Don't Can Safety for Convenience

Canned food may not always taste the best, but it does offer a way to stretch out fresher foods and keep grocery bills from getting too high. Generally speaking, canned foods are easier to store and will last longer than the same food found fresh. They require much less preparation before consumption than fresh food, and can be a great time saver or help to an inexperienced cook. But although canned food can be easier to deal with, it is still important to follow basic safety guidelines in order to stay safe.

Check the Expiration, Processed, or Used By Date.

The expiration date of canned food will go out a lot farther than fresh foods, but it still exists. The longer food sits in a can the less nutritional value it has as the more likely it can lead to food poisoning. Although there have been cases of canned food found that is hundreds of years old found to be molecularly safe, it is still not a good idea to take chances on very old food. Two years from processing is the standard guideline to go by. Some food cans are labelled according to when they were processed, and some have a "best if used by" date. If it's too far past this date it's better to be safe than sorry. Canned food is generally inexpensive. Buy a new can.

Refrigerate after Opening, in a new container.

If you think you can take a few peaches out of the can and put the can with the unused portion in the refrigerator, think again. Leftover canned food should always go into an airtight container before it is stored in the refrigerator. When food is stored in the can the tin makes it's way into the food and it is unhealthy and potentially poisonous..

Check cans for defects

Normally, food is canned en masse, which means there is a greater chance of things going wrong. There are several signs to look for that a can could be defected, and if it is, choose a different can. For metal cans, check for any obvious openings or fractures in the double seam on the top or bottom of the can, buldging ends, a pinhole in the body of the can, an unwelded side seam or any other leaks in the can

For plastic cans, check for any opening or non-bonding in the seal, a break in the plastic, a fractured lid, or a swollen package. Glass jars should pop when opened, if they don't it's an indication that the vacuum has been compromised. You should also check for a damaged seal or any cracks in the glass. Paperboard cans or flexible pouches should not have a broken or patched seal, any breaks or swelling in the package, or any other leaks.

Canned food is a nice convenience to have. Taking these small safety precautions are well worth the time and effort it takes to keep you and your family safe.

Foodreference Can Defects

Food Reference Canned Food Shelf Life

Keeping Food Safe