Dilemmas

[sadearthmonkie]

Dilemma number one: I make a cup of coffee at work using the fancy Keurig brewer but then discover that the little carton of half and half I have squirreled away expired yesterday. Do I use it anyway, or do I resort to the powdery creamer stuff

Comments

[fauxcool]

Eh, well, that's probably a 'sell by date', not a 'use by date'. But then again if you DIED I'd probably feel pretty guilty.

Also, seeing as how it's nearly 6 hours later, I assume the debate has already been settled....

[sadearthmonkie]

Actually, it was a "use by" date, maybe because it is half and half and not milk. In any case, I'm happy to say that death has not occurred.

[dreammuse]

As Fauxcool mentioned, it is the sell by date. Often there is a little disclaimer that the product should be good for another 7 days after the sell by date, if you kept it refrigerated. If it has been sitting out for a couple days, you may want to pitch it. Take a wiff, does it smell like it has gone bad? If so, toss it.

Unlike fauxcool, I won't feel pretty guilty if you died. (actually I will, but I wanted to sound cold-hearted.) It is very unlikely you would die anyway, if it went bad, you'd just get very sick.

[sadearthmonkie]

Nopers, it was "use by". But cream keeps better than milk, and it was half cream, so... um... well, I'm alive. It was edible enough by all appearances.

[aonide]

Go to the elliptical and shower afterwards with the expired cream.

Both problems solved. ;)

[sadearthmonkie]

Two problems solved, though with one horrible new problem created. Eh, I'm willing to call that progress.

smell it.

[rainingdays]

it's just that simple. you can usually tell pretty much instantly if it's turned or not, and how close it is.

if you're really worried, pour a bit out. does it look like it's clotting? if so, toss. if not, it's good for another day!

powdery creamer just doesn't taste the same.

Re: smell it.

[sadearthmonkie]

You say it's simple, but it's not. I smelled it--was okay. Then I tasted it--was okay. Then I made my coffee. All the while I was drinking it, I imagined there was an off taste and texture, a psychosomatic sort of thing. Never underestimate my ability to make ordinary events unnecessarily difficult.