Most non-perishable foods are safe indefinitely, and canned goods can last for years as long as the can is in good condition. Taste, texture, and nutritional value may be adversely affected over time, but it can be years before you realize something is suspicious. According to the Preserved Foods Alliance, canned foods stored at moderate temperatures (75 F or lower) have a shelf life of approximately two years from the date they were processed. After that, you may notice changes in quality, color, and texture.
However, the nutritional value can last much longer than two years. In terms of edibility, canned food is a long-term game. Most experts don't believe in expiration dates, so how long after the expiration date can canned food be eaten? One year, five years, ten years? In fact, there have been cases where canned food has survived a hundred years without any type of microbial growth. In 1965, the steamship Bertrand sank to the bottom of the Missouri River and was found in 1968 with several cans of food still intact.
In 1974, chemists from the National Association of Food Processors analyzed these products and determined that the food was as safe to eat as it had been when canned more than 100 years earlier.The Preserved Food Alliance and Institute of Can Manufacturers agree that steel cans for food are like a vault - they protect food from air and light, seal its freshness and nutrition, and prevent it from spoiling. The USDA recommends throwing away swollen cans as they could be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a type of bacteria that not only causes food spoilage but could also cause botulism - a serious and potentially fatal form of food poisoning.Storing homemade canned food between 50°F and 70°F (10 to 21°C) is ideal and can help preserve food for a longer period of time. Canned foods provide nutrition, convenience, and help minimize food costs. The safety aspect has already been discussed but it's important to remember that canned foods can last for decades if stored properly.
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