How out of date does food have to be not to eat?

[McGingery]

I have just been given a load of food (in glass jars unopened and sealed) from my MIL who was clearing out her cupboard. Would you eat them? Are they safe to eat? I hate food waste! What is the oldest thing you would consider eating?

Harissa paste Jan 2020
Thai green curry paste Nov 2013
Pickled cabbage May 2017
Oyster sauce Feb 2014
Oyster sauce Nov 2017
Harissa paste Mar 2019
Red pesto Mar 2012
Pickled shallots Dec 2012
Browning sauce of Feb 2013
Green pesto Jul 2015
Caramel sauce Mar 2014
Reggae reggae sauce Nov 2010

Everything in glass jars will be best before if unopened and sealed, but it will definitely be past its best and might be a bit tasteless.

I’d have a go at the harissa paste but chuck everything else and not accept a load of expired crap as a gift

Same as pp, I'd hazard a go at the harissa paste but would bin the rest. Even if it didn't make you unwell it is unlikely it would taste good.

I'd consider the harissa Jan 20 date. The rest would be awful by now.

I don't think I would eat any of those, just the thought of eating something 2 plus years out of date would put me off. I suppose you could open and smell them and see what you think.

Do you normally eat those products? If so then I suppose you would be able to tell if they are ok. Many of them seem really cheap things to buy so not sure why you would want to take the risk.

Urgh why did she plan it off on you?

I'd give the harissa paste a go but bin everything else. Some of it is 10 years out of date!

'palm it off on you'.

Harrissa paste only. Not that I eat it normally.

Thanks all. I’m going to bin the lot, well compost and recycle!

Just out of interest , why did she give it to you @McGingery ???

I usually take anything free from others, apparently she has 3 bags of clothes from her loft coming to me next week. I go through them, take what I like and give the rest to charity. I don’t think she realised just how out of date the food was and I didn’t have the heart to say no.

Aw that's really kind of you to go along with it @McGingery

I hate food waste and will happily eat food past us best before date but wouldn't eat any of that apart from the 2020 harissa paste.

If it's proper gravy browning then keep that! Assuming you make your own gravy that is.

Gravy browning doesn't go off, so keep that. You use so little of it I fully anticipate that my children will inherit the bottle I have in my cupboard when I go, and I'm not 40 yet!