odd question hope someone can answer for me me. Cleaning out my pantry and how long are canned goods good for. Since I can not find experation dates are they still good?

Canned goods are good for YEARS

thanks

That's what they used to stock the old bomb shelters with (and still do). Canned goods can last for 20-30 years, if not more.

quote:

Originally posted by dchis:
odd question hope someone can answer for me me. Cleaning out my pantry and how long are canned goods good for. Since I can not find experation dates are they still good?

They are good for years, but not more than 5. Open one up and see. Vegetables lose their flavor and taste after a certain amount of time and if you have any tomato based canned goods, throw them out. The acid ruins the product.
Also, if you see a can that is a little puffed and not flat on either end, do not attempt to open it as it could explode.

You're supposed to eat that food, girl, not save it for a hurricane. LOL (just playing)

NOT true Ron, my love. Although it's true that the food may lose some flavor, it doesn't go "bad" for many, many years unless there is break in the seal. I worked for the AF for over 15 years and we were taught these things, even as a DOD civilian. Ya never know when you might become a POW...

If canned goods get exposed to heat, I know they go bad. Most canned goods do last a long time though. I don't know how long.

I found this information online: I hope it helps.

STORAGE OF CANNED GOODS
Storage does not improve the quality of any food. The quality of a food will not decrease significantly if stored properly and if the food is eaten within the recommended time frame. For best results in maintaining product quality, practice the rule, FIRST IN, FIRST OUT. This means you use the oldest products first. A good practice in the home is to place the newly purchased cans in back of the same products already on the shelf. For best quality, use home canned foods within one year, and commercially processed cans within two years.

Storage cabinets should be cool and dry. The best temperature for storing canned foods is between 50 °F and 70 °F. Avoid storing canned foods in a warm place near hot pipes, a range or furnace, or in direct sunlight. Storage time decreases significantly when temperatures are above 75 °F. Keep canned goods dry to prevent cans or metal lids from rusting, which may cause cans to leak and food to spoil.

Recommended Storage for Unopened Canned Foods in a Cool, Dry Pantry:
High-acid canned food: 12 to 18 months
Juices (apple, orange, tomato, etc.), tomatoes, grapefruit, apple products, mixed fruit, berries, pickles, sauerkraut and vinegar-based products.

Low-acid canned foods: 2 to 5 years
Meat and poultry products, vegetable soups (except tomato), spaghetti products, potatoes, corn, carrots, beans, beets, peas, pumpkins, etc.

Home-canned foods (all types ): 1 year

Opened canned foods (store tightly covered in a glass or plastic storage container in refrigerator):

Baby food 2 days

Meat, seafood, poultry 2 days

Vegetables 3 days

Tomato sauce, fruits 5 to 7 days

Pickles and olives 1 to 2 months

Dorthy thank you for posting this now I know I need to get rid of certain foods in the frig.