A few weeks ago I mentioned the tins of carrots tucked away at the back of the cupboard that had a Best Before End Date of 2024, I can't find the post now but I know several people leapt up to say that BBE dates are only advisory about quality (yes I know!). Then I found the Lindt chocolate rabbits at the boot sale also past BBE but perfectly fine with enough sugar in to preserve for a very long time and the coffee which was years out of date mentioned ages ago.
It's a good thing I don't take any notice of BBE dates.
The tinned carrots and the Lindt bunnies were all perfectly good as I knew they would be.
After 'finding' the tins of carrots I also 'found' 2 tins of potatoes, a small tin of ham and two cans of mandarins in syrup, all several years past BBE. (I say 'found' because I knew they were there, just not how long they'd been there!)
I'm eating my way through them .
I've just realised that with the mandarins being dated BBE January 2021 they were bought before I moved here and therefore must have been in storage when I moved between holiday lets. Good grief!
My in laws used to keep tinned goods way past their BB dates and my younger self used to cringe when they opened them but they never came to any harm.
ReplyDeletePenny
I think I had the tins of fruit ready for days when I had no fresh fruit - but then I always have fresh fruit
DeleteJust had a tin of soup with BBD of 2016. It was fine as far as tinned soup goes.
ReplyDeleteI used to like Heinz tomato soup but haven't had any for years. I wonder if it's still how I remember it
DeleteOur fortnight emergency food came the other night. Now stored in the airing cupboard on two shelves, I wonder if we shall use it all up over time.
ReplyDeleteHope it doesn't get too warm in the airing cupboard!
DeleteI write 10/26 or whatever on the top with a Sharpie when I put away the shopping, then it's easier to check dates.
ReplyDeleteGood plan.
DeleteBest before dates only started on tinned goods in the 1980s.
ReplyDelete- Kate
Not long ago at all really
DeleteI make Manderin Orange Cake with tinned manderins. Really tasty and nice and moist too. Oh gosh, I found some several years OOD tins recently and binned them . . .
ReplyDeleteI've stopped cake making at the moment - but a mandarin orange cake sounds good.
DeleteI read somewhere that tined food and a fruit cake were found at Captain Scotts Antartic base some years ago and were fine. The fruit cake apparently was described as just about edible. I believe the butter was a bit rancid. Not bad for the best part of 100 years.
ReplyDeleteEssie
I think I've heard that too. Although I'm glad I don't have 100 year old tins!
DeletePractically free food! DL
ReplyDeleteI guess so.
DeleteYou know me, I am more than happy to eat food with long gone BBE dates on, but I had to draw the line when I was in Alan's fridge this morning and found a tray of chicken legs with a Use By date of September, I binned it and told him off. I did let him keep the steak that is only four days past it's Use By as he has it cooked well done these days, enough to zap any potential germs I should imagine. If he's still with us tomorrow I'll know it was a good decision. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMeat is definitely Not a good idea to keep too long!
DeleteThe only bad experience I had with canned food was a very dated/forgotten can of pineapple, sitting in the back of a cabinet exploded and the smell was noticeable.
ReplyDeleteSusan
My understanding is that if the can is not bulging or leaking, it is fine. I know that at the discount groceries, the things are bought by pallet from regular grocery stores. Sum of it is past the bb dates. You can buy these for a fraction of the price. I have never had a bad experience. I will not buy their frozen things, as I am always concerned about whether it has been stored at the appropriate temperatures, but canned goods are really pretty safe.
ReplyDelete*some
ReplyDeleteI have had a bereavement and not been reading blogs . I hope your house sale goes well and without obstacles
ReplyDeleteMiriam
Looks like I have some catching up to do here. My parents have a lot of out of date stuff in their house (they have now moved into aged care) and I would periodically "help" with cleaning stuff out - left the tins alone but I can assure you, best before on anything that can get stale does get stale!
ReplyDeleteI always do the sniff test on those types of items, most pass though I have had a few that didn't.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.