We’re accustomed to seeing expiration dates on canned food at the store so, naturally, we wonder when our home-canned food will go bad.
The thing is … there is no timeframe that applies to all home-canned goods.
So how can we know if our canned food is still good? Let’s chat about it!
How Long Does Canned Food Last?
Canned food can last anywhere from one year to five years or more, depending on various factors.
However, the key to determining whether or not your canned goods are still safe to consume is by familiarizing yourself with the signs that they have gone bad.
8 Signs That Your Canned Food Has Gone Bad
1. Bulging Lid
A bulging lid is a sign that gases have fermented inside the jar and are attempting to blow the lid off.
A properly canned item that has not lost its seal and is still safe to eat will be completely flat on top and even a little bit concave because the vacuum seal has pulled the lid down a bit.
2. A Popping “Button”
All canning lids have a little disc in the center that gets “suctioned down” when it seals. In fact, that’s the telltale sign that you’ve achieved a vacuum seal.
If you can push that button in the center of the lid down and hear a popping noise, then that jar has come unsealed and it is no longer safe to consume.
3. Loose Seal
If your lids comes off too easily—and you don’t hear that release of suction—then that is a false seal and the jar is not safe to consume.
4. Visible Seepage
Visible seepage is a sign that the contents inside the jar are fermenting due to trapped, bad bacteria. If you see liquid or sticky residue coming out from under the lid, the food is no longer safe to consume.
5. Active Bubbles
Active bubbles are a sign that the canned food has gone bad. If you see bubbles rising to the top, especially if you pop open the lid and a rush of bubbles fizz to the top, then that item is likely tainted with bad bacteria.
6. A High-Pitch Spewing Sound
If the lid spews when you open it, that’s also a sign that it is bad.
There does need to be a little sound when we open the lid because it’s releasing suction, but if it makes this high-pitched, spewing-type noise, then the food is no longer good.
7. Visual Irregularities
If you open the lid and notice signs of mold or bright colors like blue or pink (aka mold), then you’ll want to toss it.
8. Foul Odors
Trust your sniffer when it comes to canned goods. If in doubt, throw it out.
