To ask about Chicken stock cubes

[timeandtide]

I've run out of chicken stock cubes. I've found a couple at the back of my cupboard but the best before date is Dec 15. Would you still use them?

[StarryIllusion]

Timeandtide I just really like the taste. I drink it when I'm not well mostly. Some people drink chicken soup, I drink oxo cubes. Although I also have been known to eat a spoonful of gravy granules so I wouldn't necessarily take my habits as sane and normal

[Allalonenow]

I would think that most chicken stock cubes are flavouring (e-numbers) and salt with some herbs, so are fine to use for many years after the UBD. Though you might need to use more than one cube if the flavour has faded a little. Make some up, and see what you think.

Years ago before UBDs, all sorts of items were stored in cupboards indefinately, ketchup, pickles, were simply kept until used up.

Worcestershire sauce was believed to improve with age, and if you had a bottle passed down from your Grandmama, you would bring it out with honour on your Bloody Mary tray!

[FurryLittleTwerp]

Just chuck them in why even look at the date?

[timeandtide]

dame I suppose it's kind of the same! I'd never thought of it like that before!

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Yeah, my friend drinks Bovril. Blerk!

[timeandtide]

You drink it starry?

Pray tell why!

[Tinkfromlovejoy]

I wouldn't, but then a very slightly over ripe raspberry gives me the shits
If you're of normal constitution then it'll be fine.

[StarryIllusion]

If it hasn't turned into a rubbery lump of mould, it's fine.

I drink chicken stock and cannot say I've ever had any long enough for it it go off but I've used out of date pork stock and that was ok.

[Tryingtostayyoung]

I would

[user1467101855]

Yes.

I wouldn't put this question in aibu though

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

It's the bones that give it the taste and that's good for you- I forget why.

I've tried Kallo cubes, I needed to use about 4 for flavour and I don't over salt food normally

[BarbaraofSeville]

So people go on about home made stock being healthier, because stock cubes are full of salt, but home made stock only tastes good if you put loads of salt and pepper in it?

I don't have a pressure cooker or a slow cooker and do get naice farm shop chickens, but I will continue to put the bones in the bin and use my Kallo stock cubes.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Home made stock is gorgeous IF it's done for hours and hours and HOURS and usually best in a pressure cooker. Not the ' bung it in a slow cooker for a few hours' which posters talk about on here. Also helps to have a really tasty chicken from the butcher. And you need to add salt and pepper- loads of it!


So I use Knor gel pots

[BarbaraofSeville]

I disagree about homemade stock. Tastes like shit, makes a god awful mess, costs a bloody fortune in fuel and stock veg. I'm a good cook but have given up with stock - life's too short.

I spotted Kallo organic low salt chicken stock cubes being sold off for about 30 p in our local Asda and bought about 6 packets so am good for far nicer tasting chicken stock for a good while .

[timeandtide]

Didn't have the time housewife

[Housewife2010]

Home-made stock is far nicer.

[Notthebumtroll]

It would to even occur to me to NOT use them! There's nothing in them to do you any harm, AND you're going to be boiling it

[Tiggeryoubastard]

A chicken stock cube should last you years on Mumsnet, after all, you can get 8 meals for 6 adults from a poussin.

[Farandole]

Yep agree with Barbara, I use stuff after the BB or UB dates all the time. If it's not smelly or mouldy, it's probably fine. I have yet to poison anyone :)

[tibbawyrots]

I use my own judgement with food. The marmite I had on toast today was bbe sept 2013. 🧀

[BarbaraofSeville]

Six months past BBE is nothing. They will probably be fine at 6 years past the use by date. Marmite is correct, people are very odd about use by dates on here.

BBE dates, and even Use by dates are very conservative and designed to make you throw the product away and buy more or ensure there is absolutely no chance of it going bad within date, even if treat badly (left in car for hours, poorly performing fridge etc).

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

They'll be fine.

[whois]

Stock cubes are probbaly fine - would expect them to just not be as flavourful.

[timeandtide]

I'll use them then! Thanks ladies (and gents!)

[booklooker]

it's probably 90% salt. That's unlikely to go off.

The remainder will be just synthetic chemicals, also unlikely to go.