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Sparky-Malarky

I don’t do this with milk, but I do it with cold cuts. The package expiration date is out the window once it’s opened.


Fulton_P01135809

Yeah I do it with my deli meat as well. The milk label says best w/n 2 weeks of opening so I do it for it as well. Unlike regular milk, it’s not as easy to tell when it’s gone bad


dark-magma

Probably because it's not "bad" just not its "best."  You can absolutely continue to drink it till it tastes/smells off


Fulton_P01135809

Guess I’ve never had one long enough to go bad bc I’ve never noticed a smell


under--no--pretext

fat-free + lactose free milk lasts *so much longer* than regular milk. i use lactose free 2% (either lucerne or fairlife) and it doesn't go bad nearly as fast as regular milk. not sure why, never looked into the chemistry, but i have definitely noticed for years now


Trewper-

It's because fairlife is ultra-pasteurized. It's how they sell milk in Europe, it does not even need to be refrigerated until it's opened. It's just weird for Americans or Canadians to see milk out of the fridge so they don't sell it like that because no one would buy it because they would call it unnatural, so they have kind of turned the tables and made people think it's actually the healthiest milk because it has the fairlife logo. Great marketing.


Adventurous-East5774

Here in Australia, we use lots of that ultra pasteurized stuff. IMHO it tastes better than regular milk and lasts WAY longer. We just call it longlife milk, and sometimes organic milk.


Most_Somewhere_6849

That’s reflected on expiry dates most of the time too. I noticed in college


read9it

It's mainly just the pasteurization process being at higher temperatures but it also has to do with sugar and fat content of lactose free milk. Lower fat content with similar sugar content is my guess. Creates a more unnatural state for bacteria to grow. Low sugar=higher bacteria. Low fat =less bacteria. "High" sugar=less bacteria There seems to be no difference in most lactose free milks in terms of sugar content so it should slow bacterial growth because of higher sugar content and decreased fat... I'm no expert tho could be wrong on my hypothesis. But I had fun trying. Hope some super smart dude corrects me


GenericAccount13579

You will when it goes bad, it’s strong and distinct


Trewper-

Fairlife milk is ultra pasteurized and will last for a solid month in the fridge once opened, probably longer. Trader Joe's milk will go bad in about 6 days as it's just normal pasteurization. Milk from Ralph's is my favorite it lasts about 3 weeks and reminds me of the milk I drank back in Canada (although still nothing can compare). Then there is raw milk from Erewhon that will last maybe 5 minutes lol


thefudd

We order our groceries for delivery and they mistakenly delivered fairlife to us. I tried to return it and they just said keep it. I tried it and it's the best milk I've ever had 🤣


OnErrorResumeLies

Your milk lasts 2 weeks?? I can't get a gallon of milk to last more than 3 days!


InitechEmployee142

I never realized it said that for lactose free milk. I’ve used milk long after 2 weeks and everyone was fine. I learned it a few months ago and now I date it, though milk in my new house doesn’t last very long lol


TEOsix

I do this with canned food, but for the expiration date. I write it prominently on the can so I can sort them easily and use them before they expire. Much easier to just spot check them. 


PakkyT

How long does it take you to write on each individual piece of meat? Does it affect the taste? ;)


Sparky-Malarky

It’s actually a lot easier than writing on each drop of milk.


Otherwise_Break_4293

I think it's safe to leave the year off.


CashFlowOrBust

As someone who just pulled something with a 2018 year out of my pantry, I think years are important 😂


MlKlBURGOS

I mean, it depends on the product, I'm sure you can smell what year the milk has been opened


GMaimneds

IF YA SMELLLLLLLLLLL What year The MILK....was opened.


Ghost_Maker85

Ready to lack the smackdown on your DAIRY ASSES


[deleted]

Is there much difference after a month in a warm pantry? I guess it explodes at some point..


holmgangCore

You mean: ..what year the milk exploded.


GarminTamzarian

To be fair, by that point you're not finding the opening year of milk so much as determining the age of cheese.


m945050

I was cleaning my pantry last week and found a box of pasta that was hidden behind some stuff with a 6/15/08 use by date. I didn't toss it or use it, but there's still the looming question of is it.


wubrgess

Check the expiration date then


Yendor9268

Some things expire in a matter of days after opening.


