Food expiration dates

[Chazman]

Let me start with this two part question - How far past the expiration date, (or "best if used by date") and what food have you eaten that most people would shudder to even think about?
I'll start...
1. Last summer I ate a can of tuna with a "best by" date of 2016. Tasted perfectly normal.

2. Also last summer, a package of Nathan's Hot Dogs that had been frozen since 2017. Cooked them over the campfire. As good as any campfire hot dogs that I have ever eaten.

3. Today (3/14/25) Made a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, best if used by 2016. This one almost got thrown out because when I mixed the (sealed) cheese packet in with the noodles, milk, and butter, the color just didn't look quite right. BUT, I took a chance, finished preparing it, and it was fine.

I have used many canned goods that were four, five, six years past their "expiry dates" none of which were damaged, dented, or worse, bulging. That last one could kill you. (Google canned goods and botulism)

Anybody else as daring (or crazy, take your pick) as me?

 

[CedarCreekWoody]

When iwas still working I taught people when and how to use the 9-1-1 system. You perhaps should brush up on this. Lol

 

[Oaklevel]

An expired date and a best if used by date are two totally different things................... but if frozen I always feel the date stops and go more by the appearance and smell once thawed........
Only stand alone freezers................. not self defrosting.

Food by the guidelines is good well past the best if used date.

Chest freezer are the worst for food disappearing for years.............................

No 100% rule................ Things we can or freeze same thing........... Moonshine a different story.........(got to know who made it)

Have tried some MREs that were Vietnam era (they were terrible and some 1926 wine that was in my Granbfathers cupboard................



O

 

[NMWildcat]

Don't know if daring, or even crazy, properly describes your actions Nothing in our RV gets the chance to approach its expiration date.

But the answer to your question is NO.

 

[GolfingDave]

3. Today (3/14/25) Made a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, best if used by 2016. This one almost got thrown out because when I mixed the (sealed) cheese packet in with the noodles, milk, and butter, the color just didn't look quite right. BUT, I took a chance, finished preparing it, and it was fine.

I draw the line here. But then I still remember the last time I tried Mac and Cheese, Shemya AFB 1985. Someone had made some and I tried it just to see if my tastebuds had changed since I was a kid. Nope.
Gagged as soon as I tried to swallow it. No need to try it again in this lifetime.

How can you forget about a package of Nathan's hotdogs?

 

[Iwritecode]

I just had a package of instant Ramen noodles from like 2016. They were ok but the taste was a little off.

 

[Sunseeker16]

Due dates don faze me a bit

 

[EdJunior]

I wouldn't know. My wife gets rid of dated stuff before I ever have a chance at it.

 

[Chazman]

I draw the line here. But then I still remember the last time I tried Mac and Cheese, Shemya AFB 1985. Someone had made some and I tried it just to see if my tastebuds had changed since I was a kid. Nope.
Gagged as soon as I tried to swallow it. No need to try it again in this lifetime.

How can you forget about a package of Nathan's hotdogs?

Being honest, I can't really say. All I know is they were put in there before my wife passed away, and they (along with some other foods) just sat in the back of the garage freezer until I spotted them and decided to take them to camp.

 

[EdJunior]

I draw the line here. But then I still remember the last time I tried Mac and Cheese, Shemya AFB 1985. Someone had made some and I tried it just to see if my tastebuds had changed since I was a kid. Nope.
Gagged as soon as I tried to swallow it. No need to try it again in this lifetime.

How can you forget about a package of Nathan's hotdogs?

What did you do at Shemya? I was stationed at Eielson then, and went to Shemya for 2 weeks at a time, every 4 or 5 weeks or so. Flew on the RC-135s (Cobra Ball) there. I was there in 1985. Lots of Ramen Noodles and Mac and Cheese back then. And PBJ or Spam sandwiches.

 

[GolfingDave]

What did you do at Shemya?

A couple of 2 week deployments to assist the Crew Chief of one of the Cobra Balls. He just happened to be the recruiter who stopped at our high school when I was there, small world. At Eielson you could have trained a monkey to do my job, recovery team member once the 135's landed. Fuel em and park em. Night shift for two winters.
Great though since we did not have to put up with the higher ups like the day crew and could get our job done efficiently.

Don't tell anyone but me and a buddy laid in the boom pod during takeoff. Awesome! All of a sudden it looks like the tail is going to hit the runway and the next thing you are over the crashing waves and boulders in the ocean.

Saw Red Dawn for the first time while there, Movie night on the Rock, old projector where the reels had to be changed out.

Another small world. I worked with a kid named Mark Wilkins when I was in IT for a bit who was at Eielson as a toddler. He said his dad was a crew member in the back on the Cobra Ball at the same time I was there, 83-85.

As an added bonus by the Air Force(Hickam), I got stuck at Wake Island for a week or so one time. So I can say I have visited pretty much where America's day ends and where it begins.

