So, how good is bread after the sell by date? It’s usually great. It’s sometimes better. That date is a cowardly suggestion, not a bold declaration. You are the boss of your bread.
Trust your eyes. Trust your nose. Trust your toaster. And if all else fails? Toast it. Toast fixes everything. Even a slightly stale baguette becomes a crunchy, buttery hero. Go forth. Eat bread. Ignore the date. You’ve got this.