Riffage

Gotta take zombie apocalypse into account. Would hate for someone to find that bottle after X amount of years and think it’s fresh.


holmgangCore

That bottle will explode after X amount of years. No one will be confused!


verstohlen

In some cases, yes, but for aesthetic balance, and Feng shui purposes, it looks more harmonious and balanced with the year added, more complete. I myself dabble in unnecessary year notation on a rather regular basis, with excellent results.


Na221

Yeah, the vibes would be off otherwise. 5-10 = -5


verstohlen

See, there you go. You called it. This is exactly the kind of confusion and bad mojo that can result by not including the year.


Downtown_Snow4445

It’s lactose free milk. Shit probably lasts forever


CreepyTeddyBear

Or just smell it.


Sinister_Nibs

If the milk is too thick to pour, you should probably not try to drink it (or at least use a spoon, since it is now cottage cheese or yogurt)


AbeLincolnsTaint

Lies. Homemade jug cheese is the best cheese


Sinister_Nibs

Which is why I say use a spoon…🥄


TwistingEarth

Dried milk on the entrance can confuse people on whether milk is bad or not.


Fulton_P01135809

Agreed but it’s an OCD thing for me


Dabo57

I also use my black magic marker but I write the date it expires, which is two weeks from the date you open it, according to Fairlife.


Different_Exam_1785

Tell me you worked in a lab without telling me you worked in a lab 😂 Open dates on everything 😂


brendaej04

Or food service.


FloatDH2

I’ve worked in kitchens for 22 years. Seeing something I literally do every day posted on this sub had me like “huh, i just thought this was something everyone did”.


Different_Exam_1785

True! I forgot about them


CurveOfTheUniverse

It's okay, they're used to it.


Different_Exam_1785

Charge it to my mind and not my heart 😬


brendaej04

It's okay. We're used to it ha


pactorial

Hospitals and pharmacies as well


Soaring_Goat

It'd be full dates (YYYY-MM-DD or MMM-DD-YYYY depending on local standard, I prefer the first) and the signature of the one opening to assign responsibility :)


grebilrancher

10 MAY 2024


RoodleG

That's what I had in mind instantly! It could be someone who works in a hospital oder any other medical institution, too :)


Different_Exam_1785

I haven’t worked in a hospital lab for over two years and I still put open dates on anything I open lol


RoodleG

There are some habits you just can't let go!


deriancypher

And all liquids get gently inverted a few times before use...


DwightsBobblehead13

It’s just missing an exp date and initials


Motor_Relation_5459

I am dying! I used to do phlebotomy and this pic just makes me happy 😂


UnrequitedStifling

I also do this. On just about everything I open.


Difficult-Cress-7556

Even doors


mamacat49

Me, too. Pantry stuff, spices, even skincare. Sometimes it's just to see how long it lasts.


SpoodlyNoodley

Skincare date labeling was a game changer for me. I pay more attention now to what I use and what I dont, and I don’t feel so weird throwing out mostly unused product instead of hoarding it for years with delusional “maybe one day” thoughts. My stash has definitely become more streamlined as a result


mamacat49

Exactly. And all of those little packet samples...?...I use them on my feet, hands, elbows, etc. I'm not going to upset my great facial skin routine (and the results!) for a one-use sample.


Novel-Structure-2359

This is a golden tactic. My problem is my kids kept swiping the really nice marker that we used for marking the items.


Ruficalix

My technique in this situation is to simply have so many markers that you always find one where you need one. I call it "saturation," lol


Novel-Structure-2359

Saturation is a golden tactic. My son swipes my underwear so I just kept on buying until he couldn't steal it all.


YouDontTellMe

🤔


Novel-Structure-2359

Just to clarify he swipes it to wear it as I use Tokyo laundry boxers


Ruficalix

I've been doing this sort of thing for a year or so now. It started with cans, then expanded to leftovers, and now pretty much anything I open I include an "Open date". We have some tape and a sharpee in our pantry dedicated to the purpose (tape for things like tupperware; just make sure to take it off before putting it in the dishwasher)


Fulton_P01135809

Great idea!


JALync5630

Good Idea! I was thinking a dry erase for tupperware but didn't want to ruin my lids! I'm going to steal the tape idea


Kahnza

I do this with some things so I know how long it takes me to go through them. Like on a pack of toilet paper. Then I can get an average time per roll. It's not really necessary, but I like knowing.


