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Soup Base Expiration

26K views 18 replies 13 participants last post by  tinknal  
#1 ·
A couple years ago I got a great deal at Amazon on soup base. Bought a box of both chicken and beef - six big jars to a box. I use it a lot but still have three left of each. The jars say that they expired last summer. I've been using it anyway and it tastes fine. I looked it up online and sources say soup base is good for 10 years. I'd hate to waste good stuff -- what do you think?
 
#2 ·
I would use it, I use expired stuff as long as I know it was stored in a cool dry place.

I'm using some veggie bullion and have never even looked at the date - figure there's so much salt that not much can go wrong with it.
 
#3 ·
Could you mix it with water to the strength you llike and can it in pints for future use? Or mix it with broth you already have and can it? Then it will keep past the jarred date of expiration. don't know.......
 
#4 ·
Soup base has a lot of fat in it - you can tell if it's gone bad by the smell and taste. I'd still use it if it smells ok. You boil whatever you cook with it, right? That should kill any bacteria that might have grown in it. Like Jokarva said, the salt acts as a preservative.
 
#6 ·
"SIGH", OK once again, except for dairy food does not expire!

It is a "sell by" or "best if used by" date. It is arbitrary and created by the manufacturer to move product.
 
#11 ·
"SIGH", OK once again, except for dairy food does not expire!

It is a "sell by" or "best if used by" date. It is arbitrary and created by the manufacturer to move product.
I know that. Don't you sigh at me like that. :)

Actually I think the lids say "best if used by June 2010."

When I see the "best if used by" I'm more than willing to let some time slip by that date, but I thought a year might be excessive. With other products, it might.
 
#12 ·
I know that. Don't you sigh at me like that. :)

Actually I think the lids say "best if used by June 2010."

When I see the "best if used by" I'm more than willing to let some time slip by that date, but I thought a year might be excessive. With other products, it might.
A big clue is where they store it in the store. If it is stored on a shelf vs a refrigerator case or freezer it will likely never go "bad" except of course for fresh produce or bakery goods. It may lose quality, but it isn't going to poison you. If it tastes OK then it is OK.