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Conference turris::cooks

Title:	How to Make them Goodies
Notice:	Please Don't Start New Notes for Old Topics! Check 5.*
Moderator:	FUTURE::DDESMAISONSec.com::winalski

Created:	Tue Feb 18 1986
Last Modified:	Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	4127
Total number of notes:	31160

1495.0. "Ground Chili Shelf Life?" by CIMNET::LUISI () Mon Nov 07 1988 09:49

    I have a tin of Pecos Valley ground chili.  I bought it years ago
    and keep it tightly sealed where it sits in my pantry.  I have not
    had any problems [that I can see] with it.
    
    How long does this stuff last?  Can it go bad.  There was a note
    on the can that said to refriderate to keep it fresh [for months].
    
    Months!  I've had it for years and use it mostly to make Chili.
    It'll be a few more years at the rate I make chili.
    
    Is there a danger it will go moldy?  And I won't realize it?  There
    are no preservatives in this can.
    
    Does the chili loose its potency?  It seems the last batch of chili
    I made was milder than the prior.  But you know how that goes. 
    It
    could have been hotter as well.
    
    Does anyone know if there really is a shelf life for this.  What
    risks am I taking continuing to use this.    Really, its about 5
    years old and it hasn't killed anyone.  My chili has though :-)

T.R Title User Personal
Name Date Lines

1495.1 should be no problem PSW::WINALSKI There is no 'c' in 'supersede' Fri Nov 25 1988 22:33 15

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1495.1	should be no problem	PSW::WINALSKI	There is no 'c' in 'supersede'	`Fri Nov 25 1988 22:33`	15
	Ground chili is a very powerful antibacterial agent, which is why it is itself used to preserve foods. If you keep it dry, it's highly unlikely to "go bad" in the sense of spoiling or going moldy. In fact, it's unlikely to do this even if it's wet.... On the other hand, chili depends for its flavor on volatile oils and resins that can evaporate off and be oxidized over time. So, although old chili will never spoil, it will eventually go stale and lose the edge off its flavor and armoa. Keeping it tightly sealed will prevent the oils from evaporating away, and keeping it in a cool, dark place will retard oxidation. To a real purist, I suppose it will start to go flat after some months, but for the rest of us, it just about lasts forever. --PSW

Ground chili is a very powerful antibacterial agent, which is why it is itself
used to preserve foods.  If you keep it dry, it's highly unlikely to "go bad"
in the sense of spoiling or going moldy.  In fact, it's unlikely to do this
even if it's wet....

On the other hand, chili depends for its flavor on volatile oils and resins
that can evaporate off and be oxidized over time.  So, although old chili
will never spoil, it will eventually go stale and lose the edge off its flavor
and armoa.  Keeping it tightly sealed will prevent the oils from evaporating
away, and keeping it in a cool, dark place will retard oxidation.

To a real purist, I suppose it will start to go flat after some months, but
for the rest of us, it just about lasts forever.

--PSW