To think that raisins that are 9 years past their best before date might not be ok?

[snickersnack]

That was not a typo.

Visiting the in-laws this weekend, I found my MIL feeding the children raisins - I went to put the packet away and thought it was strange I didn't recognise the Sainsbury logo. Turns out they were best before June 1999. She has a reputation for being a bit cavalier with food (even by my standards - I find some of her methods fairly ) but I thought this was probably somewhat over the top.

When I suggested to her that it might be an idea to throw the bag away she told me she hates waste and would use them in a cake. The children seem none the worse for their close encounter with fossilised fruit, though.

Had they been opened for 9 years, or did she open them specially for the occasion?

mils are bonkers

yuk!

My mum is exactly the same. I remember raisins etc just like this. The sugar crystallises and they go a bit sticky, but I'm still alive 40 odd years later!

If she soaks them in alcohol for a while they'll be absolutely yummy in a cake.

No mawbroon - they'd been open for several years judging by the manky state of the rubber band used to keep the bag closed.
This is the woman who served me oysters on New Years Day then told me she'd asked some friends to pick them up in France 4 days before Christmas...

Hmm, gosh, just realised best before 1999 means that they were probably from a couple of years before that as they have quite a long date on them!!

I think ok for a cake tbh, and probably ok to eat, but unless it was eat them or starve, I don't think I would give them to the kids...

urgh

my gran used to do this, now, as my parents get older i find myself inspecting the cereal box best before date before choosing it. can be a bit hit or miss on that front.

i'm probably the other end of the scale, though, so am probably being unreasonable with my 'best before' obsession.

raisins prob ok, but not tasty the oysters sond yuck!

urgh!

When I cleared out my mum's cupboard, I found some bicarb that cost 2 1/2 D (as in OLD MONEY!) and tons of things that didn't even have sell by dates on them - twere before they were invented.

The LOT went in the bin. Much to my mother's dismay, she said she'd been saving them for a special occasion. So two marriages, a divorce and five fecking grandchildren aren't fecking well special then? aaarrggh!!

My mum would say they're just coming into their prime.

Reminds me of first time dh came to tea at our house in 1981. My mum got out a tin of salmon with the price still on. 8/11d. That's 8 shillings and 11 pence to those of you who don't remember old money. About 45p.
(Decimalisation was 1971)

lol
I occassionally find herbs etc in my cupboadrs that are 4 or 5 (ok or 6 or 7) years out of date but that's about it.
Mind you i did find some pizza bases, BB 2003 in the cupboards a few months ago, we only moved in here in November 2007, so I must have picked them up, thought "hmm, only 4 years out of date, I'll take those"

When packing up to move I mean...

it's the way I tell 'em!

My mil doesn't believe in sell by dates or best before dates. She has kill by dates. I've been offered chocolate that has gone white because of its' age, and even ds wouldn't eat the peanut butter as it was rancid.

Old raisins would be fine.
I might give the oysters a miss though!

LOL at SPB packing the 4 year old pizza bases.

I know someone who when packing to move house started to empty the cupboard full of tinned fruit etc and the cans were so old they were disintegrating as she picked them up yeeeuch!