marmite: maybe it just keeps getting better?

June 7, 2009 12:12 PM

When does Marmite really expire?

I love Marmite, but I don't want to shell out $7 for another jar when I just found in my pantry a perfectly good, unopened & sealed jar that expired in, oh, say 2005.

So the tag says best by 2005. Buuuut, it's Marmite! What could possibly go wrong? I know "best by" doesn't mean "inedible after." Does anyone have experience eating old Marmite?

posted by MaddyRex to food & drink (16 comments total)

I would say that you should go ahead and simply open the jar and take a bite (note the reaction). If you eat marmite for the flavor then your are already a brave and adventurous soul.
posted by Gravitus at 12:25 PM on June 7

"There's no shelf life on Marmite, there's a best before date on it but it lasts forever, it's antiseptic in fact," Mr Trimble said.

From the guy who makes the adverts, but I'm inclined to believe him, given what's in Marmite.
posted by holgate at 12:25 PM on June 7

I'd wager even an opened 2005-vintage Marmite would still be edible. (I Am Not A Food Scientist, so no guarantees.)
posted by snarfois at 12:48 PM on June 7

For what it's worth, I've eaten years-old Marmite. As long as it's well sealed so that it hasn't dried, I say go for it.
posted by mrmojoflying at 1:12 PM on June 7

I'd eat it. It can't be worse than actual Marmite, right?
(Mmmmarmmmite, gonna go make some on an English Muffin with sardines right now!)
posted by pseudostrabismus at 1:19 PM on June 7

'Best by date' is not the same as 'expiry date'.
posted by fearthehat at 2:14 PM on June 7

I would think it'd be fine. I've eaten pretty elderly marmite - gets a bit dry sometimes and needs a drop of boiling water added, but that's because of exposure to air. Open it and if it's gone off I'd think you'd be able to tell from the smell and the change in texture (assuming that you have previously eaten non-gone-off marmite).
posted by paduasoy at 2:17 PM on June 7

Yes you can eat it. In the worst case it would taste slightly rancid but this will not hurt you.
Due to the high salt content no bacteria/yeast/mold can grow in Marmite (maybe a Halophil organism could but you won't find this in your kitchen).
posted by yoyo_nyc at 3:21 PM on June 7

I find that a jar of Marmite that's been open for more than a few months loses some of its goopiness and goes a bit granular. It also seems slightly less Marmite-y, but still salty. I don't think it will make you ill to eat it, but you might not enjoy the flavor so much.

A co-worker keeps his Marmite in the fridge, but I don't think that will necessarily prolong its life.
posted by vickyverky at 3:28 PM on June 7

I've eaten vegemite that was many years over its due date with no adverse side effects.
posted by Admira at 3:50 PM on June 7

In fact I just checked the best by date of the vegemite I just ate (on toast, with melted butter... mmmm), and it says "Oct07".
posted by Admira at 4:24 PM on June 7

I would totally eat it - one of the main ingredients is salt, and that's a preservative, right?

If it tastes bad or is otherwise dodgy then sure, chuck it away - but if it tastes, smells and looks okay then go hard.
posted by goo at 5:46 PM on June 7

Marmite will go off sometime after the second coming. Until then, enjoy it's salty, folic acidfull goodness.
posted by jb at 8:21 PM on June 7

It will last forever. I'm currently going through an expires-in-2004 jar of Vegemite.

If it tastes bad or is otherwise dodgy then sure, chuck it away

But it tastes bad and looks dodgy to start with!
posted by wrok at 12:29 PM on June 8

But it tastes bad and looks dodgy to start with!

Of course - it's Marmite, not Vegemite!
posted by goo at 5:51 PM on June 9

I did eat the Marmite after all. I survived, but it was, as predicted, not quite as good -- weirdly thicker and with a less delicate (yes delicate, haters) flavor. Oh well. I guess for best results eat no more than ... three years after it expires.
posted by MaddyRex at 12:49 PM on June 20