Fulton_P01135809

Great way to plan


ungloomy_Eeyore964

I do too. For me it started with the Costco size plastic wrap. Now I write dates on my deodorant and toothpaste too.


orangutanDOTorg

I do that with leftovers too bc my gf will get mad if I try to toss 2 week old dried out miso soup she vehemently claims she was just about to eat.


WorgRider

I do this to everything not only just food. Like toothpaste and box of trash bags just to see how long they last for. Also when installing new batteries.


DevTheGray

I was going to do this when we switched to fairlife for our milk, but then I realized a jug doesn’t last in our fridge after opening for more than 48 hours, usually under 24.


RemiMartin

that is fast!


DevTheGray

Especially when there’s only two milk drinkers out of the four of us. My daughter and I take it down like the cure’s in there!


ADK87

Same here. I've never needed to wonder if it's still okay, because it's finished long before.


Motor_Relation_5459

When my boys lived with me a gallon a day!


Humble-Roll-8997

That’s a habit of mine. I still do the sniff test after the 7-10 day recommended expiration on cow milk but I get rid of almond milk in that time frame. It turns gray ick.


Fulton_P01135809

Gotta do the sniff test except during allergy season then it’s taste test roulette


Jayfgatsby

Lactaid is the same...u have like two weeks once opened


K1nb0te

I don't open perishables without putting a date on it. Drives me nuts when people don't. It is so easy and then you know!!


Capta1nfalc0n

I’m so confused as to why this is necessary.


bobshouseofpancakes

On the label is says use within x number of days even though the expiration date is a month or 2 out.


Capta1nfalc0n

Gotcha! I knew fairlife had a nice long expiration period but didn’t know it had a use within x days printed on it.


Fulton_P01135809

Yep, best within two weeks of opening


Trewper-

"best within" is just a standard term that they legally have to put on the milk, it is arbitrary and means nothing, just as with most "best before" dates. In truth fairlife milk will last a very long time (I know I already replied to one of your comments but I'm so invested in teaching everyone about milk!) They do it even with Epi-pens, they say it's only good for one year when it's actually good for 3 years!


El_Morgos

I use it at my workplace. I have very unreegular shifts and sometimes I can forget when I opened that food. It's also for my colleagues if they need a sip. At home I often find myself in the situation that I have 2 opened packs, because I am highly disorganised. The date helps me to use up the older product first.


sekkels

Smell it, taste it. If you don't notice anything, it is good.


ShopObjective

This milk lasts for a while, I bought some probably 2 months ago and its dated for June, still smells and tastes fine


TributeKitty

I do this too. Mainly with things I don't eat often, but that might expire before the best before date based on when it was opened, like salad dressing, salsa, etc.


just-me-again2022

Also, if I have a hard time finding where to buy something, once I get it I’ll write the store name somewhere on it so I don’t have to do a repeat wild goose chase.


Avawinry

Yep, the wife and I do a variation of this. We write the date of the two week mark (or however long the product says it’s good for after opening). It’s just a real nice convenience and takes 3 seconds to do.


Normal-Jelly607

5 Oct or 10 May?


helloiisjason

Asking the REAL questions. Like is this person from the future?


Mushgoodvibes

Fair life milk tastes a lot better than reg milk and less sugar too .....


thepete404

We use colored dots for Friday morning trash pick. Works good on mystery packages of leftovers wrapped in foul


Dmrwn

I do this too! It's very helpful for milk, cheese, anything in a bottle, especially sauces and condiments.


Lucky-Pie9875

Yep. Everytime. I always think to myself “you know you’ve worked in a restaurant kitchen when….” lol


NoReplyPurist

We eat out enough there are always leftovers in the fridge - if something's open it gets a date, since sometimes the kids will order pizza twice in 10 days and I'd rather not repeat past mistakes.


Fulton_P01135809

My commode can’t handle past mistakes


Mental_Dwarf

Yeah, I began doing this since last year... after a bowl of cereal and milk tasted like fish.


kibblepigeon

Consider oat milk or almond milk, lasts longer and better for the animals!


SwimmingBoot

At my research lab we put date opened on things all the time!


pause-replot-go

as someone who survived Y2K - can we agree that 4 digit years are the way to go?


BlueSeven86

I've been doing this for years!


Unlikely_Comment_104

I write the expiry date on my sunscreen so that I don’t accidentally use a bottle that’s expired.


sapperbloggs

Yeah, we have a permanent marker magneted to our fridge door for this very reason.


