- #1
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Should I eat them?
Just found a ten-year-old can of lima beans
- Thread starter Math Is Hard
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The discussion revolves around the safety and practicality of consuming canned lima beans, particularly those that are significantly past their expiration date. Participants express skepticism about eating such old canned goods, suggesting that while they may not be immediately harmful, the quality and taste would likely be compromised. Many advocate for discarding the beans rather than risking health for the sake of saving money. There are humorous exchanges about the age of various food items, with anecdotes about old canned goods and spices, emphasizing a general consensus that items beyond a certain age should not be consumed. The conversation also touches on the idea of using old food items for decorative purposes rather than consumption, highlighting a light-hearted approach to the topic. Overall, the consensus leans towards caution and the recommendation to avoid eating old canned lima beans.
- #2
Borek
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I doubt they will kill you, but they can make you leaky.
- #3
Sorry!
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I would just toss them.
- #4
turbo
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Wow! I have underwear (and T-shirts) that old, but not canned goods. Discard now! The cost of a can of Lima beans is not comparable to the value of your life. Of course, if you were an enemy instead of a friend, I might say "sure"!Math Is Hard said:
- #5
lisab
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Treat yourself...go out and buy some yummy frozen lima beans 
!
!- #6
Evo
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Math Is Hard said:
SIS! Yes, but wait until I send you my 10 year old capers to go with them.- #7
hypatia
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I would string them and put them on the Christmas tree!
- #8
turbo
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Please don't string them and place them outside for the birds. They might get sick. When I was a kid, we would string popcorn and cranberries to trim our Christmas trees, and when we took down our tree, we would save those garlands to decorate our outside trees. The birds loved it and visited all winter!hypatia said:
- #9
rootX
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You are making something for your coworkers too ... ?
- #10
turbo
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Something with Lima beans? The plot sickens.rootX said:
- #11
Evo
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I can't believe there is such a difference between green lima beans (which taste like a cross between cardboard and sneakers) and dried white lima beans which cook into a velvety, buttery taste and consistency.
- #12
Chi Meson
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One should never eat canned lima beans. But, instead of tossing them, pretend you have just bought a new can and put them away for another 10 years. Saves a dollar, same effect.Math Is Hard said:
- #13
edward
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The only thing ten year old lima beans would go good with is a ten year old can of Spam.
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- #14
Moonbear
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NO, don't eat them! It doesn't matter how old they are, lima beans should only be used for decoration, never eaten!
- #15
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I think Chi's advice was very practical!
- #16
Moonbear
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Math Is Hard said:
Just keep in mind that if you put them away for another 10 years, if the can starts to swell, toss it out before it explodes! The only thing worse than eating 10 year old lima beans would be cleaning up exploded older-than-10-year-old lima beans.
- #17
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So putting them in the canned goods collection box for the needy would be wrong, I take it?
- #18
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Evo said:
I am thinking one of us has some food product in a can or jar that is older than the youngest member at PF.
- #19
hamster143
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There were documented incidents of canned meat being still fit for consumption after being buried in the permafrost for 75 years.
- #20
TurtleMeister
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As long as the can is intact and not dented, it should be safe to eat. However, the quality of the food, such as color, taste, and texture may suffer.
http://www.foodreference.com/html/tcannedfoodshelflife.html
http://www.foodreference.com/html/tcannedfoodshelflife.html
- #21
Phrak
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Sell them on Ebay. With the proceeds, buy two cans and stash them away for 10 years.
- #22
Integral
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While cleaning out my father-in-laws garage we found a 6 pack of Coors with a note "From about 1970" Needless to say grandpa was not much of a beer drinker!
Need some beer for that capers and lima bean dinner?
Need some beer for that capers and lima bean dinner?
- #23
GeorginaS
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I didn't think that canned goods perished unless, as TurtleMeister pointed out, the can's integrity is interrupted.
However, I agree with Chi Meson that one ought not eat canned lima beans in the first place.
However, I agree with Chi Meson that one ought not eat canned lima beans in the first place.
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- #24
Phrak
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I ate some uncanned WWII chocolate field rations when I was kid. It didn't taste like chocolate. It must have been 40 years old.
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- #25
zoobyshoe
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I think you should eat them and post an hour by hour update of how you're feeling. I think that'd be really scientific!
- #26
Andre
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Hmmm, I have a bottle of 1998 Chateauneuf du pape. Should I serve it my guests? (I don't drink wine anymore)
- #27
hypatia
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NO, you should send it to meAndre said:
- #28
physics girl phd
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Eww - and I thought my 2-year old canned turkey gravy (bought to make then leftover thanksgiving turkey in open faced sandwiches) was bad (and yes -- we did throw out the turkey before even using the yuck-o canned gravy, which is why it's still there!).
Now that you come to think of it... having food in my house older than our little E seems wrong... well, other than staples --- things like flour and seasonings don't seem to count (although at one point I had seasonings older than I was when my mother gave me her "spice rack" for college... the one that she got when she married dad, and some of the spices seemed untouched).
Math Is Hard said:
Now that you come to think of it... having food in my house older than our little E seems wrong... well, other than staples --- things like flour and seasonings don't seem to count (although at one point I had seasonings older than I was when my mother gave me her "spice rack" for college... the one that she got when she married dad, and some of the spices seemed untouched).
- #29
Borek
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Math Is Hard said:
I have a small jar of ginger powder that I got from my Dad.
My Dad died back in July 1991, so ginger must be over 18.
- #30
Jimmy Snyder
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It's probably already been said, but I'll just pile on. Everyone will tell you the same thing. Toss them out. If you want a spectrum of opinions, you need to talk about a new can of Lima beans.