I’m packing up my stuff for Wildflower and came across some old gels (Accelerade, Honey Stinger, Carboom) that are probably about a year old.
Do these things go bad? They don’t have an expiration date.
Benjamin
I don’t know, I’ve eaten gels that are a few months past the date listed, and I’m still alive. However, why not spend 10 bucks and get a few fresh ones for the weekend? Surely that would be pennies on the dollar compared to how much you likely have invested in the race, and you won’t be wondering if the stuff is rotten. Use these for training if you don’t want to toss them.
Edit: Honey doesn’t ever go bad, does it? The Honey Stinger might be fine regardless of how old it is.
Just use it on your english muffin.
lc21998,
Over time, most of these gel formulas begin to separate and/or harden to different degrees. If you are not concerned about these issues, from a health standpoint, if the package has not swelled or bloated, it is probably fine.
I recently visited a shop trying to “broom” out some Excelerade gels that were blown up like balloons. They had been kept in a display rack near a window and had definitely been “cooked” over a long period of time. I wondered if anyone ever tried one on a ride or race if they would be able to make it to the finish line.
Edit: Honey doesn’t ever go bad, does it? The Honey Stinger might be fine regardless of how old it is.
I believe honey (or hunny as Winnie the Pooh likes to call it) is the only food that never spoils.
-C
I’ve used gels literally a year beyond their printed expiration date (Clifshot and Hammer) and I thought they were fine. Though- I wouldn’t take the chance during the race. Use them instead for training and get some new ones for WF.