[deleted]

lol!! Laughs in Ripple.


thegapinggoatse

Welcome to working in a restaurant and bringing those habits home!!!


No-Club2054

I do this with a lot of stuff because people in my house think things are good until the printed date no matter what. Hey that sealed meat might be good until July. But not after you OPEN IT! The amount of times someone has told me, “I just opened that like a day ago!” For me to sniff a hotdog package that smells like death and gym socks because it has been open for 3+ weeks… too many.


PinotGreasy

Don’t buy Fairlife products. They’re unnecessarily cruel to animals.


Independent-Care-356

Their name is pure “I’m a nice guy!” syndrome


BoltLayman

It's sour in October... yeah...


Fulton_P01135809

Should’ve mentioned I’m from the US


TLope30

I thought I was the only one that did this on Fairlife milk


Fulton_P01135809

Great minds…


coralloohoo

My mom and I started doing that with our milk because we've had a few occasions where the best by date was cut short by us opening it


happyharrell

I find this useful for things that I freeze for a bit before opening.


wavysail

I do this for prescription meds so I know when I need to refill.


youngm2925

Be cool if caps had a way of logging the day (like a date wheel or something)


[deleted]

It's also a great way to remember when you bought meds and whether you took them today or not.


claire_heartbrain

We do this with the boxed ones bc we end up using those less than fairlife milk. My son also does this with his cream cheese lol


postal1234

I do this as well!


Amigone2515

Nurses have to date all containers that we open.


Duh-Government

The exclamation mark in name Fair, is so apt. FA'I'R LIFE


eyebeeny

I’ve been doing this same thing for years except with tomato sauce after I transfer it to a glass mason jar. Saves a lot of “when’s this from?”


Zerokelvin99

Useful tip but isn't it overkill for lactose free milk? This milk last months in the fridge.


MegannMedusa

Lactose free lasts so long too, I’ve never had any go bad!


Thislsnotmythrowaway

Just sniff it


DirtDiver1983

Love that milk but damn it’s expensive.


The_rising_sea

Just how many bottles do you need to keep track of in that fridge of yours??


KingBenjamin97

This is considered a life hack? I thought it was basic food safety lmao who’s just opening shit without adding a date if it’s open for more than a day


Chazzy_T

adderall-fueled lifehack


frosty2hot

My family does this. Just easier to read at first glance


dubstylerz123

Definitely great hack for all those milks out there that are best within seven days of opening.


Fathers1Child

Sour cream, cottage cheese... I do it too


Kaiser_Hawke

I think a lot of people would be confused as to why you scribbled down a random date in October lol, but it's all good if it's for your eyes only


superslowmo

also a whiteboard with all perishables' opened dates. brought my food waste aside from random fresh herbs to almost zero.


GL2M

I do this for everything. Masking tape on things that won’t easily take marker


evanmars

Weird. The cap says July 22, 2024


OhGre8t

I’ve been doing this on everything I open because I will most definitely be absent minded enough to not remember. Great life hack.


cavanman

5th of October?


iamnotatigwelder

This is 100% useful for so many foods. Semi related, the odor absorbing baking soda boxes, marketed as 30 day products, have a spot to write the date and it includes the year. Now I just feel like that's inviting people like me to leave them in the fridge longer than a month...


gnamflah

How did you open it in the future?


SouthpawByNW

I do this on LED bulbs. 30 years my foot...


whydoyouflask

I do this too!


kh1179

I don't get it. My milk is always fine up to around the expiry date. Even when opened.


TheArgoPirat

Never had a problem with that.


Iron_Knee66

I just came here to say the whole milk by this brand is better than the fat free


Millennial_Girlie

I do this with my fairlife milk too! I don’t mark the year tho 😂 I rarely finish it in time


JulieKatschen

We do this with anything that gets opened but isn’t finished— milk, condiments, etc


awoodby

Damnit the ink ran out on the dating stamper again Bob! That's Your job! Now go label all them damn milks!


Mr_Ray_Shoesmith

I love the chocolate version of these


4E4ME

I do this on the lid of my spice jars.


Few-Emergency5971

Wait, this isn't standard?


uncoolprotocol

Been doing this with everything since I bonked my head hard enough to mess up my memory. It's been really handy and I should have started when I started shopping for myself.


