Soybeans can't make anybody sick, right?

June 22, 2010 5:24 PM

Did I just mess up my curry with these expired canned soybeans?

So, I'm making a fantastic curry, right? And I open up a can of soybeans to add. It's a new brand, so I don't think too much of the fact that the water that comes out of the tin is thicker than typical, and the beans themselves are pretty soft. I rinse them and dump them in. And then, naturally, I see that the can is Best Before Jan 2010.

So can I eat this curry? I tried a few of them, post-rinsing, and they taste all right - they're just really soft, like overcooked beans. No smell or anything. Can I eat 'em? Or am I really forced to chuck the whole thing?

posted by ZaphodB to Food & Drink (5 answers total)

Best answer: I'd eat 'em. Canned goods are very safe. "Best Before", in this case, literally means "Best Before", not "You're going to die if you eat these after this date."
posted by Jimbob at 5:26 PM on June 22, 2010

Was the can damaged or dented at all? If so, I'd toss them just to be sure -- nasty things (like botulism) can get into dented cans. If the can was OK, I'd eat 'em.
posted by vorfeed at 5:29 PM on June 22, 2010

I'm no expert, but yeah, I'm with Jimbob. If they don't smell bad, and they taste alright, and they came out of a can...eat it.
posted by a.steele at 5:30 PM on June 22, 2010

Best answer: Eat Right Ontario's website says "the “best before” or “durable life” date measures the quality of the food – not the food safety."

If the can isn't dented or bulging I'd go right ahead. Enjoy your curry!
posted by Joad at 6:59 PM on June 22, 2010

They are completely fine to eat. Cans last for years. A friend once gave me about 40 cans of white albacore tuna that because a few weeks had passed since the expiration date. We're still here to tell the tale.
posted by Hannah @ Cooking Manager at 10:37 PM on June 22, 2010