With only one person living here at the moment (my wife is working in Abu Dhabi), food tends to lurk in the refrigerator for rather longer than it should, and when I had a bacon sandwich a few days ago (Mr Tesco's finest middle rashers, complete with rind -- the best part of a bacon rasher, to my mind), I had the distinct impression that the bacon was past its best. Feeling peckish this morning, I decided to finish up the bacon, and on smelling it there was no doubt that it was long past its "use-by" date. Undeterred, I gave it a good wash in hot water, and then immediately grilled it without drying. Result -- complete success: not a trace of "highness" in the finished dish. A tip well worth remembering, especially if (like me) you prefer not to waste food just because it is a little elderly ...
** Phil.