It’s easy to take for granted the convenience of canned foods, but have you ever thought about when canned food first became a common way to store food? Canned food has been around for centuries, but it wasn’t until the 19th century that canning as we know it today became widely used.
The origins of canning date back to the late 18th century in France, where a confectioner by the name of Nicolas Appert began experimenting with ways to preserve food. Appert heated food in glass bottles and sealed them with corks and wax, finding that this process kept the food from spoiling. His invention earned him a prize from Napoleon Bonaparte, who was looking for ways to preserve food for his troops.
In 1809, British inventor Peter Durand patented his version of Appert’s invention, which involved sealing food in tin cans instead of glass bottles. This method proved much more successful than Appert’s as tin cans were much sturdier and better at keeping air out.
However, it was not until 1864 that a practical industrial process was developed by a French man named Henri Nestlé. His method involved sealing cans with two layers of metal and soldering them together using heat.
By the late 19th century, canned foods had become popular among consumers in Europe and North America due to their convenience and long shelf-life. Large-scale production of canned foods began during World War I when militaries on both sides needed reliable sources of nutrition for their troops. This led to an increase in demand for canned foods, which sparked technological advances in canning processes and made them even more efficient and affordable.
By the mid-20th century, canned foods had become commonplace in households around the world. They were no longer just seen as emergency rations or military provisions but as convenient everyday staples for home cooking. Today, canned foods are still popular due to their affordability and convenience; they are available in nearly every grocery store and come in a wide variety of flavors and sizes.
Overall, it took centuries from when Appert first experimented with preserving food until canned goods became widely available. Thanks to technological advances over time such as Henri Nestle’s invention of double-layered metal cans soldered together with heat, what started out as an experimental preservation technique has evolved into one of the most efficient ways to store food today.
When Did Canned Food Become Common? Canned goods first appeared on the market during the 19th century but didn’t become widely available until after World War I when technological advances made them more efficient and affordable. By mid-20th century they had become commonplace around the world due their convenience and affordability making them an essential part of everyday life today