To Purchase The Freshest Food Available

By Ethel Tiersky

Jun 09, 2009

Don’t buy items near or past the “use by” or “sell by” date. Look on the back of the shelf or further down in the bin to find an item with a later date. (Retailers regularly rotate stock to sell the oldest food first.)
When you shop in a hurry and don’t check package dates, save your receipt. Check the dates at home; return anything that’s expired.
If the packaged meat, poultry, or fish is about to expire, speak up. Ask the butcher if there’s anything fresher in the back.
When buying at the meat or fish counter, ask questions such as these: “Which fish just came in?” or “Can I use this ground beef tomorrow? Will it still be good?”
Don’t buy large quantities if you can’t use them relatively soon. You may wind up eating less-than-fresh items, throwing out expired items, or eating the same item more often than you’d like. Moreover, you’d cluttered up your fridge, freezer, or pantry with a big supply of the same item.
Check out farmer’s markets in your area. The produce may be fresher and cheaper, too.

Search