Use By Date On Pasta

[Mystacy]

I bought wholesale, a box of 20 packets of dried pasta.. But now the use by date has expired, and i've still got half a box left. - Is it still safe to eat ? - How long does pasta keep for? - and is the use by date just a guide, and not accurate? - I've heard that some things are still ok to eat upto 2 years past the use-by date as long as they're stored in airtight packaging (ie tinnned food, dried food, etc)

[janshep]

Food manufacturers can only guarantee the quality of their food, its taste and colour up to the use by date. Your pasta should be ok but check for signs of deterioration before using. If you are in any doubt you should throw it away. You could make it into prepared dishes by part-cooking it first, then adding a sauce and freezing it. Have you tried sweet dishes made with pasta? Find a recipe for sweet vermicelli - it's delicious! It is particularly important to use fresh foods by the use-by date, less important with tinned or dried foods. Examine all foods carefully and trust your judgement!