- #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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SUMMARY
The discussion centers around the safety and practicality of consuming a ten-year-old can of lima beans. Participants unanimously advise against eating the beans, citing potential health risks and the diminished quality of food over time. They suggest that canned goods, while possibly safe if the can is intact, should not be consumed after such a long period. Instead, they recommend discarding the beans or using them for decorative purposes, emphasizing that the cost of a new can is negligible compared to health risks.
PREREQUISITES- Understanding of food safety standards
- Knowledge of canned food shelf life
- Familiarity with the effects of food aging on quality
- Awareness of potential health risks associated with expired food
- Research food safety guidelines for canned goods
- Learn about the shelf life of various canned foods
- Explore the effects of aging on food quality and safety
- Investigate proper disposal methods for expired food items
This discussion is beneficial for food safety enthusiasts, home cooks, and anyone interested in understanding the implications of consuming outdated canned goods.
- #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.