Esbit 4g Solid Fuel Tablets - E-FUEL-20X4

Q: Odd question do these expire? Or dry out?

Not sure who thought they were made from 'fish oil', but rest assured...they are NOT. They are in the same chemical family as PETN (a high explosive), but are formulated for stability where they can be slow-burned, instead. Saying that, they are synthetic chemicals, and SHOULD NOT be burned indoors, or handled excessively with bare hands. Kept at room temperature in a sealed box (or ziplock type bag), they will last for DECADES! While there may be a small amount of chemical decomposition that reduces their 'maximum potential heat' (from 1300-deg to say, 1000-deg), they will STILL BURN, and burn hot! Keep them dry when in storage, avoid water, humidity, petroleums, etc. (put the box in a ziplock, and you are GREAT!) and keep them stored in a cool (darker...without UV) place, and using them 60-70 years from now is quite feasible.

Q: I was thinking about getting these to help start campfires could this start a standard dry piece of firewood?

They will start a fire. Depending on the size of the tablet, it will smell like fish, shrimp, or hooha.

Q: In the picture the tabs are lose in the box, it that how they come or are the individually wrapped?

They come loose in package not individually wrapped.

Q: I have an old version that came with the same item as shown here. Will the box fit in the stove like the old one did?

Don't know if I can help: 1) What is an old version. I have only been buying this product fairly recently. I don't use it anymore. 2) I hope you are not thinking of lighting a whole box of this stuff - could hurt yourselfCurrently using the Coughlin brand in the green box, a better product all around. I reviewed Esbit. Don't know if that would help you though. Good luck!