.You must thoroughly look out for signs like a fish must retain its skin's translucency and the flesh should be springy when pressed and on finding none of them above signs, they must be chucked away. Sausages & nuggets: They are often sold in frozen packets which are kept refrigerated under 3 degrees so before putting them away smell for any spirit and they feel sticky then it's time you bin them. But if it's not there then try deep-frying them and they are good to go. Frozen chicken: Fresh chicken directorates much quicker than fresh catch of fish, therefore fresh chicken is put in hot water to kill of any bacteria remains. But when these chickens are packaged as frozen items they are stuff with ice inside it and all around it to put the item from getting stale and their packets are refrigerated under minimum 2-3 degrees. Eggs: Testing an egg is utmost easy, usually eggs can go up to five weeks beyond their best-before date. To ensure they are still edible, put an egg in a glass of water, if it floats then it means the inside moisture content has evaporated and air has filled up the shell.But if the egg drowns into bottom of the glass, it means they are good to go also check for red lion stamp to ensure these eggs come from hen which has been vaccinated against salmonella. Dairy products: Ice-creams & yoghurts Ice-creams: Mostly all ice-creams are made up of doubled cream milk therefore they have shorter life than any other food product. So if you notice that your ice-cream has turned darker or it tastes like cream cheese than it's time to bin it.Yoghurts: If it looks clean and fresh that means it is, because it goes under preservation method, lactic fermentation process. But if you notice moulds of any colour you better know what to do.