Shop Can Life?

[Jotnarjager]

I was considering buying a box of some description to put in the shed to store some canned foods in. Trouble is, I'm sure the dates on the cans these days are way closer than they used to be, so does anyone actually know roughly how long you can leave canned food for before it goes manky? I already considered getting a load of those little silicon packets to store the cans with to try and stop the cans themselves getting damp and rusty.

[ukpreppergrrl]

Best Before Dates are exactly that: assuming correct storage, the food in the can will be at its best if eaten before that date. After that date it won't kill you but its colour, texture and flavour may (or may not) be affected. The key part of that sentence is "assuming correct storage". The two problems that will affect the storage is temperature and damage to the tin.

The first is mostly about it not getting too hot, but freezing is also not good. The ideal temperature is 5-21C. If you're storing it where it is subjected to temperatures outside that range then think about some kind of insulation - say store them in polystyrene boxes. Food, even in tins, degrades rapidly as the temperature rises.

The second includes dented cans and rust - there is the possibility that the lining on the tin can be compromised and thus air and bacteria can get to your food. Check all your cans for dents and don't put dented cans into long term storage. If you're storing in a shed then rust is highly likely. Store them in sealed plastic or mylar bags with silicon packets. The other problem with damp conditions is that it makes the labels fall off...which can make it interesting when you come to use the food!

As an aside the only foods I've found so far where it becomes unpalatable even a month after the Best Before date is those little pots of custard (they become rubbery), and a few months after the Best Before I find fruit becomes watery and tasteless. Your mileage may vary...

Shelf-life for food in general can be found here: http://www.stilltasty.com/

[Hamradioop]

A man celebrated his golden wedding anniversary by eating a 50-year-old tin of chicken. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manc ... 693520.stm

[raz]

A man celebrated his golden wedding anniversary by eating a 50-year-old tin of chicken. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manc ... 693520.stm

I remember reading that in the paper made me proud to be british :')

[ljfirstaid]

my farther in law takes great pride in keeping food for as long as possible past its best before date just to prove a point.

We regularly eat tinned meat thats 10years + past its best before and its been fine.

As has been mentioned already. keep the tins dry and at a steady temperature, and protect from damage. I'd also stick to good food hygiene practice as well once the food is open and cook it to within an inch of its life before eating, then atleast you'll have killed off any nastys that might be hiding.

I also buy the old army surplus rat packs. Some are 30 years old and they hold up really well. Who knows how or where they've been stored!!!

[Decaff]

Beware if certain canned goods!! I had a stock of fizzy pop which was due to expire at the end if this year so started to rotate it into my everyday cupboard. Popped one open and yes it was fizzy and all seemed good but it tasted really strange, didnt say anything to son but he had a can and said it tasted funny (so I knew I wasn't losing my marbles!!). I wrote to the company explaining what the problem was and they sent me SAE to return a couple of them, received reply back on Friday saying that the product had aged sooner than expected, causing some of the ingredients to break down. Enclosed were £15 worth of vouchers for their products. Great that I can replace the goods but makes me wary of storing too far close to or over the expiry dates now so will find something else to store instead.

[preparedsurrey]

I can second the canned pop not lasting well, tried a Tesco own brand energy drink that was a few months past it date, made me feel very strange afterwards - something had obviously degraded inside although it did taste all right - well as all right as the tesco ones get anyway

[rik_uk3]

When I moved house in April I found a four pack of Carlsberg Export that was coded for 2006 and it was fine, I dread to think what they make the stuff from

[ukpreppergrrl]

When I moved house in April I found a four pack of Carlsberg Export that was coded for 2006 and it was fine, I dread to think what they make the stuff from

Alcohol innit! No problems with storing a fine malt whiskey either...though to be honest the likelihood of a bottle fine malt whiskey lasting for 20 years in my house is unlikely...nowt to do with it going off....!

[rik_uk3]

I've a good store of Cognac/Amagnac/Port