I've been told I'm disgusting. I am actually feeling quite smug! (Lighthearted)

[AuntMatilda]

My Mum manages some properties as a part time job, her boss is an old friend. One tenant had left and returned to his home country (Egypt) and I went to help her clear the flat

He had left LOADS of food. Mostly sealed, in packets, some dried food (lentils, grains, pasta etc) in jars or huge tupperware containers.

Lots of (sealed) huge bags of herbs and spices.

I've taken the lot.

My opinion is, I hate food waste, the stuff that has already been opened and decanted into another container is dried stuff that will need to be boiled before consumption anyway, and the other stuff is sealed.
So I'm feeling smug about having lots of free food (I love cooking)! and also happy to be 'recycling'.
My Brother and some of my friends I've told have told me things like this is disgusting having someones 'second hand food' and that I should have chucked it all.

My only issue is, I don't know what some of it is. I am currently making a 'risotto' with some grain type thing -looks a bit like a cross between rice and bulgar wheat! So a few surprise dinners to come I think.
Am I gross or economical?

Gross, sorry . You don't even know what it is!

you should have chucked it. You have no idea if it has been opened and resealed, or how it has been stored, or anything. it would have been different if he had been there to ask.

Economical.

If have taken the sealed packets of stuff.

I'd have left the rest though cos you don't know how old it is or if it's been dropped ok the floor and swept up and put back in the jar etc

The stuff that was sealed was definitely sealed (I could tell by the packet, the sort that dry pasta comes in). Of the other stuff, I think lentils and beans etc have a very long use by date don't they?

Ah well if I'm gross I'm gross

It could be medicine or hair dye for all you know!

Gross

Good point Giles. I don't think I would have done it if the flat was a mess or dirty but it was immaculate, we didn't have to clean anything at all, he was obviously a hygienic person.

I'd have done the same. Most of this sounds like the sort of stuff that takes a while to go off, and won't actually hurt you even if it is a bit 'off'.

Though I hope you don't accidently end up flavouring a casserole with this bloke's dried marijuana stash...

I know what MOST of it is or at least have a fair idea.

I'd probably have ditched the stuff where I wasn't sure what it was, but pasta? Lentils? You can tell by looking at them whether they're ok to eat and, as you say, they get boiled to within an inch of their life before they get eaten anyway. I'd have taken that stuff too.

I think the OP can tell the difference between packets of pasta and medicine/hair dye

I maybe got carried away with the 'Ooooh what's this' novelty I admit!
I read the marujana comment and was going to reply 'he's a doctor' then realised that most likely means beggar all :)

I'd have taken the sealed stuff.

You might be using budgie seed to make that risotto.

Cheap, cheep! 🐦 🐦

see what I did there?

I'd have taken the sealed stuff, but not the rest. I wouldn't judge you though. I think of myself as fairly paranoid cautious!

Is it really worth the risk of making yourself possible ill for the sake of saving a few quid on lentils?

Economical OP.
Enjoy your surprise dinners!

Budgie seed!

Okay well if I don't post for a while it could be because I've poisoned myself or ingested some scientific experiment's result, get worried

I read the marujana comment and was going to reply 'he's a doctor' then realised that most likely means beggar all

Probably something a touch stronger than marujana in that case.

Dried and packet stuff why not. I dislike waste too.
Are you cooking with Orzo? It looks like rice but is pasta.

Packet of pasta yes but a nice pack of dried herbs and lemons - spices or tea for high blood pressure? I've got sole lovely packs of 'mixed herbs' which I get sent over from the ME and trust me, you would be sick if you cooked them up and ate them. It's actually traditional teas made from roots and flower petals for high blood pressure and insomnia.

We used to do this when we worked on a holiday park in France. People would leave all sorts behind and as they'd only been there a week or two it was safe to assume everything was in date!

That is not something I would do.
But I wound not judge.
I would not come round for tea either. 🤣

Why would eating food that somebody else bought be disgusting?

Is it because it's a little bit foreign unusual? Would eat a tin of beans that someone had left or a box of pringles?

Sounds awesome op and fun!

I'd be just as excited as you. Of course it's not gross!