Using out of date fruit for Christmas cake?

[pitterpatteroftinyfeet]

Just looking through the cupboards and I've got currants and sultanas from "best before Oct 23" - they're almost full bags, feels a bit of a shame to throw them out but then again not sure I want to use them... What would you do?

I’d use them

I'd have used them whatever the date. Dried fruit lasts forever.

Taste them because out of date fruit doesn't go 'off' in a food poisoning way. They only age, so the risk isn't you'll make anyone sick it's that they won't taste nice.
Specifically they may have oxidised (depends on storage conditions).
So taste it. If you go 'hmm tastes like a raisin' go ahead... If you go 'urgh that's bitter ' chuck them.

Yes I'd use them. Wouldn't even blink with dried fruit.

If you bought them loose, they wouldn't have a date on.

So you'd use your senses - sight, smell, taste - to check if they were still edible.

And Oct 23 is living memory for dried fruit so I'd be amazed if they didn't taste perfect.

They are only a few weeks past their date, so will be fine to use.
If you think they have dried out a little, soak them in a bowl of tea or apple juice or Guinness to perk them up.

To be honest I don't think I've ever checked the date of dried fruit before using, working on the principle that drying is a preserving technique, I would use them and not give it a second thought.

Thanks everyone, I used all the old bits and bobs from the cupboard and we all survived! ;)

Well you have so far ................

I am wary of using nuts that are out of date as they go rancid (high oil content )
Eggs I'll use about 3 weeks past if they smell ok , not to fry as they are more watery but fine to bake .

My Dad didn't go by UseBy Dates , in his day you never threw anything out though being a child in Post War Rationing I don't think many things did go OOD .

He only once got ill , that was Christmas turkey probably eaten a week later . And that was years ago .

With dried fruit I'd soak it in a hefty dose of Amarretto

I would keep it until I was ready to use it, whenever that might be. Even if they eventually end up a little dried out a soak in something would sort that out.

If I was ever concerned about griblies, 24 hours in the freezer would sort that out.