pasta sauce recipes

Sue14

Advice needed please. I recently sorted out my food cupboards, and found the following items which are past their best before dates. Usually they would instantly go in the bin, but as I'm now ignoring BB dates to a certain extent, I thought I would get some advice on whether these items are still safe to use.


White wine vinegar BBE Feb 2008
Bread flour BBE May 2009
Dried yeast and Cup a Soups BBE Aug 2009
Vegetable oil BBE Nov 2009
Olive oil BBE Jan 2010
Self raising flour BBE Feb 2010
Frozen brussels sprouts BBE Jul 2010

Also does anyone know how long home made jams and marmalade last for? I have a jar of marmalade which is unopened but has no date on it, it has been in the cupboard for at least 2-3 years. TIA.

At Christmas I made a trifle using custard and dream topping which was BBE July 2010, the trifle sponges were out of date on 10th December, and after we'd eaten it my son pointed out that the milk in the fridge (which I'd used for the trifle) was about 3 days out of date! Usually if it's a use by date, as the milk was, I wouldn't use it after that date but we were ok after eating the trifle, and it still smelt ok, so we continued using it for 2 days until it was all gone, and we've lived to tell the tale, lol!

bitsandpieces

Can't be doing with sticking the oven on tonight, but could put it in the crockpot before bed I guess if this is a better bet than freezing.

Never had a problem with chicken starting to smell bad before the use-by date (I do make sure the fridge is kept cold) and tend to assume that it doesn't know when the clock turns 12

valk_scot

I frequently buy chicken on the day the Use By date expires, bring it home and freeze it immediately. I've never had any problems at all with bad chicken this way. When I defrost it I do cook it asap of course. I'm certain that as long as the chicken has been stored properly in both shop and at home it's not going to go off at the stroke of midnight, or even a few hours after. Certainly not before, unless it's not been stored correctly. The food industry may be a bunch of greedy shylocks out to screw every penny from the consumers but even they don't push the envelope so far as to habitualy put a "Use By" date on a chicken that will be unfit to eat by then.


Bung it in the freezer, that's what I say. (And do.) If you've got the energy you could split it into two or joint it, just to make the defrosting time less. But it's not entirely necessary.

quintwins

i'm the same as val i only ever buy whole chickens when there reduced and freeze them when i get home i've never had a problem

BitterAndTwisted

Sue, I'd use all of those items if they're unopened. Vinegar never goes off and vegetable oils take a very long time which is why they're used as preservatives. If they've gone rancid, which could be possible depending on how they've been stored, there will be do doubt about it, one sniff will let you know immediately. It's possible that the yeast and the SR flour could have become a bit tired with age and the only way to know is to use them. I would.

Raksha

White wine vinegar BBE Feb 2008 - yes
Bread flour BBE May 2009 - check for weevils, but if OK and been stored correctly (dry and cool) yes
Dried yeast and Cup a Soups BBE Aug 2009 - probably not - dried yeast will have lost it's 'power' and if the cup a soups contain dairy, this can be a bit yuck too
Vegetable oil BBE Nov 2009 - so long as it's been stored correctly - yes
Olive oil BBE Jan 2010 - yes
Self raising flour BBE Feb 2010 - may need more baking powder added, but yes, as for bread flour.
Frozen brussels sprouts BBE Jul 2010 - yes, probably best cooking and mashed with pots for bubble and squeak rather than with Christmas dinner, but they'll be fine.

Also does anyone know how long home made jams and marmalade last for? I have a jar of marmalade which is unopened but has no date on it, it has been in the cupboard for at least 2-3 years. TIA.

Making jams and marmalades is to make the most of fruit stocks, so unless it's mouldy (and my family have been known to scrape the mould off and eat what's underneath!!) yes...

At Christmas I made a trifle using custard and dream topping which was BBE July 2010, the trifle sponges were out of date on 10th December, and after we'd eaten it my son pointed out that the milk in the fridge (which I'd used for the trifle) was about 3 days out of date! Usually if it's a use by date, as the milk was, I wouldn't use it after that date but we were ok after eating the trifle, and it still smelt ok, so we continued using it for 2 days until it was all gone, and we've lived to tell the tale, lol!

We're still drinking milk that was kept in the garage over Christmas with a BBE 31/12/10 - just sniff it each time....

Farway

Sue14 wrote: »

Usually if it's a use by date, as the milk was, I wouldn't use it after that date but we were ok after eating the trifle, and it still smelt ok, so we continued using it for 2 days until it was all gone, and we've lived to tell the tale, lol!

My milk [Lidl semi skimmed] went out of date on 26 Dec, I still use it, I do have a sniff before I put a splosh it in my tea

The next one in line in the fridge expired on 31 Dec, but I expect this will last me until mid Jan at least

As you may guess, I do not use a lot of milk

Stephb1986_2

Is it safe to eat 6 day old turkey?? Just asking because my OH insisted that it was still safe to eat it was cooked on christmas day and left in tin foil in the fridge for 6 days. Would it of been still safe to eat??

Steph xx

zippychick

Stephb1986 wrote: »

Is it safe to eat 6 day old turkey?? Just asking because my OH insisted that it was still safe to eat it was cooked on christmas day and left in tin foil in the fridge for 6 days. Would it of been still safe to eat??

Steph xx

Personally, i wouldn't ! :eek: Although my guts are weak i think six days is above and beyond safe.!

I know it's turkey but i would apply the same rule as i would for cooked chicken - 3 days max.

this thread should also help you see what others do

Some things aren't worth the risk in my opinion :A

thanks
Zip

mlz1413

Stephb1986 wrote: »

Is it safe to eat 6 day old turkey?? Just asking because my OH insisted that it was still safe to eat it was cooked on christmas day and left in tin foil in the fridge for 6 days. Would it of been still safe to eat??

Steph xx

If it was cooked Xmas day then it was 12 days old yesterday, even I would draw the line at that!

If it was frozen on the 6th day and you are now wondering to defrost and use, then I would ask did you do the sniff test before freezing?

I would eat turkey kept in the fridge until I thought it was starting to smell which could well be a week later, but it does depend on your fridge temperture, that the meat was completely cold when put in the fridge, that the carcass hadn't been hanging around at room temperture for a day before it went in the fridge etc.

If your not sure let your OH eat the first lot and decide 24 hours later if he is right.