Out of date cans and packets

Gers

MOST of the stuff in my cupboard is 'out of date' though we will quite happily use it. I bought a load of Vit B complex tablets cheaply cos of the best before date but THEY don't know that they lose efficacy in a week's time!

My mum has jam in her cupboard she made over 20 years ago and, when opened, is still edible and tasty. I think we are too wary about such food these days, along with heightened fear of 'germs' and 'dirt' - that's the reason the new huge market for 'anti-bacterial' wipes, sprays, gels and so on are earning a fortune.

Sniff before is the best test... if it smells off, and if it looks off then it's IS off (something about a duck comes to mind now).

savingsara_2

Just had some toast and lime marmalade for brekkie this morning. It has been opened in the fridge for quite some time, with a best before date of March 2006! I'm still OK.......

Justamum

Like others have said, sniff and taste. The only problem you might find with dried herbs is that if they are too old they lose their "herbiness" and smell like grass, and don't give the taste you need.

room512

We have lots of tins of potatoes and tomatoes in the cupboard that my OH say will be fine to eat.
The potatoes are Best before November 2010
The tomatoes are Best before September 2010
What do you reckon? I opened a tin of pots the other day and I thought they were a bit slimy but could just be me stressing as I don't think they are fit for consumption!
Thanks for your help x

Possession

As long as the tin isn't dented I'd have no problem eating them at all.

Bobbykins

same here - the "best Before" date is for guidance only and doesn't mean that the food is unfit for consumption after that date. People have been known to eat tinned stuff over 5 years past the best before date with no harm.

I think that the dates that you should pay a bit more attention to are the "use by" dates that appear on fresh foods.

Chris25

Yep, I agree - if they look & smell ok & the tin is fine, then the items should be ok to use - I'd certainly try them.

VfM4meplse

^^^^ Yep, you can't beat the sniff test

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Having just walked away from a hoarder insisting that tins never go off and they only just bought stuff that expired in 2004 (I never got into the cupboards to find the stuff she acknowledged might be a bit old to eat - but was 'probably fine it's just to make money, these use by dates'):



Chuck the lot. It's revolting.

[Deleted User]

I think the best before date is put on the tin to indicate that its contents will be at thier best until that date. Afterwards they should still be prefectly fine to eat but may have lost a little bit of condition and not be as good quality as when they were first canned. If a tin has big dents, or bowed out ends don't be tempted to try it probably isn't safe. If it looks and smells fine and hasn't had any damage to the tin, you should be OK.