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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To use a tin of soup two years past its use-by date?

42 replies

MackerelOfFact · 04/09/2015 09:50

Was going to make veggie chilli tonight. Checked the cupboard for kidney or similar beans, but have none. I do however have a tin of chunky chilli bean soup, which would do the job.

However, the expiry date is September 2013.

I'm generally pretty lax about use-by dates, and I'm pretty sure tinned goods basically last forever, but not sure if it's worth risking it when a tin of kidney beans can be obtained for about 50p.

Will go with the majority vote!

OP posts:
PuntasticUsername · 04/09/2015 09:52

Should be fine. Check tin isn't dented or punctured, and that contents appear normal on opening. But yeah, I'd use it without a second thought.

hellsbellsmelons · 04/09/2015 09:56

I usually give tins a year - never 2 years though.
Go out and get your kidney beans.
Chuck the soup away!

BitOutOfPractice · 04/09/2015 09:57

It'll be fine.

CarriesBucketOfBlood · 04/09/2015 09:58

I also think YABU and wouldn't risk it for 50p. Recycle can and contents and don't be too hard on yourself.

AnotherTimeMaybe · 04/09/2015 10:00

If you are up for a good batch of D&V go for it!

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 04/09/2015 10:04

It will be fine. Is it a best before or a use by date? Best before just means it won't be quite as good after that but it will be perfectly safe for a lot longer. Tinned food can last for years and years with no deterioration.

LongDistanceLove · 04/09/2015 10:06

Depends on if it's a 'use by' or 'best before'.

If it's use by, then no its no good. If it's best before, the contents might not be as good but it's still edible.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 04/09/2015 10:06

I would love to know how you get on, its something I'm curious about.

Original poster
MackerelOfFact · 04/09/2015 10:24

I don't this it specified whether it was a use by or a best before - it just has 'SEPT 13' stamped on the bottom. (And I do remember XP ordering a couple of tins in an online shop in about 2009, I had one and didn't particularly enjoy it, so stashed the second one for some kind of emergency situation).

OP posts:
Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 04/09/2015 10:31

If you didn't enjoy it I'd chuck it now, regardless of the date!

CaptainSwan · 04/09/2015 12:48

Could it be a 'made at' date?? hopeful I'd open it, take a look, smell and taste and go from there but realistically it'll be fine.

NerrSnerr · 04/09/2015 12:51

I'd use it if it looks and smells ok.

londonrach · 04/09/2015 12:55

I used to but since dh and my life for 2 weeks had a situation involving us being close to a toilet 24/7. Ok it was an excellent slimming diet i can honestly say it was the worse two weeks of my life and an experience we will never repeat hence why if i was you id pop it in the bin and rebuy.

Squooshed · 04/09/2015 12:59

Couple eat 50 year old tinned chicken

Apaprently they received it as a wedding gift and saved it to eat on their golden anniversary. Party? Hot air balloon ride? Cruise? Nah, crack open the antique tinned chicken and let's really have a party.

They know how to live!

Happfeet2911 · 04/09/2015 13:17

I've eaten tinned food literally 10 years out of date, can't believe people take any notice of the sell by date anyway, we all survived before they invented the stupid things!

LadySheherazade · 04/09/2015 14:08

I wouldn't because it sounds gross and you didn't like it! I would normally though, I used chickpeas about 3 years out of date a few weeks ago. Nothing happened Shock Wink

Bin it and go and buy some proper kidney beans Smile

MajesticWhine · 04/09/2015 14:11

I think I would bin it and I'm not super careful about these things. (If you are several miles from the nearest shop then maybe give it a sniff.. Grin)

rainysunnyday · 04/09/2015 14:23

I don't think there's much in the argument that "people survived" before use by dates. People survived before many things, like seat belts, modern medicine, fridges. It doesn't mean we should just never bother using these things which give us a better quality of life and avoid doing ourselves damage.

Mintyy · 04/09/2015 14:26

I would if I were desperate but I am extremely fortunate in that I am not and can throw away something worth 50p without a second thought (apart from the recycling angst it causes me).

OddSocksHighHeels · 04/09/2015 14:39

It'll be fine but worth buying a new tin if you don't actually like this one. I never check dates on tins and stuff anyway.

wasonthelist · 04/09/2015 14:42

I had a tin of Tuna marked 2011 last weekend - zero ill effects.

gaggiagirl · 04/09/2015 14:44

Guts of Steel was

marshatp · 04/09/2015 14:46

Yes yes yes
Maybe like Worcester Sauce it improves with age
:-)

Original poster
MackerelOfFact · 04/09/2015 14:49

I'm not going to eat it as soup, just to provide the bean element and some added sauce in my veggie chilli. I'll add enough stuff to it to make it taste nice!

I am kind of curious as to what it'll be like but I'm sure it'll be totally fine.

The thought of 50-year-old tinned chicken is making me feel a bit ill though!

OP posts:
ChristineDePisan · 04/09/2015 14:50

I'm pretty slack with BB dates, but this one would be past even me. I'd be worried about the wind (having eaten pulses that have been in the fridge a bit too long before)...

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