Just found a ten-year-old can of lima beans

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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.
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Should I eat them?
 
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I doubt they will kill you, but they can make you leaky.
 
I would just toss them.
 
Math Is Hard said:
Should I eat them?
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"!
 
Treat yourself...go out and buy some yummy frozen lima beans :biggrin:!
 
Math Is Hard said:
Should I eat them?
:smile: SIS! Yes, but wait until I send you my 10 year old capers to go with them.
 
I would string them and put them on the Christmas tree!
 
hypatia said:
I would string them and put them on the Christmas tree!
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!
 
You are making something for your coworkers too ... ?
 
  • #10
rootX said:
You are making something for your coworkers too ... ?
Something with Lima beans? The plot sickens.
 
  • #11
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
Math Is Hard said:
Should I eat them?
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.
 
  • #13
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
NO, don't eat them! It doesn't matter how old they are, lima beans should only be used for decoration, never eaten!
 
  • #15
I think Chi's advice was very practical!
 
  • #16
Math Is Hard said:
I think Chi's advice was very practical!

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
So putting them in the canned goods collection box for the needy would be wrong, I take it?
 
  • #18
Evo said:
:smile: SIS! Yes, but wait until I send you my 10 year old capers to go with them.

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
There were documented incidents of canned meat being still fit for consumption after being buried in the permafrost for 75 years.
 
  • #21
Sell them on Ebay. With the proceeds, buy two cans and stash them away for 10 years.
 
  • #22
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?
 
  • #23
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.
 
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  • #24
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
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
Hmmm, I have a bottle of 1998 Chateauneuf du pape. Should I serve it my guests? (I don't drink wine anymore)
 
  • #27
Andre said:
Hmmm, I have a bottle of 1998 Chateauneuf du pape. Should I serve it my guests? (I don't drink wine anymore)
NO, you should send it to me:wink:
 
  • #28
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!).

Math Is Hard 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.

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
Math Is Hard 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.

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
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.
 
  • #31
I hate lima beans.
 
  • #32
Integral said:
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?
An old friend of mine was a drinker - he taught me how to make killer home-brew. He was also a collector, and I'd like to know what happened to that unopened case of Billy Beer in his bar after he died. It might still be kicking around somewhere.
 
  • #33
physics girl phd 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).

I think I can contribute some more than 10 year old spices. Even when I move, those don't get cleared out, because I just grab handfuls from the spice cabinet and toss them into boxes without looking. I KNOW there must be some old spices buried in the cupboard that shouldn't be used anymore (probably not harmful, just flavorless by now). Yes, I think some are from the spice rack my mom gave me when I moved into my first apartment, and they were probably already old then, because I don't think she bought it for me, just gave me something someone gave her as a gift and was just collecting dust. Some of those are spices I just don't use, but never threw out. And then there are those spices you buy for one recipe that you make once a year on special occasions, and even after 10 years, you still have half a bottle left, plus another new bottle because you had to buy them again when you couldn't find the old one buried SOMEWHERE in the pantry.
 
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