Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Cans of expired food - how to dispose of them?

31 replies

PositivelyGlowing · 29/03/2023 18:36

Seems that I had about 30 cans of expired canned food at the back of one of my cupboards, mainly soup. They're a few years out of date so there's no chance that I'll eat them. What's the best way to dispose of the contents?

I have a septic tank so perhaps chuck them in there, or might that cause some issues for the bacteria that live in the tank and digest the waste matter?

Any other ideas please?

Thanks

OP posts:
LauraNorda · 29/03/2023 18:38

Tinned foods can last decades. I have eaten soups that have been 12 years 'out of date'.

Open them up and trust your senses.

MintMa · 29/03/2023 18:39

I'd eat them, I ate some home canned bolognaise last week that I made around 10 years ago. If you open them, it'd be pretty obvious if it was (unlikely to be) off.

RoddyStJames · 29/03/2023 18:39

Strain through a sieve, put the lumps in the food recycling bin, recycle the tins.

How do you have so many?!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General food
lljkk · 29/03/2023 18:46

I would eat them of course, but if you can't consume, pour straight into compost heap. wash tins out to recycle (I hope you will)

Don't buy so much in future.

lljkk · 29/03/2023 18:46

ps : and i you don't have compost heap, they could go in sewers (toilet); just don't put plastic or fabric anything down there

Nolongera · 29/03/2023 18:47

I eat expired tins of food all the time, there is nothing wrong with them, sometimes the texture has changed.

IHeartGeneHunt · 29/03/2023 18:50

I'd eat them myself, just check the tins are sound.

BirthdayFoodHelp · 29/03/2023 18:54

Give them to someone who will eat them to avoid the waste, 30 is a lot!

picklemewalnuts · 29/03/2023 18:57

Advertise them on FB? I'd eat them!

Georgyporky · 29/03/2023 19:01

Open & use your sense of smell. I've eaten far older stuff.

Thinkwicebeforeyouleavemylife · 29/03/2023 19:04

Give them away or donate them. There's many people including me who would eat them!

maximist · 29/03/2023 19:04

I ate some passata dated 2014 last week, with no ill effects. And that was in a tetrapack, not a can.

TwigTheWonderKid · 29/03/2023 19:08

Don't throw them away. If you really won't eat them, put them on Olio.

PogoThePunk · 29/03/2023 19:10

I'd eat them.

FullaSpjäll · 29/03/2023 19:10

Most likely absolutely fine to eat.

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 29/03/2023 19:14

If it's really off, it will expand, as I understand. So if it looks normal, open it, taste it, and if it tastes off, I'd drain it and put the remains in the food recycling bin.

AxolotlOnions · 29/03/2023 19:27

They'll be fine, if you don't want them I'll have them.

ghostbusters · 29/03/2023 19:50

I had some times sardines last week. Went out of date July 2020 and I'm still alive to tell the tale!
As others say, give to others rather than bin it. The food bank won't be able to take it but offer it up to free cycle type places.

ghostbusters · 29/03/2023 19:50

*tinned

FictionalCharacter · 29/03/2023 20:06

Definitely eat them or give them away to anyone who wants them. Tinned food only has a best by date because the eating quality deteriorates slightly, but it’s safe to eat if the tin is intact and not blown, because the contents are sterile.

If you really must get rid of them, I assume you have no food waste collection? If you don’t, I’d strain them and wash the liquid down the sink, then put the solids in the bin.

orangelotus · 29/03/2023 22:18

oh my goodness i'm always discussing this with my fussy kids.
if you've ever read any dystopian novel you will know those tins are gold dust !!
put them in a prepper place someone in the apocalypse will
enjoy them

Hotvimto3 · 29/03/2023 22:24

A lot of the time the dates refer to the peood that it will provide full nutritional value. The older the food gets the less nutrients it will have. But it won't turn to instant poison. Please dont throw food away. There are people hungry.

AlisonDonut · 29/03/2023 22:27

Dispose of it by emptying it into a saucepan, heating it and eating it with toast. Hot buttery toast.

crazeecatladee · 29/03/2023 22:34

the food will have been sterilised when it was canned so provided the lids are still flat and cannot be depressed it will be safe to eat. Enjoy!

babblingbumblingbandofbaboons · 29/03/2023 22:34

Please don’t dispose of food waste / soup etc down the sink or toilet, strained or not! Fats, oils and grease from food will get through your home pipes with a good flush of water but once in the sewer will settle out, cause deposits of grease, which then catch other items and cause chokes and blockages on the main sewer - this is sometimes referred to as a fat berg. Chokes, blockages and fat bergs lead to flooding and premature spills from outfalls.

Waste food should be composted, put in food disposal bins, or put in with standard waste in a sealed container. If you want to recycle the tins, get one bottle/tub to dispose of the contents in then wash and recycle the tins.