Store Dating

• Pork chops don't expire or become unsafe to eat after their “sell-by” date; this date only indicates to the store employees that they need to sell the chops within this date window to ensure best quality. It also aids the store in rotating the pork chops so the oldest are sold first. Avoid purchasing chops after the “sell-by” date to ensure the best quality meat, but you can safely store them below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the fridge for three to five days after purchase.

Use It Up

• A “use-by” date provides safe usage information to the consumer. Treat a “use-by” date as an expiration date and plan to use or freeze the pork chops before this date to ensure both safety and quality. Although an expired “sell-by” date may indicate quality loss, an expired “use-by” date can indicate the meat is no longer safe to eat. Don't buy or use pork chops if the “use-by” date has passed.

Random Numbers

• Depending on the retailer, other dating methods are sometimes used. If the package has a “best if used by” or “best if used before” date on the package, it indicates the time window when the pork chops are at peak quality. Treat these as a “sell-by” date to ensure the best flavor and texture. Most packages may also have a “coded date” stamped on them somewhere. These dates have no bearing on the meat quality and are there for the manufacturer to track the meat in the event of a recall.

Extending the Date

• All these dates have no bearing if you choose to freeze the pork chops. If you purchase chops before the “sell-by” or “use-by” expires, you can safely freeze the meat with minimal quality loss. Freeze “sell-by” packages within three to five days of purchase, not from the stamped date. Freeze packages with a “use-by” date by the date on the package, and within three days of purchase. Once frozen, these dates no longer matter, although you do want to cook the pork chops within three days of defrosting.