Vegemite beyond expiry date?
We've got a small jar of Vegemite that the kids are slowly nibbling away at, and I just realized it has a best-before date of three months ago. At the current rate of consumption, there's another six months to go before it's gone. We're keeping it in the fridge, and it shows no visible signs of going bad so far.
How long is it safe to keep, and how do we know it's gone bad? Bear in mind this is pretty funky-smelling stuff in the first place.
Also, just how bad an idea is it to reuse a knife that's previously been used to spread butter to scoop out Vegemite?
Update: On further inspection, the date on the bottom of the jar is just a date, it's not labeled as "best before" or "use by" anywhere on the jar. Definitely not the date of manufacture though, and the official Vegemite FAQ implies it's a best-before date.
Also, this somewhat amusing Metafilter thread about whether somebody should eat seven-year-old Vegemite, the general consensus being "it's probably OK".
Best Answer
Best-before dates aren't the same as use-by dates. Whilst you shouldn't consume a product after it's use-by date, best-before dates are more about quality than safety. Basically, after the best-before date, the product may start to deteriorate in terms of flavour, but that doesn't mean you can't still eat it.
I'd expect that the salt content of Vegemite would keep it sound for a long time. I've certainly had half-eaten jars of Marmite (sorry, I'm a Marmite guy, not Vegemite) kicking around in the pantry for way longer than they ought, and they've been just fine.
Butter and breadcrumbs from the knife may well develop mould if they're left in the jar for a while, but that would normally just be on the surface and easily removed. Much better to remove crumbs before they get to that stage - or, easier, just use a clean knife.
Pictures about "Vegemite beyond expiry date?"
Quick Answer about "Vegemite beyond expiry date?"
Most commenters said Vegemite can't go off unless it's contaminated by an outside source. “As long as you don't put butter in jar it will be fine (until) eternity,” one person said. Another agreed: “Yeah vegemite lasts for years unless you have kids that add butter and breadcrumbs to the jar when they use it!”Can I eat expired Marmite?
'We put 18 months on the jar, because that's how long it retains its vitamin content. But you could eat Marmite that was manufactured in 1945 and it would be safe. Its flavour would have changed, but it would still taste good. 'What foods are OK past the expiration date?
With the exception of highly acidic items like tomatoes and pineapple, canned vegetables, and some canned soups are okay to eat a year or two after they "expire." Canned meats, like corned beef and SPAM, keep even longer \u2014 between two and five years.What happens if you eat expired spread?
Nothing at all. You'll probably be glad to know that there's a big chance that nothing will actually happen to you if you consume something that is expired besides a yucky taste. Even so, it's still not the best idea nor is it necessary to eat expired foods on a regular basis.Do you refrigerate Vegemite after opening?
Vegemite is shelf-safe and doesn't need to be refrigerated. Simply put it in a pantry or cupboard out of direct sunlight when you're finished using it. In general, a darker spot is better for food because the sun could overheat the item. This is why a cupboard or cabinet is better than an open shelf.Gli ITALIANI reagiscono al VEGEMITE!
More answers regarding vegemite beyond expiry date?
Answer 2
In 2019 I'm still consuming Vegemite from a 2lb jar that has a Best Before (yes, it says that) date of Nov 1997. It has never been refrigerated. It tastes as good as it ever did, though it's a little thicker than it used to be.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Mikhail Nilov, Mikhail Nilov, Nana Lapushkina, khats cassim