to use a pack of lentils that are 3 YEARS out of date

[StealthPolarBear]

Just that really. Bag of lentils (unopened) and I've noticed the date is 2009 . Should I throw them out or are lentils never ending?

Hmmmm
Well I have bought more, so not sure now. These weren't just bog standard lentils they are huge continental lentils (contilentils? ) . They do look nice. Def not damp , still sealed in their pack. But 'pick out the bad ones' sounds like a labour intensive job, there are thousands of the things!

Kveta, the date is Nov 09, so they are slightly younger than dd. Though that would imply I bought them before she was born. Yes, you're right, that's bad!

Cow, that was my thinking, if is opened them and just stored them in a container id have prob just used them!

So they're actually only 2y6 our of date! Apologies for exaggeration

I'd have used them without even stopping to consider it!

stealth can you give them to DD to play with? put them in empty plastic bottles etc to make a noise? could be good wanky play, and will make you feel less irritated that you have to throw them out.

(as an aside, I have started noticing sell by dates on dairy produce that are after my due date with DC2, and it's scary!)

YABU - but only because I hate lentils. As others have said, wash to remove dust and cook thoroughly. They, and you, will be fine.

I would - they will be fine.

Use them. Lentils are yum and they will be fine.

I say eat 'em!

They'll be fine so long as they're washed and boiled properly.

Oh gosh, they can't get..... weevils can they?

I googled weevils last night and the results weren't pretty

Flatpack, you're not inspiring confidence that they are ok! But they look so nice

I would definitely eat them, have used stuff way older. If it looks ok & smells ok it prob is ok, imo.

YANBU. They are lentils. What can happen to a lentil? If they look OK then they are OK. They are supposed to last forever.

For TheFlyingFishFinger

and

Hoping the works

Oh bugger. The second link was a big version of 'head front'. Grim!

Sorry StealthPolarBear. By 'washed and boiled' I was agreeing with the others that they need to be cleaned after sitting around in a packet for 2 1/2 years, and boiling them for over 10 minutes will break down the cell walls of any bacteria.

If it gives you any more confidence, I would eat them. I have most of a 5kg bag of kidney beans I bought 18 months ago which I'm using up 250g at a time. Washed, soaked and boiled, you can't tell the difference. After all, who's to say that they haven't been sitting in a packing plant for a year?

Still not helping :o

Am making this btw, and decided that I'm going to use the toddler aged contilentils.

Are you still alive?

I wouldn't. A pack of lentils is about 80p, right?

I changed my mind :o Not becuae of the age as such, but the recipe needed red lentils and I worried contilentils would not work. It is lovely. I've hung onto the contilentils though and will test them on myself sometime.
I know bibbity, but it's a waste. And they're dried! I can't decide...

oh and 86p (I think) on offer down from 98 today in tesco!

Well, the OP is posting elsewhere, so I'd guess so.
Mind you, no-one's asked if the house is still standing after the amount of gas that is likely to be floating around in it now .

I would use them.
I never even look at the dates on anything apart from fresh meat even the rest of the fridge stuff just gets a sniff to check its okay. I'm paranoid about milk though and smell it even when its freshly opened to check its still milk...
I swear I have never checked the date on something from a cupboard!

You haven't said the crucial point! Best Before or Use By?

I'm assuming BB - never seen dried pulses with a Use By.

Hence fine.