With food packaging, "To toss or not to toss?" That is the question.and I have the answers!

Trying to figure out what the expiration dates mean on our packaged foods is pretty confusing. There are "use by" dates and "sell by" dates, and sometimes there are just numbers that don't tell us anything at all.

The first thing to know about this "dating game" is the reason for expiration dates. They tell us when to buy or use a product at its best quality. We won't necessarily get sick from eating recently expired food but its freshness and nutritional value might sometimes be lowered. The trick is to know how long it is safe to eat beyond the package date.

Since food dating is voluntary, with the exception of infant formula and baby food, we need commonsense guidelines for everything else:

Pantry or shelf-stable unprocessed foods, canned goods and cereals, baking mixes, pastas, dry beans, grains and nuts can probably last a bit beyond their "Best if used by" dates, as long as we've stored them correctly. Once opened, the clock starts to tick on dried goods, so enjoy these as soon as possible.

Perishables like some dairy products are generally fine up to a week after the "sell by" date. After that, it's best to replace them.

Fresh meat, poultry and fish should be cooked within 1 to 2 days of purchase, and never buy them beyond the "sell by" date.

Frozen goods can be safe 3 to 4 months as long as they're wrapped well and stored properly.