Use by dates!!

[Allloveisbeautiful]

I have some sultanas and ground almonds use by end of Jan 23-should I chuck them or are they ok for scones and other baking?!

It's usually 'best before' and not use by on things like that but anyway I would have no problem using the dried fruit assuming it still looks ok, sometimes it gets a bit drier if that's possible so maybe rehydrate in a bit of boiling water before adding to scones. Nuts however do go off after a while because of the fats in them but if the ground almonds still smell and look ok then I'd use them in baking too no problem. I always keep my ground almonds and all nuts really other than pack I'm using in the freezer so they last.

The sultanas can go in bread and butter or rice pudding. Or mixed with apple in a crumble, pie or whatever.

The ground almonds can go in the freezer for now for ages. Sprinkled into an apple or pear flan it will be good. Christmas is coming so mixed into Christmas cake as a sub for a bit of the flour. And of course, orange and almond make a wonderful cake.

Use by date are a load of rubbish! I never check them. I wish they'd get rid of them.

Thanks all! I’m using for scones. Also have custard powder, tinned rice pudding and condensed milk-all past their dates but I hate throwing things out!

Tins last pretty much for ever - well years anyway. So if near their date just use them. No churn ice cream is good for condensed milk. Eat the rice pudding (tart it up with the ground almonds and nuts and brown sugar). Custard powder doesn't go off...

@Allloveisbeautiful all that will keep. It sounds like a miserable Sunday in January can be made very cheerful.

Sound like a best before rather than a use by date. It will be an issue of quality rather than safety if you use them past that date

Update-I made some lovely scones last night with the sultanas! First time so pretty pleased with my effort!

Taste the almonds, they can go rancid.

@Georgyporky will do!

Custard powder is very flammable though! So don’t store near an ignition source

(look up the birds custard factory fire)