 

[Aussieguy]

depends on what the food is and if you have to heat it up after opening

anything that is eaten COLD I take more notice of not only the date but the condition of the container
be on the lookout for cheese with hairs ... I really hate that!
swollen or dented or OPEN plastic packaging usually finds its way to the TRASHBIN
NOSE is also a good tool.

foods that require Heat / Cooking after opening ... cook it a bit longer / hotter
kill any possible nasty bugs and then let it cool down so you can eat it


At my age and condition ... anything remotely possible to affect me... NOPE . NO WAY

 

[glen1971]

While hunting one year, we had a packaged Rommen noodles for lunch. They tasted a bit off, but we ate them anyways. About half way thru, one guy noticed they were a year past their expiry. About 2-3 hours later, we learned the hard way, that the expiry date was more than a guideline. I think I got rid of gum I swallowed when I was 5 years old! May as well have gone out and drank 2 gallons of Mexican tap water. Ever since then, we are VERY cognizant of expiry dates.

 

[D W]

Let me start with this two part question - How far past the expiration date, (or "best if used by date") and what food have you eaten that most people would shudder to even think about?
I'll start...
1. Last summer I ate a can of tuna with a "best by" date of 2016. Tasted perfectly normal.

2. Also last summer, a package of Nathan's Hot Dogs that had been frozen since 2017. Cooked them over the campfire. As good as any campfire hot dogs that I have ever eaten.

3. Today (3/14/25) Made a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, best if used by 2016. This one almost got thrown out because when I mixed the (sealed) cheese packet in with the noodles, milk, and butter, the color just didn't look quite right. BUT, I took a chance, finished preparing it, and it was fine.

I have used many canned goods that were four, five, six years past their "expiry dates" none of which were damaged, dented, or worse, bulging. That last one could kill you. (Google canned goods and botulism)

Anybody else as daring (or crazy, take your pick) as me?

NOPE!

 

[ppine]

You are playing a game of Russian roulette. Look up things like botulism. It kills people.

 

[Chazman]

You are playing a game of Russian roulette. Look up things like botulism. It kills people.

Oh I did. This is what I found...

Foodborne botulism: Consuming foods contaminated with the botulinum toxin, such as improperly canned foods, smoked fish, or honey.
If you suspect canned food might be contaminated with botulism, look for signs like leaking, bulging, or swollen containers, or if the food spurts liquid or foam when opened, or appears discolored, moldy, or smells bad
Total Botulism Cases:
Approximately 100-200 cases of botulism are reported in the U.S. each year. Foodborne Botulism:
Foodborne botulism accounts for about 10-15% of all botulism cases.
Infant Botulism:
The majority of botulism cases are infant botulism, which occurs in babies younger than 12 months of age.
I think you'd be surprised at how many people are "in my camp".

 

[EdJunior]

A couple of 2 week deployments to assist the Crew Chief of one of the Cobra Balls. He just happened to be the recruiter who stopped at our high school when I was there, small world. At Eielson you could have trained a monkey to do my job, recovery team member once the 135's landed. Fuel em and park em. Night shift for two winters.
Great though since we did not have to put up with the higher ups like the day crew and could get our job done efficiently.

Don't tell anyone but me and a buddy laid in the boom pod during takeoff. Awesome! All of a sudden it looks like the tail is going to hit the runway and the next thing you are over the crashing waves and boulders in the ocean.

Saw Red Dawn for the first time while there, Movie night on the Rock, old projector where the reels had to be changed out.

Another small world. I worked with a kid named Mark Wilkins when I was in IT for a bit who was at Eielson as a toddler. He said his dad was a crew member in the back on the Cobra Ball at the same time I was there, 83-85.

As an added bonus by the Air Force(Hickam), I got stuck at Wake Island for a week or so one time. So I can say I have visited pretty much where America's day ends and where it begins.

Very cool. Indeed a small world. Never rode in the boom. That would be "interesting". I did sit in the jump seat on a C-130 while deployed to Midway Island. Looking through one of the glass windows near the bottom of the plan, I watched as we landed there. Water, water, water, water, LAND, LANDING!!! That was a little freaky.

If I remember, there was a guy at our unit named Mike Wilkins. I don't remember much beyond that, but I am pretty sure there was a Wilkins in our unit there (6985th).

 

[Bob K4TAX]

The "best used by date" is largely a marketing issue focusing on flavor. Spoiled food, if the dog or cat won't eat it, I won't either. They won't drink my beer either. Leaves more for me.

Bob

 

[GolfingDave]

"Except for infant formula, product dating is not required by Federal regulations."

It is for taste and quality.
Or maybe a marketing scheme by manufacturers?

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safe...ration/food-safety-basics/food-product-dating

SAVE Money by Knowing When Food is Safe

Before You Toss Food, Wait. Check It Out!

 

[D W]

You are playing a game of Russian roulette. Look up things like botulism. It kills people.

Yessiree, botulinum toxins are serious stuff. and often lead to permanent paralysis or death.

Like the old adage: "If in doubt, throw it out"