I have some MREs and a goodly amount of Mountain House freeze dried, but I also have a couple of weeks of canned goods, rice and noodles just in case. With my wife and family, rotation just isn't an option, so I go through now and then and donate the things that are past their expiration dates to the food bank and replace them.
My question is, how strictly do you observe the expiration dates on canned goods, rice and noodles? I heard a story recently that many of those dates are fairly arbitrary, and really represent "best by" dates. If a can is swollen or dented, sure, get rid of it. Would you use a can that is past it's expiration date if it was in good condition and properly stored? If the rice and/or noodles looked fine?
Thanks!
My question is, how strictly do you observe the expiration dates on canned goods, rice and noodles? I heard a story recently that many of those dates are fairly arbitrary, and really represent "best by" dates. If a can is swollen or dented, sure, get rid of it. Would you use a can that is past it's expiration date if it was in good condition and properly stored? If the rice and/or noodles looked fine?
Thanks!