quick answer needed re out of date item

[mandimoo]

cos i am hoping to use it in a minute! i want to attempt to make my own peppercorn sauce for steak for tonights dinner, and i have just pulled the jar of green peppercorns in brine from the back of the cupboard and they were best before end jun 09. they'll be ok wont they? its only best before, not use by and they are unopened.

[ladyalex]

I'd use them as long as they looked/smelled OK when I opened them.

[sadielady]

As they are unopened and I presumed sealed they should be fine. Just, if you dont use them all I would disguard the rest...Enjoy your meal

[NoMercy]

Best before is merely a recommedation, and, invariably, foods with a best before date can be safely consumed for months after the given date. Particularly those that are preserved in brine. It is perfectly legal for stores to sell food past it's best before date too, but they must be able to guarantee that it is still fit for consumption.

A use by/sell by date is a qualifying date, and is usually given to perishable products.

[mandimoo]

thanks everyone, have just had a very lovely steak in peppercorn sauce, with fried onions and mash and finishing my glass of red as i type.

[Naomicorlett]

I have a jar of green peppercorns in brine that I obviously bought for a certain recipe but cant think what. Any ideas gratefully received.

[FoxLee2]

Why not google recipes using green peppercorns and see what suggestions come up?

[Naomicorlett]

Yeah but they taste so weird to me I was hoping for some advice. they blew my head off when I tried them neat.....obviously not to recomended !!

[Naomicorlett]

^^be^^

[soosilvy]

crush them first - then add to cream sauce with steak - yummy

[mandimoo]

hi naomi, what i did was crush 2 tsp of green peppercorns (i like it hot and this wasnt really hot enough for me), and chucked them in the pan with the fat/oil from the steak and onion, poured a bit of chicken stock (cos i didnt have beef), let it reduce a bit then stirred in a couple of tablespoons of creme fraiche. dont add any salt cos the brine the peppercorns was in is plenty salt enough.

[Naomicorlett]

Ah maybe the answer is to crush them. I think I bought them to do veggie dish for daughter on Christmas day and then re-thought menu. I will try a sauce .