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Move over, Twinkies. You've been bested in the "food that refuses to decompose" department, and the contest wasn't even close.
Conservators with the New Zealand-based Antarctic Heritage Trust recently discovered a 106-year-old fruitcake in Antarctica's oldest building, a hut on Cape Adare.
A fruitcake is a dense, brick-like confection spiked with lumps of dried fruit and nuts that is traditionally regifted at Christmas. It is known for its long shelf life, although usually not 100 years long.
The Antarctic dessert was found wrapped in paper in a decrepit tin. But despite its rotting container, the cake was said to be in "excellent condition."
"There was a very, very slight rancid butter smell to it, but other than that, the cake looked and smelled edible," trust program manager Lizzie Meeks said.
originally posted by: snowspirit
a reply to: IAMTAT
See, never re-gift your fruitcake, just put it with survival supplies.
I wonder if the odd smell might be the dried fruits turning into alcohol? I think often brandy or rum is added to fruitcake, which would be helping with its longevity
originally posted by: ketsuko
originally posted by: snowspirit
a reply to: IAMTAT
See, never re-gift your fruitcake, just put it with survival supplies.
I wonder if the odd smell might be the dried fruits turning into alcohol? I think often brandy or rum is added to fruitcake, which would be helping with its longevity
Yes on the brandy.
I make the fruitcake every year. I rehydrate the dried fruit in brandy and then spritz the finished cake every night for up to a month or more in brandy.
I do a kiddie version using OJ in place of brandy.