Expired Old El Paso Taco Dinner Kits: Can You Still Use It?
When it comes to food safety, one common concern is whether it is safe to consume an expired product. In this case, we’ll explore the question: Is it okay to eat an expired Old El Paso Dinner Kit?
Old El Paso Dinner Kits offer a variety of flavors and options for creating delicious Mexican-inspired meals at home. However, it’s essential to understand the potential risks and factors to consider when consuming an expired dinner kit.
In this article, we will delve into the guidelines and factors that can help you make an informed decision about whether it is safe to eat an expired Old El Paso Dinner Kit.
Is It Safe to Use an Expired Old El Paso Taco Kit?
My family loves Mexican food, and the Old El Paso Dinner Kits are super convenient. They come in a ton of flavors and even concepts like tacos, enchiladas, burrito bowls, and more.
Factors to Consider Before Using an Expired Taco Kit
There are typically 3-4 main ingredients in a Old El Paso Dinner Kit. The main item is a starch that typically comes in the form of corn tortillas, flour tortillas, or rice.
Here is a list of all Old El Paso Dinner Kits and which starch they include:
Legend:
✔️ – Contains the ingredient
| Old El Paso Dinner Kits | Corn Tortillas | Flour Tortillas | Rice |
|---|---|---|---|
| OLD EL PASO TACO DINNER KIT, HARD & SOFT, 11.4 OZ | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| OLD EL PASO SOFT TACOBAKE DINNER KIT | ✔️ | ||
| OLD EL PASO TACO DINNER KIT, CRUNCHY | ✔️ | ||
| OLD EL PASO BURRITO BOWL KIT CHIPOTLE CHICKEN | ✔️ | ||
| OLD EL PASO ENCHILADA DINNER KIT | ✔️ | ||
| OLD EL PASO NACHO CHEESE BOLD & SOFT TORTILLA TACO DINNER KIT | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| OLD EL PASO CREAMY MEXICAN STYLE RANCH SHEET PAN DINNER STARTER | |||
| OLD EL PASO STAND ‘N STUFF SHELLS AND TORTILLA BOWLS, HARD & SOFT TACO DINNER KIT | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| OLD EL PASO SOFT TORTILLA BOWL TACO DINNER KIT | ✔️ | ||
| OLD EL PASO STREET TACO KIT, CARNE ASADA STEAK | ✔️ | ||
| OLD EL PASO BURRITO BOWL KIT, SEASONED GROUND BEEF | ✔️ | ||
| OLD EL PASO MINI FLOUR TORTILLA BOWL DINNER KIT | ✔️ | ||
| OLD EL PASO STAND ‘N STUFF BOLD JALAPENO CHEDDAR TACO SHELLS | ✔️ | ||
| OLD EL PASO TORTILLA POCKETS DINNER KIT | ✔️ | ||
| OLD EL PASO STAND ‘N STUFF TACO DINNER KIT | ✔️ | ||
| OLD EL PASO FAJITA DINNER KIT | ✔️ | ||
| OLD EL PASO STACKED QUESO CRUNCH TACO KIT | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| OLD EL PASO TANGY FAJITA SHEET PAN DINNER STARTER | |||
| OLD EL PASO STAND ‘N STUFF BOLD NACHO CHEESE FLAVORED TACO DINNER KIT | ✔️ | ||
| OLD EL PASO STREET TACO KIT | ✔️ | ||
| OLD EL PASO BURRITO BOWL KIT | ✔️ |
The secondary ingredients in a kit are typically the seasoning or sauces. Some kits like the Sheet Pan Dinner Starters just include the seasoning and sauces, but all the rest include a starch and seasoning or sauces. Most of the seasoning packets are taco seasoning, but some are a specialty seasoning like Adobe or for Fajitas.
The biggest issue with these Dinner Kits is the starches that they include. We know from experience with the corn chips in an expired Hamburger Helper that any corn product that is fried can become rancid over time.
So, this means that any Dinner kit with corn tortillas has a higher chance of going bad quickly after the expiration date. You can typically tell when the corn product has gone bad because it has a very off smell. It smells like burnt oil or plastic.
Even though the corn tortillas are sealed in a smaller package, the oils in the corn tortillas will go rancid and make them smell and taste bad. Rancid tortillas will probably not make you seriously ill, but they can upset your stomach and will taste just awful.
We also know that flour and whole wheat tortillas do hold up well over time. They may taste a little stale but overall, they were safe to eat long past the expiration date as long as there was no visible signs of damage or mold.
If your Dinner Kit includes rice, you can safely eat them well past the date. Typically rice does not actually expire, unless it is exposed to moisture or organic matter.
The seasoning and sauce packs in a Dinner Kit, are generally safe after expiration date as well. They can lose their potency and flavor after the expiration date, but it is highly unlikely for these shelf stable seasonings and sauces to make you ill.
If the seasoning or sauce smells off or tastes funny, then it is best to discard them. I feel it is better to be safe than sorry.
What Happens When You Use an Expired Taco Kit?
In general, our bodies are amazing and they have built in protections to keep us from eating things that will make us sick. The two biggest warnings that a food has gone bad and that we shouldn’t eat it is that it will smell bad or taste bad.
Both of these signs, typically make us stop eating any more so it is unlikely that you will consume a large quantity of a product like a Dinner Kit if it has gone bad.
Since the Old El Paso Dinner kits only have shelf stable ingredients like tortillas, rice, seasoning, and or sauces, getting seriously ill is very unlikely.
If you were to eat corn tortillas that have gone rancid, you may experience an upset stomach but that is it. (This may differ if you are immunocompromised, pregnant, or have other health related issues.)
As long as the individual ingredients like the rice, tortillas, seasoning, and sauces show no outward signs of the packaging being damaged or getting moisture, then eating them past their expiration date should have no ill effects.
How to Tell if an Old El Paso Taco Kit is Expired?
Here are the different areas of the kit that you should check before eating after the expiration date.
Packaging
We should always look at the outer and inner packaging of the Dinner Kit. If the packaging is damaged or torn, it may have allowed air and moisture to seep into the product, which can cause it to spoil faster. Additionally, if the packaging appears bloated or swollen, it may be a sign that the product has gone bad. Another sign is if the outer box is discolored or has soft spots in the cardboard, this could be a sign that the packaging has gotten wet or exposed to large amounts of moisture.
Color and Texture
When examining the taco shells and seasoning mix, it is important to check for any changes in color or texture. If the taco shells appear discolored or have a yellowish tint, it may be a sign that they have gone stale. Similarly, if the seasoning mix has clumps or appears to be caked together, it may have absorbed moisture and gone bad.
Smell
The smell of an Old El Paso taco kit can also be a good indicator of whether it is expired. If the taco shells or seasoning mix have a rancid or off smell, it is likely that they have gone bad and should not be consumed. Additionally, if the taco shells have a musty or moldy smell, it is a sign that they have been stored in a damp environment and may have spoiled.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to eating an expired Old El Paso Dinner Kit, it’s important to prioritize food safety. While the expiration date is a general guideline, factors like storage conditions and signs of spoilage should be considered.
If in doubt, it’s better to err on the side of caution and discard any questionable products. Most Old El Paso Dinner kits will be fine after the expiration date, but it is more likely that a kit with corn tortillas will go bad before the kits with flour tortillas or rice.
We do want to make every effort to rotate the items in our pantry, so the oldest food gets used up first, but this doesn’t always work out. If we use our common sense and examine the products before eating them, we can help reduce our food waste due to expired products.
