What’s the shelf-life of canned food?
” What’s the shelf-life of canned food? “
Try here, for links to a lot of information on food storage in general...
http://grandpappy.info/hshelff.htm
[excerpt]
Canned Food Study One
A Food and Drug Administration Article about a shelf life test that was conducted on 100-year old canned foods that were retrieved from the Steamboat Bertrand can be read at the following link:
http://web.archive.org/web/20070509153848/http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/CONSUMER/CON00043.html
Following is a brief summary of a very small portion of the above article:
“Among the canned food items retrieved from the Bertrand in 1968 were brandied peaches, oysters, plum tomatoes, honey, and mixed vegetables. In 1974, chemists at the National Food Processors Association (NFPA) analyzed the products for bacterial contamination and nutrient value. Although the food had lost its fresh smell and appearance, the NFPA chemists detected no microbial growth and determined that the foods were as safe to eat as they had been when canned more than 100 years earlier. The nutrient values varied depending upon the product and nutrient. NFPA chemists Janet Dudek and Edgar Elkins report that significant amounts of vitamins C and A were lost. But protein levels remained high, and all calcium values ‘were comparable to today’s products.’”
“NFPA chemists also analyzed a 40-year-old can of corn found in the basement of a home in California. Again, the canning process had kept the corn safe from contaminants and from much nutrient loss. In addition, Dudek says, the kernels looked and smelled like recently canned corn.”
“According to a recent study cosponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and NFPA, canned foods provide the same nutritional value as fresh grocery produce and their frozen counterparts when prepared for the table. NFPA researchers compared six vegetables in three forms: home-cooked fresh, warmed canned, and prepared frozen. ‘Levels of 13 minerals, eight vitamins, and fiber in the foods were similar,’ says Dudek. In fact, in some cases the canned product contained high levels of some vitamins that in fresh produce are destroyed by light or exposure to air.”
[excerpt]
HTH
The general rule is two years on most canned foods. But as long as the can is not damaged or swelled many canned foods are eatable for years. Of course the older they get you do have a lost of some of their favor and vitamin content, but still usable.
There are cases of canned foods from shipwrecks 50-60-100 or more years old and when open being found to be still good.
So rotate and store what your eat and eat what you store.
AND DON’T FOR GET A GOOD CAN OPENER! AND MORE THAN ONE!
Hard to tell, but well beyond the “sell-by” date printed on the can.
There are plenty of online resources with great advice, but the best early-warning system for spoiled food is your eyes and nose. If a can is bulging, throw it out; if it smells rotten it probably is.
Personally, we don't keep much of anything in the cupboard longer than one year except some canned food.
StillTasty has a good article called Sturdy Staples: 9 Foods That Can Outlast You. So it is not true that you have to pay an arm and a leg for all your emergency supplies!
For really long-term food storage, freeze dried is the way to go, imho.