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Question by demelo: How long does an un-opened can of pasta sauce last past its expiration date?
I have an un-opened can of fire-roasted tomato & garlic pasta sauce. It’s seal is still good, but, the ‘best by’ date is May 2001 (it’s now July 2008). Can I still use it?
Best answer:
Answer by JAN
Expired means expired, it is no good any more. It is now July 2010.
Please do not eat it. When canned vegetables go bad they do not always smell or appear to look any different then normal but they can be very dangerous to consume. Look up botulism, it can make the flu sound good.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Pasta in tomatoes sauce
Image by HatM
Pasta in tomatoes sauce
Although i highly agree with Jan you should smell it and make up your own mind…..It’ll be the answer you’re searching for…
expired means expired…. it’s 2010, and i wouldn’t risk eating anything past it’s expiration date. it’s just no worth it!
I wouldn’t use it. Not only is pasta sauce quite affordable but it’s10 years expired,
we are now in June 2010 .. furthermore you are asking this in the alcohol section.
When tomatoes go bad, they can kill. All it would have taken is for one little bacteria to survive the canning process and now the can will be full of them. And it may not be something you can taste or see. One clue is if the top is slightly bulging out — that definitely means spoilage. Nevertheless, with a tomato product I would not take any chances myself.
It just means that you should eat it as soon as possible. Hurry!
First, I would take it out of the can and place it in a non-reactive bowl. Glass or ceramic would be best for two reasons: 1. It is not reactive and 2 it will wash better than plastic (if you use plasitc, you’ll have an orange plastic bowl forever).
If you leave it in the can the acidity of the tomato will react with the can itself and give you a nasty tinny taste. A non-reactive bowl will eliminate this issue and allow you to consider the other storage requirements.
It should be covered with the least amount of air in the container as possible. You know how you cool a pudding with the plastic wrap pushed into contact with the pudding so it won’t “grow” a skin? Well, sauce won’t form a skin, but it will oxidize and create an off taste that can easily be avoided by pushing the plastic wrap down onto the surface of the sauce. Again, plastic or wax paper or parchment… not aluminum foil.
Once it is open, I’d store it much like I’d store a “fresh” or homemade sauce. If I were planning to use it within a week, I’d leave it in the fridge. If not, into the freezer where it will last for much longer…. months, even….
Bon Appetit!
If the can is unopened and is not dveloping a bubble in the can or lid, then it can last a long time. If botulism has been in the can then a large bubble will develop. This is a dangerous bacteria that produces toxins to the nervous system.
You can use it. As long as the seal isn’t broken, canned and jarred foods can last for years. The date is not an expiration date, it is a best before date – meaning it will taste the best before that date, but it will not expire.
These types of foods are meant to last years and years, that is why they tell us to stock up on canned goods during an emergency.