Canned food is an excellent way to store fruits, vegetables, and other perishable items for long-term use. While the cans usually have expiration dates printed on them, it can be difficult to determine how long after the expiration date the canned food is still good. Fortunately, there are some general guidelines that can help you determine when it is time to throw out any canned goods.
Shelf Life of Canned Food
Generally speaking, most canned foods will last between 1 and 5 years after their expiration date. This is due to the fact that canned foods are sealed in an airtight environment that prevents outside contaminants from getting inside. Because of this, many canned foods will last much longer than their expiration date suggests.
Check for Signs of Contamination
Before consuming any canned food that has passed its expiration date, it is important to check for signs of contamination. This can include dents in the can or bulging lids. If either of these signs are present, then the food should be thrown out as it may have been contaminated by bacteria or other contaminants.
Smell Test
If there are no visible signs of contamination, then it is safe to do a smell test. Open the can and smell the contents.
If it smells off or foul, then discard it immediately as this indicates spoilage. If it smells normal and not off-putting, then the food should still be safe to eat.
Taste Test
If there are no indications of contamination after doing a smell test, then you can do a taste test by consuming a small amount of the food. If it tastes normal and not off-putting in any way, then it should still be safe to eat.