Don't Forget the Yellow Duck

I am contemplating on the two Tabasco bottles before me on my breakfast table.  The mild green Tabasco had a best by date of 2015, and a batch creation date in 2014.  Roughly, the life span suggested was about 18 months.

The traditional Tabasco bottle had a best by date of 2018.  This one also had a batch creation date of 2014. The traditional Tabasco could outlive the mild by about 2 years.

This is not something to dwell upon.

But still I do.

Why would the traditional  Tabasco be able to outlive the mild green by 2 years minimum?  I thought the meek were to inherit the earth?  Yet the hot stuff will outlive the mild by 200%.

So, what makes up the difference?  Ingredients?  The Traditional contained vinegar, red peppers, and salt.

Huh, this is what I insist on putting on my eggs? Really? Somehow I thought there was more to Tabasco.

But I digress.

The mild green had....hmm.... vinegar, jalapenos, preservatives, and salt. Preservatives, you fail me! Jalapenos? You guys have a shorter lifespan than red peppers? What's the deal?

At the current pace I use Tabasco....those bottles are going to vastly exceed the best by date by years.  I put maybe 4 drops on my omelette per use, tops. Well, ok....shed a couple of drops on my hash browns too. Still, at 5 ounces.....these bottles are going to outlive  the best by date by a decade or two. A waste of sauce really.  Somebody at Tabasco should think about that....what is the point of selling a bottle of Tabasco that has no chance of being used before it's best by date?

I was sort of counting on Tabasco as being one of the go to condiments in case of a Zombie apocalypse. Think about it, there must be thousands of refrigerators in America with a bottle of Tabasco sitting there.  And really, Tabasco does not even need to be refrigerated, just stored in a cool dry place.  This beats the heck out of Ketchup and Mayonnaise, both of which would spoil in a post apocalypse refrigerator world.  Most definitely, it a zombie apocalypse your best bets for condiments are Soy Sauce, Mustard, and Tabasco. Be sure to have those on your looting list. The Tabasco will take you farther into the apocalypse though, since you only need a few drops.  It will help those Lima beans and creamed corn you loot go down smoother.  You must know that the stuff you will loot out of neighborhood pantries will be the odd weird stuff that no one really wants to eat. The same stuff you donate to can food drives. There is a reason why no one ever donates the good stuff, that all gets eaten first.

As you prepare the looting list, make sure it is traditional Tabasco and not the mild. The longer time before 'best by' is achieved would advocate for that.

Perhaps they should start adding a new designation to the labels.  Along with best by dates, perhaps we should include the date for last possible use date in a zombie apocalypse. I mean, who is going to care about 'best' in those dire times?

The one problem I can see with the Tabasco...it comes in glass bottles.  Is that really a good idea in times of apocalypse?  Note to self, loot list, substitute El Pato for Tabasco if there is a choice.  Don't go into a apocalypse without the yellow can with a duck.

Cheers, nca