# Those ground beef tubes with crazy long expiration dates- do you trust the date? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [May 7, 2025, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-ground-beef-tubes-with-crazy-long-expiration-dates-do-you-trust-the-date/1018012 "2025-05-07T16:02:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2025, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-ground-beef-tubes-with-crazy-long-expiration-dates-do-you-trust-the-date/1018012/21 "2025-05-08T03:25:25Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > The Wiki links lead to patent for a chub packaging material to 2008, but I haven’t found any sort of cite for origin or earliest use in a quick hit of der Googles. I had a sausage and meat manufacturer as a client from 2011-14, and that’s where and when I learned that “chub” was the industry term for that style of packaging – so, at least, in the business, it’s been the standard term for over a decade. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2025, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-ground-beef-tubes-with-crazy-long-expiration-dates-do-you-trust-the-date/1018012/22 "2025-05-08T03:35:08Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > They’re air- & liquid-tight. Until punctured. How do you feel about milk in those little individual aseptic boxes with expiration dates months in the future? Which do you think goes bad faster, milk in open air or beef in open air? Point being that if properly sterilized and sealed, aseptic room temperature packaging is very, very good. I know the milk has been ultra pasteurized. It says so on the box. So I’m just fine with those long dates. I would have assumed the ground meat was raw. So, not aseptic. Do they of pasteurize it in some way before sealing the chub? ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2025, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-ground-beef-tubes-with-crazy-long-expiration-dates-do-you-trust-the-date/1018012/23 "2025-05-27T08:50:32Z")
I switched to vacuum sealed prepackaged tubes like that more than 20 years ago because it’s always fresher upon opening them anything except a roast I have selected and asked the butcher to grind for me within the last 24 hours. Everything else is disgusting. The stuff in the tubes stays fresher way longer. But the minute I open the tube either use it or freeze it Because it will oxidize in oxidization isn’t just unattractive. It’s disgusting and stinks. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2025, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-ground-beef-tubes-with-crazy-long-expiration-dates-do-you-trust-the-date/1018012/24 "2025-06-01T05:07:23Z")
Same here. I use the vacuum sealed tubes after opening. Usually for a meatloaf and burgers for lunch. Use the meat the same day. Lunch meat is similar. The sliced turkey or ham lasts a long time in the store. It’s vacuum sealed. I try to use it within 3 to 4 days after opening. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-ground-beef-tubes-with-crazy-long-expiration-dates-do-you-trust-the-date/1018012.md?page=1)