When Did Canned Food Became Popular in America?

Canned food has been around in some capacity since the late 1700s, but it wasn’t until the early to mid 1800s that it became more widely available in America. The invention of the canning process is credited to French chef Nicholas Appert, who was working for Napoleon Bonaparte.

In 1810, he was awarded a prize for his work and it wasn’t long before canning became popular in Europe. In America, the process was quickly adopted by the military as a way to preserve food for long periods of time and transport it to far away locations.

The first commercial canned goods in America were developed by John Mason in 1812. He created cans made from tin-plated iron sheets that were sealed with a lead-based solder.

Mason went on to create several canned food products such as tomatoes, peaches, and corn. By the mid-1800s, canned goods had become increasingly popular with American consumers due to their long shelf life and convenience.

Innovation in cans continued throughout the 19th century with new types of cans being developed like tin cans with lids that could be opened with a key or a can opener. In 1858, Ezra Warner patented an improved version of the can opener which made it easier and safer to open cans without risk of injury. This further increased the popularity of canned food as people no longer had to worry about cutting themselves when opening a can.

In addition to convenience, canned goods also provided Americans with access to foods that were not available locally or seasonally such as fruits and vegetables from far away places like California and Florida. By 1900, canned goods were widely available throughout America and had become an important part of many households’ diets.

Conclusion:

Canned food has been around since the late 1700s but didn’t become popular in America until after John Mason invented his tin-plated iron sheet cans in 1812. Throughout the 19th century, advances in canning technology meant that Americans could enjoy convenient access to foods from distant places year-round. By 1900, canned foods had become widely available throughout America and had become an important part of many households’ diets.