Using Pack IT Gourmet meals past the use by dates.

I guess you know that most plastic or foil and plastic packages are not really intended for long-term storage. That's why they tend to have use by date of a year out, or possibly two years at the very most.

A #10 metal can is different. You can get food sealed that way, and it is almost good forever. Several months ago I opened a can of freeze dried egg powder and have eaten some of it. I don't know exactly how old it is, but I know that I purchased it in a store in 1980.

–B.G.–

I came across a very good sale on mountain house meals and bought a lot. The ones with a clear bag inside the foil pouch. Anyway by the time I used them up some were a couple years (2+) passed the expire date. They took alot longer to rehydrate, some stayed crunchy but still tasted fine. I didn't get sick.
ymmv

Thanks for the replies.

I think I will try one at home and see how it works out :-)

My next post may be from the loo ;-)

They should be fine. As long as they were sealed they have been in a controlled environment. And once opened, just give it the sniff test. Dried food lasts a lot longer than one thinks it would.

Cheers Sarah :-)

The sniff test sounds like a good idea.

Scientific. I swear ;-)

use by date is more about how the food appears, or nutrition

not whether it's safe to eat

so if you don't mind eating it, it should be okay

Hi Sarah,

It does sound like a scientific test indeed :-)

Hi Jerry,

That's good to know.

As Jerry said the "Use by dates" are not about safety. There are only two foods in the US that the FDA requires a "Use by date", baby formula and baby food. All others are at the discretion of the manufacturer. It really is a great marketing tool for the manufacturer because so many people are afraid to use after the date and throwout perfectly good food and then buy more. The Army ran an ad campaign to convince the wives living on bases to stop throwing out past date food.

I had some of the tortilla soup yesterday for lunch while I was working out some kinks with my cookset at home. It expired May 2013. I'm still here…not sick…

All very good info.