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Tossing outdated food in the pantry

February 26th, 2011 at 08:41 pm

It's only a can of beans. The one can that hid in the dark recesses of my pantry. I pulled it out and it had expired last year. My rational brain says that it may still be good but my instincts tell me to toss it.

I tossed it without a second thought. You see, if any of you have ever had food poisoning you know why I didn't try to salvage it. It is not worth the risk of being sick for over a week for a .89 cent can of beans.

I will be more diligent in rotating my food pantry as I put the foods that will expire soon in the front so I will use them first. I may write a list of items to use by month in my pantry to remind me of their expiration dates.

The refrigerator was the next place I looked for expired foods. I usually do a good job at using up food in the refrigerator. The only thing I need to use up is a half box of raisins that will expire in April. I am making raisin quick bread today. I noticed I have a half package of dates in there too that need to be eaten by April so I will make a mental note to eat those as snacks next week or make more quick bread with them next weekend.

This month we have been eating pantry foods. Today I made a chicken spaghetti casserole and a spinach quiche to eat on for the weekend.

5 Responses to “Tossing outdated food in the pantry”

  1. Ima saver Says:
    1298753237

    You have inspired me to go thru my pantry too! Thanks!!

  2. Aleta Says:
    1298757145

    I'm afraid of expired foods as well. It's not worth the risk. I put my soon to expire foods in the front too, but I can still forget. I'm thinking about putting a large red star on them like a warning. Can't miss that.

  3. rob62521 Says:
    1298758041

    I always hate it when I have to throw away something expired, but I agree -- better to throw away a can of something than take the chance it can make you sick.

  4. mjrube94 Says:
    1298780450

    I went through the same exercise last weekend. Threw out a jar of molasses that expired in 2008!! Now that I have a fresh start I'm vowing to be better and reduce the amount I waste...Good luck!

  5. Jerry Says:
    1299962870

    My mom-in-law will feed us borderline-expired food all of the time because she is frugal to the nth degree, but I worry that it will lead to serious illness sometime. There is just no insurance that it's still safe, and you cannot always tell whether there are dangerous bacteria by taste or smell...
    Jerry

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