Anonymous
10/21/2024 15:02
Subject: Settle a debate - food storage/“expiration dates”
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Would you eat the following?
Jars of tomato/alfredo sauce marked with exploration dates in 2023? What about earlier in 2024?
Baking mixes that say best by sometime in 2023?
Meat (including ground beef) that has been frozen for at least 18 months?
One says no to all. One says frozen meat is fine indefinitely and unopened jarred/canned/boxed goods are good for a long time after the marked date.
I would eat all of this. It’s all safe and the dropoff in flavor will be minimal.
I start thinking no when something is several years out of date. Sometimes I know it is fine still anyway, like canned jams and jellies.
Tossing perfectly good food because you can’t be bothered to rotate your freezer is such a waste.
Also, in most of history humans had to preserve food from one harvest to the next. Eating year old food was normal. Plus you always wanted to keep extra in case a harvest failed so you wouldn’t starve.
Same.
Anonymous
10/21/2024 14:43
Subject: Settle a debate - food storage/“expiration dates”
Yeah that all sounds fine assuming no dents or warping of the cans.
Anonymous
10/21/2024 14:36
Subject: Settle a debate - food storage/“expiration dates”
I wouldn't worry about safety, so I'd smell/taste it and then decide. For example, if baking mixes smelled a bit off, then I'd toss it.
Anonymous
10/21/2024 14:18
Subject: Settle a debate - food storage/“expiration dates”
I'd eat all of that.
Anonymous
10/21/2024 14:12
Subject: Re:Settle a debate - food storage/“expiration dates”
Anonymous wrote:Jars - I’d use and not worry about.
Baking mix - I’d check for bugs and use if it looked clear.
Meat - I’d thaw and smell. As long as it didn’t seem spoiled, I’d go ahead and use.
I remember when cans, jars, and boxed foods didn’t have expiration dates and nobody worried.
You think frozen meat can "spoil"?
Anonymous
10/21/2024 14:08
Subject: Settle a debate - food storage/“expiration dates”
Just used a brownie mix that expired in January. It was all sealed in the box. Tasted fine. Everyone is still with us. I think alot of the dates are random. I just opened some frozen broccoli. The exp date was a year a way but it was VERY freezer burned.
Anonymous
10/21/2024 13:57
Subject: Re:Settle a debate - food storage/“expiration dates”
I wouldn’t hesitate to eat any of it with the possible exception of the meat, depending on whether it tasted freezer burned.
Anonymous
10/21/2024 13:50
Subject: Re:Settle a debate - food storage/“expiration dates”
Jars - I’d use and not worry about.
Baking mix - I’d check for bugs and use if it looked clear.
Meat - I’d thaw and smell. As long as it didn’t seem spoiled, I’d go ahead and use.
I remember when cans, jars, and boxed foods didn’t have expiration dates and nobody worried.
Baking mix - I’d check for bugs and use if it looked clear.
Meat - I’d thaw and smell. As long as it didn’t seem spoiled, I’d go ahead and use.
I remember when cans, jars, and boxed foods didn’t have expiration dates and nobody worried.
Anonymous
10/21/2024 13:50
Subject: Settle a debate - food storage/“expiration dates”
Anonymous wrote:My family is pretty lax on things. My dad grew up poor and he'd eat it all. I'm slightly pickier.
Jars of tomato/alfredo sauce marked with exploration dates in 2023? What about earlier in 2024? 23 maybe not. 24 for sure.
Baking mixes that say best by sometime in 2023? I'd open and smell and as long as it wasn't rancid I'd probably go for it. Might expect to be disappointed with the rise. I think it would depend on what it was for - a birthday cake with company I might not. Use this up and just a regular dessert, sure, why not.
Meat (including ground beef) that has been frozen for at least 18 months? I'd use in ways that minimized any flavor loss - so ground meat in tacos or for tomato sauce. Other meat for stew - something cooked a long time.
The meat is 100% safe to eat. But it may taste terrible.
Anonymous
10/21/2024 13:43
Subject: Settle a debate - food storage/“expiration dates”
Anonymous wrote:My family is pretty lax on things. My dad grew up poor and he'd eat it all. I'm slightly pickier.
Jars of tomato/alfredo sauce marked with exploration dates in 2023? What about earlier in 2024? 23 maybe not. 24 for sure.
Baking mixes that say best by sometime in 2023? I'd open and smell and as long as it wasn't rancid I'd probably go for it. Might expect to be disappointed with the rise. I think it would depend on what it was for - a birthday cake with company I might not. Use this up and just a regular dessert, sure, why not.
Meat (including ground beef) that has been frozen for at least 18 months? I'd use in ways that minimized any flavor loss - so ground meat in tacos or for tomato sauce. Other meat for stew - something cooked a long time.
This is a reasonable take and what I’ll do. Thank you! My first instinct was to throw it all out since I did a huge clean out but someone who shall remain unnamed said I’m being wasteful.
This is a good lesson to rotate. But you know how it is sometimes.
