# The most expired product you will use **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 21, 2024, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567 "2024-09-21T22:27:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/21 "2024-09-22T01:59:44Z")
There’s a scene in the second book of the Nantucket trilogy by S M Stirling. A main character, Marian Alston, wakes up after the ship she is captain of has gone through a bad storm, and she got knocked out. Her daughters bring her _“two hoarded Tylenol in a twist of paper. Even after eight years in the bottle they could hopefully be of some use.”_ ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/22 "2024-09-22T02:03:34Z")
A typo. Codeine cough syrup. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/23 "2024-09-22T02:20:44Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > On the subject of the OP, I’m not familiar with that kind of thermal epoxy, but regular five-minute epoxy definitely goes bad after a couple of years or so. “Bad” meaning that it takes a really long time to set, may not set at all, and won’t be very strong. I use something called smooth on epoxy. I use it to make archery bows. Others have complained it looses strength when it gets old. I will go about 1 year past the date maximum. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/24 "2024-09-22T02:24:53Z")
Caulk goes bad and won’t cure properly after a few years. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/25 "2024-09-22T02:43:26Z")
I’m pretty adventurous with respect to expired products. If food looks, smells, and tastes okay, why not? Antibiotics and some other medications apparently keep for YEARS beyond their expiration date, and it’s been a source of bad feeling when the US donates expired medicines to poor countries. They are understandably upset at getting the “dregs” but the problem lies with Big Pharma’s reluctance to test and extend shelf life estimates (it’s expensive to run trials, and there is no money in it, since it’s more sales for the manufacturer when old drugs are replaced). The Wall Street Journal did an interesting article on this subject a long time ago. The Department of Defense has conducted its own tests and found it can use many drugs long past the expiration date, so they use older drugs with soldiers. But try telling that to some developing country which is skeptical of US policies and interventions anyway. Who can blame them for being suspicious or offended? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/26 "2024-09-22T02:53:39Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > OTOH, I’ll use buttermilk til the container is empty. Hell, it comes spoiled. > What is the worse that can happen? Reminds me of something that someone said about sour cream, “how do you know when it goes bad? It’s **already** sour!”. Thing is, of course, that sour cream is not “cream that has gone sour”. It’s a specific dairy product fermented with lactic acid bacteria, similar to the way yogurt is cultured. I’m sure you know that, but I was just responding to comments I’ve heard about the silly name. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/27 "2024-09-22T03:03:39Z")
[Here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-food-that-youve-eaten/775773) is a similar thread I started long ago after I ate 18-year-old Froot Loops. I haven’t beaten that recently but a couple of days ago I used some orange icing meant for last Halloween. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/28 "2024-09-22T03:06:53Z")
I enjoy watching the people on YouTube eating ancient MREs from WW1 and even earlier lol. I think one of the guys actually ate Civil War era hardtack. I would not be that brave. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/29 "2024-09-22T03:08:28Z")
I’ve used surplus military ammunition from WWII, maybe earlier. Most of it bangs just fine. I did have some French 7.5 x 54 for my MAS rifle that fizzled. After one misfire I unloaded it and used the cartridge for reloading. I found that the misfired cartridge had actually melted the gunpowder but it did not ignite. I pulled the bullets and dumped the powder and fired the primer only to discharge it. It just went, Pfiiit (or whatever the French equivalent is). There was a short lived TV show called Eating History. They definitely found some bad stuff. > **[Eating History](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eating_History)** > > Eating History is an American docuseries that airs on the History Channel and premiered in 2020. In the series, collectors Josh Macuga and Gary "Old Smokey" Mitchell try vintage foods and related products, such as 1970s Fritos, 1913 hardtack, Pepsodent tooth powder, and New Coke. > Hosts Gary Mitchell and Josh Macuga met through YouTube. > Gary Mitchell became interested in vintage foods via tobacco: he collected and smoked old cigarettes and other tobacco-related products, giving him the nickname ... ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/30 "2024-09-22T03:15:38Z")
_“Le pfffthe”_. 🙂 Speaking of expired munitions. My brother has 2 virgin\* cannonballs from the Civil war. (\*the process of removing the charge is called deflowering, I know, I know. But I didn’t name it that) ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/31 "2024-09-22T05:43:30Z")
What kind of salad dressing are you talking about? I’ve had ranch dressing start to grow mold BEFORE the expiration date, more than once. Maybe oil & vinegar keeps better? I don’t use that stuff. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/32 "2024-09-22T05:53:09Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I’ve a 30 year old block of cheddar, which I’ve had since about 2003. Its expiration date was 2004. Yep, I only toss cheese is there is too much mold to scrape or cut off. Or if there is a mold smell in grated cheese, of course. > [@Baker](#): > > “two hoarded Tylenol in a twist of paper. Even after eight years in the bottle they could hopefully be of some use.” Acetomorphine is good for 5 years after you open the bottle- at least. > [@Ellecram](#): > > I think one of the guys actually ate Civil War era hardtack. Hardtack? That stuff lasts forever. My Dad worked in a canning factory and of course got C rations in the Army. Unless the can is bulging or heavily dented or rusted- etc- the food is still safe. Mind you the taste may be off. > [@mixdenny](#): > > I’ve used surplus military ammunition from WWII, maybe earlier. We all got on a kick and had WW1 military rifles- 8mm mauser, 7mm mauser and me- an 11 MM Mauser (_pre_ WW1). The period ammo almost always worked. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/33 "2024-09-22T05:58:22Z")
Just thought I would mention, my dachshund is named Mauser. Named for a dog in a Clive Cussler novel. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/34 "2024-09-22T07:15:52Z")
Salt, especially Kosher Salt will absorb whatever is in the air over time. I wouldn’t use it for cooking after a time unless it’s been kept in a sealed container. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/35 "2024-09-22T08:06:44Z")
Do you refridge your salad dressing? If it’s growing mold in the refrigerator you have too warm box. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/36 "2024-09-22T09:32:22Z")
I have a bottle of aspirin with an expiration date of May 2001. There’s one pill left, which I’ll probably take at some point. I’m told that aspirin can degrade and smell vinegary, but this doesn’t. And anyway, worst case some tiny portion splits into salicylic acid and acetic acid, both of which are harmless. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/37 "2024-09-22T10:17:04Z")
Expiration and best-if-used-by dates mean nothing to me. If it’s not green, fuzzy or stinky, then it’s fine. My wife on the other hand considers them commands from God. And I refuse to explain to her one more time that best-if-used-by does not mean the product has crossed the border into poisonville. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/38 "2024-09-22T10:37:36Z")
I’ve had aspirin smell sort of vinegary after only a year or so in the cabinet. I wondered why for a second and then was like “oh, **acetyl** salicylic acid”". ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/39 "2024-09-22T11:26:32Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > What kind of salad dressing are you talking about? I’ve had ranch dressing start to grow mold BEFORE the expiration date, more than once. Maybe oil & vinegar keeps better? We use mostly vinegar based salad dressings. When we have Ranch dressing it tends to get get used up quickly. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567/40 "2024-09-22T12:24:21Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > I have a bottle of aspirin with an expiration date of May 2001. There’s one pill left, which I’ll probably take at some point. I’m told that aspirin can degrade and smell vinegary, but this doesn’t. And anyway, worst case some tiny portion splits into salicylic acid and acetic acid, both of which are harmless. I’ve tossed aspirin because it has a strong vinegar odor. I wouldn’t toss it just because of a date on the bottle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-expired-product-you-will-use/1007567.md?page=3)