Why Can’t You Store Canned Food in the Can?

Canned foods are a great way to stock up and save time in the kitchen. But it’s important to know that you can’t store canned food in the can itself. That’s because cans are made of metal, and over time, the metal can react with the food inside and spoil it.

What Happens if You Store Canned Food in the Can?
The metal used to make cans is usually tin-plated steel or aluminum.

When exposed to air and moisture, both metals can corrode and cause chemical reactions with food acids or salts. This reaction creates a metallic taste in the food, which makes it unsafe to eat. In extreme cases, these chemical reactions can also create tiny holes in cans leading to contamination of the canned food.

How Can You Store Canned Food Safely?
The best way to store canned foods is in a cool, dark place like a pantry or cupboard away from direct sunlight.

This will prevent any kind of corrosion due to air or moisture exposure. If possible, try to use up all your canned goods within six months of opening them so they stay fresh for as long as possible.

What About Reusing Cans for Other Purposes?
While it’s not safe for storing food over an extended period of time, you can still reuse cans for other purposes such as making arts and crafts projects or even storing non-food items like screws and nails around the house.

Just make sure to clean them thoroughly before reusing them so you don’t contaminate whatever it is you’re storing inside! Conclusion: It’s important to remember that you should never store canned food inside its original container because over time, air and moisture will corrode the metal causing reactions between the metal and food acids or salts which can spoil the food and make it unsafe to eat. The best way to store canned goods is in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight so they stay fresh for as long as possible – preferably within six months after opening them!