The idea of canned food has been around for centuries, with the first instances of preserved food in jars, or “cans”, being found as far back as the 1500s. It was around this time that the practice of preserving food in airtight containers began to gain popularity.
In 1795, a French confectioner by the name of Nicolas Appert developed the method of preserving food by heating it and then sealing it in glass containers. This method was revolutionary at the time and led to a major breakthrough in food preservation. Appert’s method would later be refined by an Englishman named Peter Durand who developed the first “canning” process in 1810.
Durand’s method involved sealing food inside a tin container that was made from iron and then boiling it to destroy any bacteria or microorganisms that could potentially spoil the food. This process allowed for long-term storage of canned goods without them spoiling and made it possible to transport them over long distances without fear of contamination or spoilage.
It wasn’t until 1820 that canned goods really started to become popular among consumers and began appearing on store shelves across Europe and North America. By this time, Durand had perfected his canning process and his invention had become widely accepted in many countries around the world.
Canned foods quickly gained popularity due to their convenience, affordability, and ease of storage compared to fresh foods. Over time, more sophisticated methods of canning were developed which allowed for longer shelf lives for canned foods as well as different types of packaging such as aluminum cans which are still widely used today.
Today canned foods are an essential part of many people’s diets due to their convenience and cost effectiveness which makes them an attractive option for those on a budget or those with limited access to fresh produce. Canned foods have come a long way since they were first introduced over two centuries ago but their popularity has not waned even after all this time.
In conclusion, people began eating canned food around 1820, when Peter Durand’s invention became widely accepted around the world due to its convenience, affordability and ease of storage compared to fresh foods. Today, canned foods remain popular among consumers due to their convenience and cost effectiveness which makes them an attractive option for those on a budget or those with limited access to fresh produce.