cream products use by dates.

If it looks, smells and tastes ok then it's fine. I find cream lasts several days after opening, sometimes it can be fine for a few weeks even after opening and past the use by. If you're in the UK then M&S cream especially lasts aaaages. You'll know if it's gone bad by the smell and definitely by the taste of it

If it smells fine then I happily use it.

When you get some green mould on the top its usually time to ditch it.
Where do you get your cream mine usually has at least a week before "use by" but I do tend to dig out the freshest at the back of the chiller..

My double cream tends to last well beyond the use by date. It’s usually pretty obvious when it’s going off. Some stores (Waitrose is one) sell 150ml pots if you’re not using much.

The use by date I use is my nose and tongue , as far as green furry stuff you pay extra for that on cheese lol

To be honest, virtually the only time I wouldn't use cream is if it smelt bad, had turned mouldy or lumpy. In every other case, YUM. I have happily used cream weeks past its date. Now I'm not recommending anything because we all have different constitutions but I'm still alive and kicking.

Btw, I use the Arla lactose free cream in the small red carton for my coffee, it does have a few carbs but not many and it's far easier to use because it has a screw on top and it has a LONG use by date as well, and once opened it sits happily in the fridge for a fortnight. (Double check suitability mind as it's not fresh, fresh cream). x

Goonergal said:

My double cream tends to last well beyond the use by date. It’s usually pretty obvious when it’s going off. Some stores (Waitrose is one) sell 150ml pots if you’re not using much.

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I've tended when possible to buy these small 150ml pots or next best a 200/220ml size. They only go in my coffee and always last me a full week at least. Having to rely on online shopping I don't always get a good "Use By" date but going beyond that hasn't killed me yet...and I have been known to remove any odd little blue mouldy bits which sometimes sneak onto the pots without any dire after effects.

In general I think the supermarkets tend to err on the cautious side with their sell and use by dates. But as long as things are refrigerated and covered they should generally be OK - unless there's an obvious sign that they're seriously off.

Im sure they only put use within three days so we go out and buy more also covers their back if it did go off after three days. As everyone else has said you can usually tell when it is off

I test it on my cats.
If my fussy boy cat turns his nose up and walks away it might be going off.
If greedy girl cat turns her nose up and walks away it is definitely off