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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To serve best by end Sept 2012 pud for Christmas lunch

29 replies

OhMerGerd · 23/12/2013 07:06

I think not - I always understood that the alchohol preserves and it's a large Tesco Finest with courvoisier from the 2011 Christmas range. Found it in the back of a cupboard during an epic tidy and recalled mum gave it to me, well... in 2011.

I gleefully reported my find last night and mum's reaction was 'I'll be having the trifle then', and DH gave me the look he reserves for ' I'm not going to say anything because it will lead to an argument but if you think I'm going along with that plan you've got another think coming'.

OP posts:

Sirzy · 23/12/2013 07:08

I would be a bit dubious with it being so far out of date!

Bunbaker · 23/12/2013 07:11

I would be a bit dubious with it being so far out of date!

So would I. It probably is OK but it would spoil my Christmas if it wasn't.

Original poster

OhMerGerd · 23/12/2013 07:17

I've just peaked under the cloth cover and it smells normal, no mould or any signs of mustiness. I'm feeling less confident now though. I thought puds 'matured'?

OP posts:

BobPatSamandIgglePiggle · 23/12/2013 07:20

Spoil Christmas, really? It's just pudding! It'll be fine - chuck some extra brandy on in case its dry and have a yule log back up :-)

stubbs0412 · 23/12/2013 07:25

Yes it's fine.... If you don't like those you're serving it to & you don't intend on eating any!!!
Seriously... unless all Christmas puds have sold out or the shops are closed I'd get another. I'm sure it's not poison but imagine how embarrassed you will feel if anyone discovers your lil' secret !

OpalTourmaline · 23/12/2013 07:32

I'd get another one so your family can enjoy some. They don't want the 2011 one.

Preciousbane · 23/12/2013 07:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RudolphtheRedknowsraindear · 23/12/2013 07:46

I'd get another to be safe, chuck a load of brandy on the old one & eat it at my leisure!
Or....how about a fancy bread & butter pud? Slices of pannettone or brioche with old xmas pud in between, left over cream mixed with milk & eggs, bake for about 20 mins!
Yummmm!

Jenny70 · 23/12/2013 07:47

I have one from last year, and did consider serving it - but dh would be mortified if it was off, tasting yuk or making us ill. So I bought another, but am wondering whether to just toss it, I am the biggest fan, but a whole pudd sadly, I am allergic - my thighs and butt swell up to mega proportions, LOL.

WeShouldOpenABar · 23/12/2013 07:49

Its fine pudding matures it doesn't get old. that being said I had a dated one last week and it tasted a little off, a little rubbery, I think it lacked the alcohol needed, so if you can have a taste in enough time to buy a replacement I'd do that

kali110 · 23/12/2013 07:54

Its not out of date.
Best before means the quality may not be as good not that its out of date.

princessalbert · 23/12/2013 07:54

I would. It says best before. Not use by.

Microwave it, that makes them pretty moist. Serve with lots of brandy sauce. Bingo.

DH did the shopping yesterday. I gave him a list. We are hosting on boxing day, so needed a couple of desserts. He came back with two cheesecakes, both of which are use by 23.12.13. He bought them on 22.12.13.

I'm in a similar dilemma. Do I serve up? We aren't home much before then to eat it.

LovesBaublingTheTreeAgain · 23/12/2013 08:06

I would but them my homemade mincemeat lasted about 6 xmases!

GodRestTEEMerryGenTEEmen · 23/12/2013 08:10

That's its "Best Before"?

Then it fine. It just won't be "best".

Which it won't be anyway because it's Christmas Pudding and that's gross.

Tell your mum and your husband you bought a new one and serve that one.

Yes. I am telling you to lie. I also lie to my child about Santa.

friday16 · 23/12/2013 08:20

I've eaten home-made Christmas puddings three or four years after I made them. In the end they dry out a bit, although that is probably less of a problem for shop ones, as they're better sealed in their packaging, and you need to serve with a bit more cream and custard. And f you're ho-hum (rather than ho ho ho) about Christmas pudding, they tend to get a bit more Christmas pudding-y; the puddings I make are from a recipe which is heavy on apple and light on dark fruit, so their getting a bit stronger isn't a problem, but if it was dark to start with and you're not that keen, it might be a but de trop.

The alcohol aspect is a red herring: there's not enough to preserve much of anything, and the actual ethanol, as opposed to the flavour components, mostly evaporates off over time anyway.

It certainly isn't a hygiene issue. Christmas puddings are sterile at the point of packaging, particularly commercial ones (which are autoclaved, with is posh speak for pressure cooked) and they contain so much sugar that any mould or bacteria would be instantly desiccated.

LondonMother · 23/12/2013 08:24

I'd do what Tee suggests and LIE. Feed it with a lot of rum or brandy to make sure it's moist. It will be fine. Tee is, of course, wrong about Christmas pudding being gross. Christmas pudding is food of the gods. Only a select subset of the world's population can see this. They are mostly British, but this alone isn't sufficient to guarantee that you are admitted - virtue is the main criterion. I feel sorry for all the poor sinners who don't like it.

GodRestTEEMerryGenTEEmen · 23/12/2013 08:27

Oh no, I feel sorry for the poor sinners who have bought into the idea that that much dried fruit is a good thing.

Ilovefluffysheep · 23/12/2013 08:33

I ate one last night that was best before march 2014, and it was lovely

CSIJanner · 23/12/2013 08:41

princessalbert - put the cheesecakes at the back of a v cold fridge. They'll be fine unless they fully split which will mean they'll taste a bit chalky.

We had Christmas pudding 2 weeks ago - homemade, 5 years old. It tasted lovely however was a touch dry. However, i agree with Friday16 and think 2012 I think would be fine.

Theas18 · 23/12/2013 08:50

we've just had last years Xmas puds (when my parents were over)... all out of date! All fine /very tasty

Freddiefrog · 23/12/2013 09:24

I would

Best before means just that. It'll taste at its best before X date.

It may taste off but it won't do you any harm

My children and I made some chocolate Christmas tree decorations the other day from some coloured candy melts that were about 2 years past their best before date, the kids ate some of them and reported they tasted fine

jamdonut · 23/12/2013 09:27

I would and have!!!

No problem,just as nice and nobody ill!

In fact I have one for this year that we didn't eat last year, so no, YANBU

BohemianGirl · 23/12/2013 09:28

It will be fine!

Ilovefluffysheep · 23/12/2013 09:37

Sorry, my post should say best before end march 2013. Doh!

Original poster

OhMerGerd · 23/12/2013 18:08

Decided and thanks for all the tips ...We're having it! Waste not want not and all that. Will report back Boxing Day.... Or not depending on how it goes :) Going to prick it and put a generous slug of brandy on it tonight and then I'll have first taste on Christmas day. There's trifle and a chocolate cake (homemade so scrummy) so no one will go without.

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