Anonymous
10/21/2024 13:38
Subject: Settle a debate - food storage/“expiration dates”
My family is pretty lax on things. My dad grew up poor and he'd eat it all. I'm slightly pickier.
Jars of tomato/alfredo sauce marked with exploration dates in 2023? What about earlier in 2024? 23 maybe not. 24 for sure.
Baking mixes that say best by sometime in 2023? I'd open and smell and as long as it wasn't rancid I'd probably go for it. Might expect to be disappointed with the rise. I think it would depend on what it was for - a birthday cake with company I might not. Use this up and just a regular dessert, sure, why not.
Meat (including ground beef) that has been frozen for at least 18 months? I'd use in ways that minimized any flavor loss - so ground meat in tacos or for tomato sauce. Other meat for stew - something cooked a long time.
Jars of tomato/alfredo sauce marked with exploration dates in 2023? What about earlier in 2024? 23 maybe not. 24 for sure.
Baking mixes that say best by sometime in 2023? I'd open and smell and as long as it wasn't rancid I'd probably go for it. Might expect to be disappointed with the rise. I think it would depend on what it was for - a birthday cake with company I might not. Use this up and just a regular dessert, sure, why not.
Meat (including ground beef) that has been frozen for at least 18 months? I'd use in ways that minimized any flavor loss - so ground meat in tacos or for tomato sauce. Other meat for stew - something cooked a long time.
Anonymous
10/21/2024 13:33
Subject: Settle a debate - food storage/“expiration dates”
Jars of tomato/alfredo sauce marked with exploration dates in 2023? What about earlier in 2024?
early 2024, maybe. 2023, no
Baking mixes that say best by sometime in 2023?
Does the mix include eggs? Or just flour? I miiiiight let just flour/sugar go, but if there are any eggs or other type of ingredients then no.
Meat (including ground beef) that has been frozen for at least 18 months?
Vacuum sealed? Honestly I'm pretty flexible with frozen stuff, but I probably wouldn't over 1 year.
early 2024, maybe. 2023, no
Baking mixes that say best by sometime in 2023?
Does the mix include eggs? Or just flour? I miiiiight let just flour/sugar go, but if there are any eggs or other type of ingredients then no.
Meat (including ground beef) that has been frozen for at least 18 months?
Vacuum sealed? Honestly I'm pretty flexible with frozen stuff, but I probably wouldn't over 1 year.
Anonymous
10/21/2024 13:28
Subject: Settle a debate - food storage/“expiration dates”
Anonymous wrote:Would you eat the following?
Jars of tomato/alfredo sauce marked with exploration dates in 2023? What about earlier in 2024?
Baking mixes that say best by sometime in 2023?
Meat (including ground beef) that has been frozen for at least 18 months?
One says no to all. One says frozen meat is fine indefinitely and unopened jarred/canned/boxed goods are good for a long time after the marked date.
I would eat all of this. It’s all safe and the dropoff in flavor will be minimal.
I start thinking no when something is several years out of date. Sometimes I know it is fine still anyway, like canned jams and jellies.
Tossing perfectly good food because you can’t be bothered to rotate your freezer is such a waste.
Also, in most of history humans had to preserve food from one harvest to the next. Eating year old food was normal. Plus you always wanted to keep extra in case a harvest failed so you wouldn’t starve.
Anonymous
10/21/2024 13:18
Subject: Settle a debate - food storage/“expiration dates”
My research tells me that acidic foods are only good 6 months past expiration date. Tomatoes, etc. The Alfredo sauce probably isn’t tasty after expiration and I wouldn’t chance it. I’d imagine it’s made with milk or eggs, and although canned it’s still risky.
I don’t eat meat but I know it’s not good after being frozen 6 months. Bacteria does grow in the freezer, just slowly….and the freezing will dry it out which is unpalatable.
Flours, dry goods are fine but check for bugs but baking mixes not fine if they have dehydrated milk or egg. I’d pitch baking mixes.
I don’t eat meat but I know it’s not good after being frozen 6 months. Bacteria does grow in the freezer, just slowly….and the freezing will dry it out which is unpalatable.
Flours, dry goods are fine but check for bugs but baking mixes not fine if they have dehydrated milk or egg. I’d pitch baking mixes.
Anonymous
10/21/2024 13:11
Subject: Settle a debate - food storage/“expiration dates”
Would you eat the following?
Jars of tomato/alfredo sauce marked with exploration dates in 2023? What about earlier in 2024?
Baking mixes that say best by sometime in 2023?
Meat (including ground beef) that has been frozen for at least 18 months?
One says no to all. One says frozen meat is fine indefinitely and unopened jarred/canned/boxed goods are good for a long time after the marked date.
Jars of tomato/alfredo sauce marked with exploration dates in 2023? What about earlier in 2024?
Baking mixes that say best by sometime in 2023?
Meat (including ground beef) that has been frozen for at least 18 months?
One says no to all. One says frozen meat is fine indefinitely and unopened jarred/canned/boxed goods are good for a long time after the marked date.