Shelf life

[user 7704]

I was looking for some canned fruit yesterday and found some ruined aluminum cans. What is the shelf life? Not home canned in glass jars, but the metal type.

 

[Dani]

As long as the can is intact and food is not exposed to air with a pin point hole or other I would treat as a normal can of food. I would also avoid if on a seam. I would use it first though.

 

[user 7704]

Thanks. I threw one away that you could shake and the fruit inside was dried. Couldn't find any holes, but one must have been there.

 

[Dani]

Yeah I wouuldnt have taken that chance either. If it seemed dry by shaking I would think you would have had some indication of leaking though.

 

[Petoski]

if it smells good, looks good and tastes good, it is good.

 

[tmttactical]

if it smells good, looks good and tastes good, it is good.

AND if you get sick or die, it was bad!!

 

[Dani]

if it smells good, looks good and tastes good, it is good.

not always. Botulism is odorless, colorless, and tasteless.

 

[Maverick]

What I do for old can, I never look at dates

Pull the paper off around the can, inspect it for rust, bulge and punctures, check for damages and rust around the upper and lower seam, if all is good open it, look and smell, if things are fine, dump it out in a bowl, look at the content then check the bottom of the can for darkness in color in the tin (inside), if everything looks and smell good I eat it.

Edited: didn't add bulge above "inspect it for rust, bulge and punctures"

 

[Morgan101]

I can add nothing new, but I 100% concur with what Maverick posted. That is exactly what I would do.