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Speaking of best by dates

last year

last modified: last year

I recently read this story about someone finding an ancient chunk of

"bog butter" in Ireland. Interesting, the article says there have been at least 500 such finds in the bogs in the country. It made me think of all the questions we have regarding food spoilage, I was shocked when I read: "And bogs, sometimes referred to as Ireland’s first fridges, did the trick preserving butter for centuries as Ms Harvey can verify having tried a “sliver” of this most recent find. 'It does taste like butter, an unsalted butter at that. I had a sliver and I’m still here to tell the tale,” she said.'" She TASTED it!

link: Ancient Bog Butter

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Olychick
Original Author

last year

I'm still floored that anyone would taste it!!

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Comments (9)

plllog
last year
Fascinating! Thanks for posting. I had no idea. It makes sense, though. Anaerobic and constant cool temperature so it had no opportunity to go rancid or otherwise spoil. Cool! (literally...)
Olychick
Original Author
last year
I thought it interesting that they surmise there was a wood container that has disintegrated, but the butter was unaffected.
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plllog
last year
Raw wood decays fast. Fat doesn't so easily when it's cold like that. But that's the limit of my knowledge. It makes sense to me just from handling fat in the kitchen--but I have to suppose that the wood brought with it into the bog that which decayed it. Until someone who knows more chimes in... :)
party_music50
last year
That is very interesting! I'd love to know whatever the researchers learn about it. They should have provided info about typical bog temperatures... according to multiple sites, the bogs are supposedly 24-27C at the surface but 5-8C at 240cm, which is nearly 8 feet deep! It reminds me of the brewery we have near here that stores their beer in a cave. :)
Islay Corbel
last year
Me too. I did check the date on the article to check that it wasn't April 1st LOL. Only in Ireland LOL
plllog
last year
It reminds me of the bottles of oil they found still sealed in pyramids. The oil (olive?) was still good. I'm sure the sliver came from the inside, not the boggy part. I've tasted iffier things…
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
last year
last modified: last year
I guess we'll eventually know exactly how old it is.

And I'm reminded of MRE Steve on You Tube - he unboxes and eats ancient military and emergency rations. I agree it's astounding - and cringe-making as well.
Olychick
Original Author
last year
UGH! Can you imagine showing up at the emergency room and reporting that you're sick because you ate 100 + year old army rations?

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