Canned Goods

[pig]

I went to make a stir fry for my wife last night and I remembered seeing a can of bamboo shoots and water chestnuts in the cupboard. It's not something we use frequently.

Anyway I didn't remember buying them recently so I looked at the expiration date and it said best by 2006. Well you know us guys will eat anything but out of respect for my pickier partner I asked her if she minded if I used them. She looked at me like I was crazy.

Doesn't canned goods last almost indefinitely? Would you use something like that if it were past the best by date? Could it hurt you to eat it?

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

It shouldn't hurt you as long as the can isn't rusted and doesn't have any bubbles or indentations. If it does then throw them out.

Otherwise it means that the product quality is not going to be as good as it was back in 2006.

I'd give them a whiff before I dumped them into my dish. I've made the mistake of using expired boxed goods that old and thinking they were "fine" and I ended up having to throw out the dish, blech.

[pig]

What do you mean "bubbles"? In the liquid inside or on the can itself? What does it mean if there are "bubbles"?

[Malarky]

I just opened a can of pumpkin dated 2007. It was in there with all the ones that expire in 2013.

It tasted fine. But if I never post after today, let them know that the can is in the recycle bin and the rest is in the fridge. Not that anyone besides me would eat it any other way than pie or bread.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

A bubble would be if the top, bottom or sides of the can has swollen in a particular area. That's a sign of botulism growing in there.

[pig]

Ok so I guess I wasn't crazy to think of using it then, thanks.

[mtntigger]

No, you aren't crazy because of that Doc.

[pig]

Hey SbS! Good to see you!

[Wisconsin Beth]

Jul 27, 2011 10:03:34 GMT -5 @mtntigger said:

No, you aren't crazy because of that Doc.

I'd have used it too, under those circumstances. But if I was just cleaning out the canned goods cupboard, I'd have tossed it.

[reeneejune]

The expiration date on commercially canned goods is rather arbitrary. They're far enough out for consumers to feel safe in stocking up, but in reality it takes many years for these items to go bad when sealed properly.

Now with that said, you may find that the quality isn't great 6 years after the "best by" date. Discoloration and poor texture are the usual problems. Think about a fresh apple. If you cut it up and throw it in a sandwich baggie, by noon it's going to be a little brown, even in a nice cool lunch box. That doesn't mean that it's not safe to eat though. Now, if you encounter any not normal colors (based on the food item), steer clear.

As mentioned previously, any bulges or dents in the can are bad signs. While a dent in a metal can may seem like a minor thing, it can cause microscopic holes which can let in all sorts of nastiness. Also be aware of how the product acts when you pour it out of the can. I once opened a jar of salsa after shaking it up (because of settling, right?) and it fizzed out like I had shaken up a can of soda. Not good.

So that's the bad stuff. The good stuff? I'm still working on jam and jelly my mom home canned 3 or 4 years ago. Great stuff, she's only got one black raspberry bush so we don't get black raspberry jam very often. When I do I hoard it jealously. And it's just as yummy now as it when when it went in the jar.