If you use after the date...is there a possibility the contents could be rotten? Or is it just a date that says to use by a date to guarantee the best taste?
I am curious, because I am making out my shopping list for thanksgiving dinner and as I do inventory, I have some sweet potatoes and canned pumpkin that is out dated on the can. I am wondering if I can still use it this year.
2008-11-24T17:50:32Z
The dates on my cans vary...I have a few that are dated 09/08, 04/08 and the sweet potatoes (or yams) date as far back to 10/05.
jenny2008-11-24T17:52:06Z
Favorite Answer
I depends on the wording:
Best if used by and use by dates are mostly for taste. You're going to be pretty safe if it's just a few months over the best or use by date. that's what most cans have on them.
If the expiration date has passed, toss it out.
Sell by or pull by dates are usually for stores to stop selling a product at that date, although it's still ok to eat for a bit afterward.
Whatever it says on there, if you open it up and it looks, smells, or tastes funny, it's best to throw it out.
The 2008 ones are probably fine, but I wouldn't use the 2005 one.
If they were properly canned and the cans have not been damaged, then there should be no problem. Here's the catch. Were they properly canned? Is there a small amount of damage that might be normally unnoticed? Usually the canning process wasn't completely without error.
Why take chances? Also if you cook anything well enough, you'll kill anything you need to. Not that you would enjoy eating it, but it would be dead and safe.