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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nearly killed my family

92 replies

HoorayItsToday · 19/08/2019 23:04

(light hearted, but true!)

So .... Couple of weeks ago I made a roast for my DH and 2 DCs. There were no gravy granuals left so I searched the cupboard as I was sure we had more hidden somewhere! Found another tub which was open! Yey! Happily made some gravy.

Gravy smelt a bit mouldy/musty! But I thought maybe it was meant to smell like this and I must be imagining there's something wrong, I'm sure it's fine. I asked DH if gravy smelt ok, he said yes. He and the DCs devoured it!

Yesterday I made a roast and got the same tub from the cupboard. Have no idea why, but decided to check the best before date. Aaaaaaagggghhh ... It was best before November 2015!!!!

DH and DCs both seem to have survived the incident and are none the wiser

Am I being unreasonable to think I almost killed them by serving up 4 year old gravy!!!! (Blush)

OP posts:
Happyspud · 19/08/2019 23:06

Just goes to show there’s probably no food in the granules even bacteria want to eat.

TheoriginalLEM · 19/08/2019 23:08

Lol you're just rehydrating cardboard anyhow Grin

Justme1234567 · 19/08/2019 23:10

This made me chuckle 😂

Finfintytint · 19/08/2019 23:11

Best before means just that. It will have reverted to a tasteless entity.
Stop using that shite Grin

frogsoup · 19/08/2019 23:12

Im sure it'd still be fine in another ten years too, or even 30! If it isnt wet, it wont go mouldy.

DrFoxtrot · 19/08/2019 23:12

YABU GrinGrin you were merely using up your store cupboard.

arethereanyleftatall · 19/08/2019 23:12

I've just opened my larder to check mine out of interest. July 2008.

Original poster
HoorayItsToday · 19/08/2019 23:14

arethereanyleftatall - GrinGrin that makes me feel better!!

OP posts:
Grandmi · 19/08/2019 23:34

I have regularly given my family food from cupboard with ridiculous sell by dates ...we have all survived 😊

PerkingFaintly · 19/08/2019 23:35

Instant coffee granules, on the other hand, acquire a subtle tinge of blue when they're four years a little out of date.

Taste is affected slightly.

Go on, ask me how I know.Blush

kateandme · 19/08/2019 23:36

sell by dates are bullshit.

Fleetheart · 19/08/2019 23:38

It’s best before; not really anything to poison you. Meanwhile my daughter is driving me mad not using olive oil that was best before Oct 2018. It is PERFECTLY alright. She would rather throw it out and buy new. Complete waste of money.

SummerPlace · 19/08/2019 23:46

This is off topic, and I do realise you are being facetious, but with a roast do you really need gravy granules? Just make it with pan drippings and plain flour. I am a lousy cook and even I can do that.

saraclara · 20/08/2019 00:03

2015 is almost new by the standards of my store cupboard

NCpreggo · 20/08/2019 00:04

It must have tasted alright. Best befores are a load of rubbish anyway, gravy granules don't really go off. It takes me years to get through a pack of gravy powder (don't roast often) and it's always fine even at the end!
Use it up I say Smile

TwoPupsandaHamster · 20/08/2019 00:06

Why do you need granules to make gravy for a roast?

SingingBabooshkaBadly · 20/08/2019 00:10

I once found several pots of dried herbs and spices in my uncle’s kitchen that were over twenty years past their best before date! I’d been attracted to them by what I thought was some lovely retro packaging. They can’t have been imparting any flavour at all...

abbey44 · 20/08/2019 00:17

I can beat that - I found some tuna steaks at the bottom of the freezer last week, sell by November 2012. Dog stole one and ate it raw, I generously cooked the other one for her. She's survived.

OhGodWhatTheHellNow · 20/08/2019 00:17

Is this a generational thing? The young women I work with (20s to my 50s) are always tutting over the dates in the staffroom fridge...

Disclaimer: I have a diploma in advanced food hygiene and still cheerfully cut the mould off cheese! Grin

confusedandemployed · 20/08/2019 00:18

I thought you were going to say you'd served up dissolved rat poison....

quitefranklyivehadenough · 20/08/2019 00:18

Don't worry @HoorayItsToday I've got a tub of medium curry powder I. The cupboard that's best before Aug 1999. I use half a teaspoon whenever I cane Carrot and Coriander soup. It should be gone in another 3 years 😂😂. The joke is it's older than 4 of my kids 😂 x

PasDeGeeGees · 20/08/2019 00:19

I have a spice rack that we were given for a wedding present in 1983 and several jars are still going strong Grin

DramaAlpaca · 20/08/2019 00:23

Meh, I wouldn't have thought twice about using that. It might have deteriorated in quality ever so slightly but it's so processed there won't be anything remotely unsafe about it.

And yes, I'm sure it's a generational thing. I keep encouraging my 20-something DCs to trust their noses not these modern, new-fangled use by dates.

NCpreggo · 20/08/2019 00:28

Don't think it's a generational thing. I'm 30 ish (!) and go by my nose rather than dates, have no qualms about hacking off some mould.

Various older relatives will chuck stuff without even opening it though if it's past the date on the pack.

Greeborising · 20/08/2019 00:31

I only ever check expiry dates on spices when we move house.
I once found some paprika that was 11 years past it’s sell by date.
Drop the mike

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