(When) Can I Eat This? Tofu edition

April 26, 2020 8:33 PM

Last month, I bought 6 packs of tofu, that are all marked with "Best By 5/18/20". They are sealed in plastic and seem to be in good condition. There is no manufacturing date/any other date on the package. AskMe seems pretty alarmed by the prospect of eating *expired* tofu, but what does "Best By" mean? I'm planning out my meals for the next several weeks. Is May 18 the *last* day I should plan on eating the tofu, or do I have more leeway?
posted by rogerroger to Food & Drink (13 answers total)

“Best by” is the manufacturer’s estimate of when the food will still be at the height of its quality. Food past this date is still perfectly safe to eat. It’s not an expiration date.
posted by Automocar at 8:40 PM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Automocar, thanks for the clarification, and I promise I won't respond anymore to anyone else/chatfilter -- but I'm confused, why would some tofu be marked with an expiration date, but my tofu wouldn't, if tofu does have a definite expiration date? For context, I am not a regular tofu eater and I am not confident in my ability to know by taste/smell if tofu has expired or not.
posted by rogerroger at 8:44 PM on April 26, 2020

And it is a very conservative guesstimate. If it's been kept cold all along, chances are it's going to be good way beyond that date. Of course, you could also freeze it.
posted by bluefrog at 8:44 PM on April 26, 2020 [3 favorites]

I'd eat unopened refrigerated tofu for at least a month past the best-by date.
posted by medusa at 8:49 PM on April 26, 2020

If your tofu gets bad, you'll know. It will smell bad. Tofu doesn't really doesn't have an odor. Bad tofu does....
posted by bluefrog at 8:56 PM on April 26, 2020 [2 favorites]

I know I've posted in a previous tofu thread: no no no on old tofu. I do not believe in expiry dates as a rule, but when tofu goes bad it goes really bad, and this is not a great time to be extremely sick for days. Especially since you are not a regular tofu-eater and don't know what safe tofu looks/feels like. (The only "tell" on the tofu that made me can't-get-out-bed sick for three days was a very slight sliminess.)

If I were you -- and I sort of am, as I have a bunch of tofu that's expiring soon -- I would freeze any tofu that you don't think you'll use in the next couple weeks. I think freezing improves the texture anyway, and then it won't make you sick. Like, I'd go freeze it tomorrow.
posted by goodbyewaffles at 9:09 PM on April 26, 2020 [8 favorites]

Stilltasty says expiration date plus a week, and that’s probably a little conservative.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 9:15 PM on April 26, 2020

Send it to me on may 18 via USPS. Or freeze it that day or eat it in June. All are fine!
posted by SaltySalticid at 9:19 PM on April 26, 2020

Freezing tofu changes its texture dramatically, allowing you to make things like Tofuna Salad.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:51 PM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]

Freeze the surplus! Then you've got all the time you need.
posted by chiquitita at 4:56 AM on April 27, 2020

From the USDA.
posted by Automocar at 6:24 AM on April 27, 2020

It should be good unopened until a few days past best used by date. Opened tofu will not last as long and the water should be drained and changed every day. You can tell if tofu is bad when you open it. It stinks, it's slimy, and will be pinkish. Tofu freezes well, but the texture will become chewier, which is actually a plus for fried tofu, not so good for creamy desserts.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 8:53 AM on April 27, 2020 [2 favorites]

I, uh, am not good at eating my tofu on time. I wouldn't stress maybe a week or two past the best-by date, but tofu is not as forgiving as, say, yogurt. If the tofu is sour or if pressure is building up in the package, toss it.
posted by Standard Orange at 4:58 PM on April 27, 2020