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The Kitchen Table

Time to check expiration dates...

16 years ago

On the bottles in your fridge and cupboard.

I always thought we were pretty good, at least with the fridge...found a bottle today dated expires 2007. Okay not as good as we thought!!! Then decided hmmmm how long since I've gone through the cupboard (you know with the vinegars, etc). Yup, 2006 expiration date up there. (DH just cleaned them and threw them in the recycling outside, sounded like we had a hellava a party!!)

The ones I have the hardest time with are the spices. I get the smallest containers, and I know I should date them, but I just can't get myself to throw out the spices in 6 months when I've only used a teaspoon or so. I should check to see how long they're SUPPOSE to be good, and start watching. Oh well!

Vickey-MN

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Comments (7)

Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
16 years ago
Found this at the link below.

Q. How long can bottled spices be kept; what is the shelf life?

A. The good news is, spices do not spoil. The bad news is, they lose their strength. What is interesting is that a lot of cookbook writers tell you to purge your pantry once an herb or spice is about 6 months old. But the spice companies Â among them behemoth McCormick and specialty spicer Penzeys Â are not so reckless. They tell you to keep and use the spices as long as they appear to have flavor Â and they trust you to be able to tell!

Here is a link that might be useful: When Do Herbs & Spices Give Up the Ghost?
soxxxx
16 years ago
Our lives are filled with things that are always expiring, so we have to be ever on the alert:

food

car registration/inspection/driver's license

refill dates on prescriptions

medications

voter's registration

grocery ads/coupons

insurance

due dates on bills

NO WONDER WE ALL NEED CALENDARS.
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Annie, I know that people think Penzey's or Spice House are expensive..but you are right they aren't! I get the small jars as samplers..if it's a spice I know I'll use alot, I get the glass..then on my next order I buy a 4oz refill bag. I go through alot of Cumin, Smoked Paprika, Onion powder, Korjenti cinnamon, Galena Street Rib Rub. However I only buy a small jar of cayenne because most recipes call for pinches or a small teaspoons worth.. Compare the prices to grocery store or even Walmart.. Even the cost of shipping for me...I'm ahead of the game, and know the turn around at Penzey's is quick for storage. Although I have to agree with Changeling..in that how do any of us know how long a spice has been in storage..How long the whole spice was around before it became ground and packaged and put on a shelf.. I guess the key is to trust your supplier..~supplier..LOL..yep Penzey's definately supports a fix...tee hee I was making my Smokey BBQ rub yesterday and instead of chili powder (preblended) I use Ancho chili ground for the chili powder called for in the recipe and then toss in half the amount called for in Mexican Oregano. I bought that bag from Penzey's probably 4 months ago..and every time I open the zip top..I'm fragranced with it's wonderful pungent scent. Quality is often found in the sniffer. :o)
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Thanks all for your input. I did get rid of the eggs. I had already cracked both of them, so it was too late for the water test. At least now I know how to check them next time!! Neither egg smelled, but I will say the whites were a little cloudy. That along with the past expiration date made me think they were no good.
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It's the rancid oils that would make it taste bad. Refreshing the baking powder would not help with that. If it's a mix where you add your own oil or butter and it's not already in the mix (not "complete", in other words) that would be better. I made brownies once with expired mix and the smell/taste of the spoiled oii was ghastly. Like the other I would not do this for a special occasion. I hear you about your Dad and the expired food. I used to have to go through his refrigerator and pantry and throw out things. My husband used to joke that his longevity (he got all the way to 97) was due to his constantly challenged immune system. I'd admit to eating slightly overdate yogurt myself: it gets stronger and I like it that way! Hope the party is great!
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gadgets
16 years ago
I like to keep well stocked cupboards and freezer. I do the bulk of my food shopping once a month. I pull forward the things that have been there and put the new to the back (or in case of freezer, to the bottom). Of course it takes longer to put away my groceries, but I learned to do this after having to do what you're doing.....tossing a lot of 'money' in the trash. If it's an item I don't use often, I now write the exp date on the container.

Shirley
barb_from_pa
16 years ago
Many things past the expiration date have been consumed in this household (without ill effects, thank goodness.)
kathleenca
16 years ago
vickey, I sure don't throw out spices at six months. If they still smell as they should, I keep them. I figure if the smell is gone, so is the flavor. Interestingly, I have an old tin of Shilling's ground cloves that still smells & tastes wonderful. I know it's more than nine years old because I had it before we moved into this house in August 2000. Now I'm keeping it just to see how long it will be good. :)

My mother kept her spices & herbs in the refrigerator, but I don't have enough room to do that.
soxxxx
16 years ago
kathleenca: re cloves scent lingering

I have an old oak wall cabinet that hung in a dentist's office more than 50 years ago. There is still a strong sweet aroma of cloves when it is opened. I know dentists used cloves as a painkiller, but I do not know in what form. For some reason I feel it was in a liquid.
joyfulguy
16 years ago
If the spices look and smell O.K. - just put more in (and I don't mean the garbage).

Hi soxxx,

I think that you missed at least one item on your list of items that have expiration times ...

... how about, "people"?

Or ... should that be, " ... best before ..."?

Have a beautiful New Year, everyone ... and I hope that you make it till Dec.!

ole joyful

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