Expired Muffin Mix
Kelly Whitfield
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Q I have a blueberry muffin mix that is past the “sell by” date, is it still safe to use?
A The “sell by” or “pull” date tells the store how long to display the food for sale. Foods eaten after this date are generally safe as long as they are not stored for longer than the recommended time and that they are handled and prepared safely. Muffin mix is recommended to be stored no longer than nine months and should be kept in a cool, dry place. More information on food storage is available at the extension office or on our website at: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/lyon/.
Q I see the chefs using a lot of saffron on the cooking shows, what is it?
A Saffron is one of the world’s most expensive spices. The spice saffron comes from Crocus sativus — an autumn flowering crocus. This variety is not generally grown in Kansas and is a native to southern Europe and Asia . True saffron has a pleasantly spicy, pungent bitter taste and a sharp and penetrating odor. Fortunately, a little saffron goes a long way. Besides being steeped in tea, it is used for seasoning many foods such as fancy rolls and biscuits, rice and fish. Saffron has a bright yellow color. A less expensive substitute is turmeric, but it lacks the true saffron flavor.
Q What is diacetyl flavoring?
A This is a buttery flavoring found in some kinds of microwave popcorn and many other foods such as baked goods, ice cream, beverages and more. Recent health concerns have been associated with inhaling large amounts of the fumes of freshly popped microwave popcorn. The four leading manufacturers of microwave popcorn are already reformulating their products to remove diacetyl flavoring. Q My friends and I are having a debate. We want to know if baby carrots are grown that way or are they just cut up parts?
A Although there are “true” baby carrots produced on some farms, they are expensive and not widely available to consumers. Most growers of “baby” carrots plant seeds close together, forcing the roots to grow long and thin to make it easier to process them into the finger-like bite-size baby carrot. After they are harvested, they are washed, sorted and mechanically cut, trimmed, polished, shaped and packaged.
- Kelly Whitfield , Lyon County family and consumer science agent, is a registered, licensed dietitian and certified diabetes educator. For more information on food, nutrition, health, and family issues, contact Kelly at the Lyon County K-State Research and Extension office at 620-341-3220 or email at kwhit@ksu.edu.
- Sources: Karen Blakeslee, Food Scientist, K-State Research and Extension, You Asked It, K-State Research and Extension Sept. 2007 & March 2004; Chow Line, Ohio State University Extension, March 2007; Safe Home Food Storage, Texas Agricultural Extension Service.