Expiration Dates

A work-from-homer’s perspective. Ponderings of a Stay-at-Home Woodworker. News and views from the DustyNewt Workshop 06/25/2026

Jun 25, 2026

Today’s “17 Step Commute” Dashboard…

Temp: Currently 85 degrees. High of 90 today 😎
Humidity: 4 on the “Soup” scale. (1=light broth, 5=thick chowder).
Today’s Playlist: Harry Nilsson shuffle.
Conditions: Saharan dust casting an orangey hue to our sunsets lately.
Estimated Travel Time: 20 seconds
Food: Ham sandwich and apple for blunch. Chili tonight.
Coffee Level: 1/2 Tank

Expiration Dates

“Where did these pickled brussel sprouts come from?”

Going through our kitchen pantry, with an eye to hurricane season, decisions must be made on what we need to replenish and what we need to throw away. We try to err on the side of caution. Food poisoning is the last thing you need when you have no electricity, communications or transportation.

Hurricanes put a damper on our culinary skills and our desire to cook. Cooking is an art that is best left to a kitchen with proper (working) electrical appliances. Firing up the grill and cooking breakfast cowboy style sounds fulfilling and romantic, but the reality of it will creep in quickly. 95 degree heat with a dew point of 81 feels like you are breathing hot chowder. Our emergency stock-up on foodstuffs are ones that can be eaten without much preparation.

In the Pantry

In our home, expiration dates (if you can find them) are just suggestions. We are not anal about it. On a can of beans, we expect them to be safe a year past the “Best-if-Used-By” stamp on the lid. The conditions in which it has been shelved can speed up or slow down its deterioration. Cool, dark places are usually preferred. Botulism is rare, but deadly and best avoided. Beware of canned goods that make noise, are bloated or start to hiss and foam upon opening.

Feeling adventurous? Just because a paper label fails to stay put due to moisture, or it gets eaten by critters does not mean the contents of the can are bad. They bring surprises to potluck meals.

In our version of Florida, bugs happen. Native and invasive species abound. They thrive in the humidity and heat. Unless items will be used within a few days, we store boxed mixes, dried beans and pastas in separate sealable plastic tubs. This slows down (but does not eliminate) infestations. Half the time, the critter’s origins come with the products or their packaging, right from the store/warehouse. The occasional weevil and/or Indian moth larvae is not dangerous (and probably nutritious) but may be unappealing to the unsuspecting diner.

Also, the U.S. FDA limits the percentage of ergot fungus allowed in wheat and rye flour, so “tripping” on biscuits is rare (but not impossible if you set your sights on it).

In the Workshop

Combustibles like thinners, alcohol, cleaners, glues and finishes also have suggested shelf lives. You can Google the various products to determine your situation. That said, I have successfully used a 10 year-old (partially used) can of paint with a bit of mixing and straining.

More is not better. Buy only the amount you know you will be using. Resist the idea of savings by buying-in-bulk. A pint bottle of wood glue ($8.00) will get me through 12 months of 2-Liner keychains and desk names. A gallon (only $24.00 for 8 times more) of the same glue seems like a better deal, except that I would end up discarding about 80% ($19.20) of it during our yearly city pick-up of caustic substances.

Much of a product’s shelf life is determined by how it is stored, but like everything else chemicals deteriorate over time. Once opened, unused portions will progressively lose effectiveness. Most commercial products will at least code a date of when it was made, if it still has a label and the can is not encrusted with rust. If not, an inspection of its contents is needed to see if it needs to be properly disposed of. The people at your city works are always a font of knowledge. Call them for info.

Mix-It-Yourself batches are tricky to estimate. The aim is to make an adequate batch, enough to complete the current project while minimizing waste. This is where personal experience gets a hand up. Even if you write down and follow your recipe, color matching a second batch can be a frustrating trial and error process. Leftovers can be used up in near-future works.

More air space in a resealed container speeds up the drying process. So try to fit them in the smallest jar, can or bottle. Label and date them.

Personal Expiration Date

Whether we like to admit it or not, we all have the unknown ahead of us. Although the date may be unpredictable, it is the most personal thing we own. Depending on conditions and the paths we choose, we may be able to extend or shorten things while we are here, but the end of this adventure is inevitable.

Therefore, we find our peace(s) as we learn along.

An honest, work-from-home ethos brings “Peace of Mind”. To us, this means reducing the number of people (or agencies) we have to hide from. Although our business is now strictly mail-order, we do not duck family, friends or neighbors who may happen by (better call first to make sure we’re decent).

We strive to stay debt-free, getting by with less during lean times and learning how to adapt to circumstances as they come. As Jethro Tull pointed out, “eating their nuts, saving their raisins for Sunday”.

The work we do with our hands still intrigues us and we continually learn. The scent of certain fresh-cut woods retrieves childhood memories. A new-to-us species or a highly-figured wood still delights us when finish and polish pops out its beauty. Its future to [perhaps] become someone’s cherished memento.

Taking an interest in our immediate environment lowers blood pressure. Julie regularly plants seeds of unknown varieties to see if they will prosper. We can now take a photo of their leaves and ask Google to identify them and how to care for them. There must be hundreds of species in our one-third acre ecosystem.

Cats and dogs bring healing belly laughs and pulse-dropping comfort when needed. Wildlife that visits our yard causes enough drama and mayhem to suit us. The picture window to the back yard is like having a big-screen tuned into a streaming service at the cost of a bag of seeds or peanuts.

We enjoy cooking our own meals. This not only saves money, but it is always healthier (and usually tastier) than take-out. It is a Zen-like practice to create the perfect chili with corn muffin dinners.

We hope you find your peaces.

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