Quick Questions on food safety / sell by / use by dates

j1992

I'm sorry I keep asking about food, you can tell I'm new to being frugal. Normally I'd chuck most things but I'm trying so hard to not waste anymore.

Last Sunday I made 12 basic cupcakes - obviously I haven't been able to eat them all - fianc!e doesn't like cake!) They've been in an airtight container in the fridge all week, can I eat them today or should I chuck them? 7 days seems a long time, I normally chuck things after 2-3 days.

(I used the basic ingredients: eggs, self raising flour, butter, milk, icing sugar etc.)

x

geri1965_2

Are they mouldy? If not, then eat them. They might be a bit stale, but I doubt they will kill you.

scaredy_cat

they may be a bit dry - you could warm then slightly in the oven, poke holes in with a skewer and spoon over a lemon syrup or something like that to moisten them.

j1992

No mould on them at all, they look and smell fine. Seems a waste to just put them in the bin.

PlymouthMaid

Since your chap doesn't eat cake, next time make a batch but put half or more in the freezer. I often freeze cake (un-iced normally as I dont like icing) and you can even defrost them in the miccy for about 30 seconds so you dont even have to plan your cakey treat ahead of time. Makes sense to make a batch or two big cakes at once while the oven is on anyway.

Soworried

I'd crumble them in to custard.

Magpye

If they've gone a bit hard, eat them continental style, quickly dipped in hot cocoa/chocolate.

(Things have to be properly minging before I'll even consider throwing them away...)

Linda32

They might be a bit hard but thats more to do with being in the fridge than anything else. Sponge cakes don't belong in the fridge oddly though they do freeze fine. So it is fine to make and freeze then just defrost a couple at a time.

HTH

j1992

I had no idea you could freeze cupcakes! This will make life so much easier as I can never eat all of the cakes I make within a few days.

Thank you for all of your comments, I'm off to eat some cake!

x

allybee101

Yesterday I remembered that I'd come home from Christmas with my family with a tin of homemade chocolate brownies. Cracked open the tin and they were delicious!
If cake gets a bit stale you can use it for trifle, dunk in custard etc, it'll still be edible. And of course as others have mentioned, yes you can freeze them - best done un-iced.
If you want ready to bake treats in the freezer you can make cookie dough/shortbread dough, roll it into a sausage and freeze it (unbaked). When you want some cookies you cut a couple of slices off, stick them on a baking tray and bake - usually need a couple of minutes extra on the normal baking time. Great way to impress your guests with freshly baked goodies (and they make the house smell lush!).