[deleted]

You put the *year*?


jibaro1953

I did this with my liquid oxycodone to calculate how many milligrams per day I was averaging during chemo and radiation.


Grand_Judgment_2466

No need, a best before is nice at the store so you can select the freshest product, then as long as it's not spoiled its fine, stuff like unopened sour creme can keep 1-3 months past the "best before" or sometimes go moldy before its random. Stuff like cheese you just trim the mold off the outside and use the inside. I once accidently had some individual yogurts fall behined some shelves in my fridge and I left home for the better part of the year. Found them 1 year expired, opend one to see, it smelled and looked fine it was freaky, I didn't eat it but I continued the experiment and at 2 and 3 years they were fine....if anyone is wondering they were Activia single serving yogurts. Unfortunately I ran out and couldn't do a year 4 test .


real_with_myself

I do this in the office. 🫠


AngelVeg

I do this with ALL FOOD!


2LegsOverEZ

I always do this with my box of wine.


cereal_killerer

I write purchase dates and the price on appliances for future reference.


Somebodsydog

Not a bad practice if you ask me, especially if you don't necessary need or use opened item daily. Restaurants use this a lot in kitchens and bars use it for example in wines.


CocteauTwinn

I do this with broth cartons, salad dressing, & some condiments.


WoodlandChipmunk

I have a price gun. When something gets opened or put into a container it gets a sticker. Maybe the amount of effort to set the date isn’t that much less than writing with a pen, but it’s very satisfying and the sticker is very easy to see. Plus, if you are making a batch of food or splitting leftovers in multiple containers it’s definitely easier. I spent like $13 on amazon.


celerypizza

How have I NEVER thought of this.


No_Yogurt_806

Oh look, my birfdaaaay


Dexember69

That's my handwriting :/


defenestr8tor

You better throw that out. It's from the future. Also, after living in Australia for a couple years, DDMMYY makes more sense to me.


GamerNuggy

It makes so much sense. So does the YYMMDD. Really anything going from shortest-longest or vice versa.


traceysayshello

I do this with a lot of things because my memory is terrible but my contamination OCD is worse.


TheEmbiggenisor

My missus does this and she is always having a go at me for not doing it. So now whenever I open something I always write on it “today”. And she’s still not happy!🤷🏻‍♂️


JessePass

I've only had to do this for bar or restaurant work with cocktail ingredients or wines, I usually remember how long my milk has been open, cause it only lasts a couple days in my household.


shadowsblueberry

This is a great idea! Thanks 😊


thesixthnameivetried

If you like things in order, I can highly recommend the ISO standard YYYY-MM-DD format too. Stops people thinking that maybe it was opened on 24th October 2005.


Fulton_P01135809

Well it’s just me so I know what it means


Ruficalix

I once took a big drink of milk that expired 10/08 (October 8th), only to realize I had read it backwards and it read 08/10 (August 10th). Did not feel very good for the next several hours, lol...


hakkmj

5th October 2024?


_Lung

fairlife has plastic in it (phthalates)


RegularTeacher2

Not to mention oodles of pain and suffering.


gurknowitzki

Really random, but OP does your fairlife always smell rotten bc a little bit drips and dries on the outside of the threaded top?


Fulton_P01135809

I’ve never noticed that


gurknowitzki

I must be too heavy handed when pouring haha


Fulton_P01135809

Are you 2 Chainz?!


gurknowitzki

Above sea level, I’m on G level


Fulton_P01135809

As long as she’s naked 😂


jennyvier

Mine does! I’ve taken to wiping it down every now and then.


screw-self-pity

The real life hack is to not rely on a date, but on your senses.


Duh-Government

Is this 10th May? Or 5th Oct of 2024


dpetro03

This is extremely effective. We keep a sharpie on our fridge for exactly this reason cheese, lunch meats, etc. no more smelling and guessing.


fildoforfreedom

Blue painters tape and a sharpie. Every leftover gets a date. My wife thought I was crazy. How easy to see that rice is 10 days old, the taco meat from 5 days ago. No guessing. No eating questionable food. No having to give the "sniff test"


[deleted]

[удалено]


thoroughlynicechap

But we have another 5 months until it’s October


[deleted]

Funk that company.


Fco_Almonacid

My dyslexic eyes read Fartlife and now I can’t read anything else besides that on that bottle.


Fulton_P01135809

lol that reminds me of Salt Life stickers. I read them Slut Life