I have some pasta with marinara that is a bit old. I also have some taco filling (made from ground beef, cheese, and sour cream, among other things) that’s four days old, two days over what the recipe says you can refrigerate it at. Both look and smell normal. Is that enough to eat it? Is there anything where either is not enough to confirm?
No. Botulism usually causes a bad odor, but some strains don’t. You can’t be sure a food is safe just by sight, smell, or even taste.
This said, if food that was two days past it’s “best by” date was usually fatal I would have died dozens of times during my undergraduate days. 
Just to clarify, it didn’t have a best by date. I cooked it, and the recipe said it can refrigerate for up to two days.
I’ve eaten ground beef in homemade chili a week after making it with no issues at all.
It’s best to err on the side of caution, but 4 days is no biggie for me. I just had a slice of four day old pizza last night.
The pasta in marinara sauce should be fine too.
We often have leftovers that are up to a week old. We eat them. We have not yet gotten sick.
Yes, same here.
Just, nope, ain’t gonna do it! I live in the south and you can never be sure, absolutly, positively! I have seen someone with food poison, it ain’t pretty. She did lose about 25 lbs., not the idea weight loss scheme! She can not eat right to this day, 10 years later. She is afraid of all restaurant food, and vomits alot over seemingly nothing.
Food poisoning would be less common if you could only get it from food that was obviously bad. I’ve gotten food poisoning from food that looked/smelled fine. It’s not a fun experience, so while I think it’s within the realm of possibility that your food is still okay, if the instructions for this recipe say it’s not safe at four days then you’re better off throwing it out than throwing it up.
I meant “best by” figuratively. But in my experience, cooked ground beef dishes can keep in the refrigerator much longer than two days. So their recommendation is either based on the fact that it won’t taste as good after two days, or they are being ultra cautious.
Yes, that’s all I need.
I’ve eaten things you people wouldn’t believe. Greek cheese on fire off a shoulder of Lamb. I ate sea-beans that glitter in their dark sauce near the Tannhäuser Cafe. All those dishes will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to eat.
Damn! That last bit should read: Time to dine! :smack:
For lunch I am having a sandwich made from roast beef that will be two weeks old on Sunday, but I like to give my immune system something to do.
I have been eating food that is past its “Best when used by” date all my life - maybe that explains why I don’t get sick from it. Or maybe I am just lucky.
Regards,
Shodan
I don’t even think about throwing leftovers out until they’ve been in the refrigerator at least a week. Never had a problem. Most people are way too overcautious about such things (e.g., my sister-in-law, who has a 24-hour maximum).
There was some milk in my 'fridge that smelled just fine.
One taste, though, and I knew it had gone bad. I swear it must have been pH 4 or something.
Someone wisely posted that you can detect bad food using three senses: Sight, smell and common.