To Use Out of date Oats?

[BlackCatJourney]

Just going to make some flapjacks as I know I have some porridge oats in the cupboard. Just got them out and it says Best Before Dec 2017
They look ok, can they go off?
Thoughts please wise ones...

They will be fine!

Really? Oh good. Its only me and DH eating them. (Or the birds if they taste dodgy)

Go for it

Check for bugs, if none, go ahead.

Bugs

You'll live

"Best before" means they may not taste as good but are still OK to eat. It's not the same as a use by date which means that the food may go off.

According to a prepper website, oats can be stored for up to 30 years.

They'll be absolutely fine. It's just best before, not even use by!!

Bugs Don't worry about bugs. They're not a usual hazard of oars, especially if they've been in a closed packet. Just apply the same level of vigilance as you would to any other foodstuff.

oats not oars

I've just made oat and syrup cookies with ancient oats. They are fine.

I made the flapjacks, added some raisins and they look lovely. Still too hot to eat at the moment. Thanks everyone

Urgh no. I did this once and had terrible food poisoning. The worst I’ve ever had in my life. Really violent vomiting, felt exhausted for days after.
The oats were about 18 months out of date. They did smell off but I stupidly made flapjack thinking the smell would go away!

I made some honey flapjacks for the ravenous teens, the oats had a date of Dec 2016. They were fine. Quite tasty, which was just as well as we have no flour to make anything else.

Who knows - in months to come with occasional food shortages, we'll all start being more realistic with what we eat. If it looks ok and smells ok and isn't obviously "off", there is no reason not to use it.

Oh no @RaisinsRuinEverything that sounds awful!
Too late now we've eaten some! They taste fine, if a little soft, maybe they needed a bit longer in the oven.
🤞 we wont be poisoned 😁

@SluggishSnail you've made me feel better. Your oats were older than mine😁

If the oats smelled and tasted ok you’ll probably be fine. Hope so anyway. I was stupid and ate them when I knew they were off!

if they smell ok (no fusty or mouse shit smell) and are not crawling with weevils they are absolutely fine.