Starter culture sell by?

[ped]

Is there a way to test whether a starter culture is still active before introducing it to a batch of meat? I have some (the only stuff I have at the moment!!,) and it is past it's use by date, I don't want to ruin the meat but then again I need to do something with my minced meat

[captain wassname]

Dont know if it helps but there is a sticky in Sausage making Techniques about harvesting culture.

Jim

[ped]

Thanks Jim

It was more to do with the T-SPX, LHP types of fermenting cultures I was asking about

[ozzy]

My F-RM-52 I vacuumed packed and froze, is it still good for a while?

[NCPaul]

Unfortunately there is no quick and easy way of knowing. If you have access to a pH meter, you can make up a small batch of sausage and check the pH drop during fermentation. By the time you've done this however, you could have fresh culture shipped in.