To ask about Chicken stock cubes

[timeandtide]

I've run out of chicken stock cubes. I've found a couple at the back of my cupboard but the best before date is Dec 15. Would you still use them?

[DubiousCredentials]

I would.

[HeyMacWey]

I would too.

[Marmite27]

Probably, but I wouldn't advertise the fact I would on here. People are weird about best before dates on here

[timeandtide]

I'm worried I give myself and my DH food poisoning lol

[acasualobserver]

Once you've made the stock up give it a good sniff. Proceed if it smells like chicken stock.

[DubiousCredentials]

Is it best before or use by Dec 2015? Best before means just that. They might not be quite as flavoursome that's all.

[timeandtide]

Defo best before I double
Checked

[DonkeyOaty]

Best before - go ahead, safe to eat but flavour might have diminished

Use by - lob in bin

[dementedpixie]

Best before means quality could be affected but doesn't make them unsafe.

[booklooker]

it's probably 90% salt. That's unlikely to go off.

The remainder will be just synthetic chemicals, also unlikely to go.

[timeandtide]

I'll use them then! Thanks ladies (and gents!)

[whois]

Stock cubes are probbaly fine - would expect them to just not be as flavourful.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

They'll be fine.

[BarbaraofSeville]

Six months past BBE is nothing. They will probably be fine at 6 years past the use by date. Marmite is correct, people are very odd about use by dates on here.

BBE dates, and even Use by dates are very conservative and designed to make you throw the product away and buy more or ensure there is absolutely no chance of it going bad within date, even if treat badly (left in car for hours, poorly performing fridge etc).

[tibbawyrots]

I use my own judgement with food. The marmite I had on toast today was bbe sept 2013. 🧀

[Farandole]

Yep agree with Barbara, I use stuff after the BB or UB dates all the time. If it's not smelly or mouldy, it's probably fine. I have yet to poison anyone :)

[Tiggeryoubastard]

A chicken stock cube should last you years on Mumsnet, after all, you can get 8 meals for 6 adults from a poussin.

[Notthebumtroll]

It would to even occur to me to NOT use them! There's nothing in them to do you any harm, AND you're going to be boiling it

[Housewife2010]

Home-made stock is far nicer.

[timeandtide]

Didn't have the time housewife

[BarbaraofSeville]

I disagree about homemade stock. Tastes like shit, makes a god awful mess, costs a bloody fortune in fuel and stock veg. I'm a good cook but have given up with stock - life's too short.

I spotted Kallo organic low salt chicken stock cubes being sold off for about 30 p in our local Asda and bought about 6 packets so am good for far nicer tasting chicken stock for a good while .

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Home made stock is gorgeous IF it's done for hours and hours and HOURS and usually best in a pressure cooker. Not the ' bung it in a slow cooker for a few hours' which posters talk about on here. Also helps to have a really tasty chicken from the butcher. And you need to add salt and pepper- loads of it!


So I use Knor gel pots

[BarbaraofSeville]

So people go on about home made stock being healthier, because stock cubes are full of salt, but home made stock only tastes good if you put loads of salt and pepper in it?

I don't have a pressure cooker or a slow cooker and do get naice farm shop chickens, but I will continue to put the bones in the bin and use my Kallo stock cubes.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

It's the bones that give it the taste and that's good for you- I forget why.

I've tried Kallo cubes, I needed to use about 4 for flavour and I don't over salt food normally

[user1467101855]

Yes.

I wouldn't put this question in aibu though