Canned products are quite popular among buyers due to long-term storage. However, it is important to keep in mind that each type of product and packaging has its own unique preservation methods. Further, the material will consider the conditions and shelf life of canned goods in different containers and with different contents.
To begin with, it is necessary to separately analyze the permissible storage duration of various canned products.
Shelf life of vegetable products
One of the most popular types. Most often such canned food is stored in glass jars. A metal container is used a little less often. A feature of the second type of container is a layer of varnish or enamel, which is applied by the manufacturer to the inner walls of the vessel. This is due to organic acids found in vegetables. Duration of storage depends on:
- method of processing products;
- varieties of what is contained in the container;
- the very type of container (glass or can).
Based on the data presented above, it is possible to distinguish several different time intervals during which products are stored:
- if a polymer storage is used or containers made of combined film material, vegetable products can be stored for no more than six months;
- if sterilized vegetables are stored in a glass container, then the storage period will not exceed two years;
- if a can or metal packaging is used, then such a product will be stored for no more than twelve months;
- unsterilized vegetables in a glass container will remain usable for one year;
- if an aluminum container is used, then the shelf life will be reduced to six months;
It's also worth talking about individual products. For example, sweet corn in a metal can with an internal enamel coating will be usable for four years. Without it - no more than two. If a glass container is used for corn, then the suitability for consumption remains for three years. Another example is industrial mushrooms. In any container, the shelf life of canned food will not be more than two years.
Fruit and berry products
Here, all storage dates almost completely coincide with those indicated above. I.e:
- a sterilized product is stored in a glass container for two years, and in a metal container - one;
- unsterilized in glass - a year, and in the rest - no more than half a year;
- polymer and combined film materials will maintain the product's suitability for use for six months;
- as exceptions are stewed fruit from crops such as cherry, apricot, cherry plum and others. Due to the fact that the bones contain substances that, when decay, form the strongest poison, the latter are removed from the fetus, and the shelf life is twelve months, regardless of packaging.
Shelf life of canned fish
It is worth noting that such dishes are not much inferior in usefulness and nutrition to fresh fish, which to some extent allows you to save on purchases. However, this is not about benefits. So, the shelf life of canned food such as sardines in oil, regardless of the container in which they are stored, will not exceed two years.
The bottom line here is the changes that the content undergoes. It is known that many canned fish fit together with bones. Due to processing, they gradually soften, as a result of which they practically do not differ in softness from the meat itself. However, after a few months, the fish product begins to age.
Do not forget about caviar in the bank. If it is granular and without preservatives, then the shelf life lasts for three months. And that is not always the case. It is advisable not to let the eggs lie for more than two months. The product with preservatives will be suitable for use within five months. If the caviar is pasteurized and without preservatives, then such canned food can be stored up to a year.
Canned meat and canned meat
This type of product refers to canned food for long periods. Subject to all standards (which will be discussed later), products can last up to five years. Nevertheless, it is worth analyzing specific cases in more detail:
- if canned meat was packed in cans and has a weld, they will be suitable for use within five years after packaging;
- if containers made of alternative material are used, but also with a weld, the shelf life will not exceed four years, which is almost equal to the previous indicators;
- canned meat in glass jars is stored for no more than three years.
Next, it is worth considering the conditions on which the shelf life of canned food depends.
How to store closed canned food
The most basic conditions are temperature, which should not be higher than eight degrees above zero, and in air humidity - not more than 75%. Canned food in a glass dish should be kept in a dark place, avoiding direct sunlight. Now more about the main secrets that allow you to keep closed canned foods for longer:
- The best place to find unopened canned goods is a pantry or a cellar, provided with a high-quality ventilation system.
- To extend the shelf life of canned food, it is worth treating the container with anti-corrosion grease. But do not forget to remove it before you open the jar.
- Standing on the same shelf, cans with canned food should be at some distance from each other. It is best to cover them with cardboard partitions or simply hide them in boxes of the same material.
- When purchasing canned goods, read the storage conditions that are offered by the manufacturer. Most often, all the necessary information about the temperature at which it is allowed to keep closed canned food is indicated on the wrapper.
- In no case do not freeze canned food. After a sharp change in ambient temperature, the container will simply burst. At the same time, glass jars can "slam" so much that the fragments will fly around the room.
How to store open canned food
You should be more careful here. Since the shelf life of canned food after opening is much less, the chance of getting food poisoning becomes higher. Here are some helpful suggestions to help avoid danger:
- Immediately after the container with products has been opened, they should be transferred to dishes with good tightness. The best materials will be glass, ceramic or food grade plastic. This cookware should be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature not exceeding five degrees above zero.
- If you purchased juice not in packages, but in banks, then its shelf life is reduced to a day after opening. It is also recommended to immediately install a nylon cover on the dishes.
- Products such as mushrooms, peas and corn should be kept open for no more than two days. At the same time, they should be in brine.
- If you still have an open can of stew, then you need to store it in the refrigerator. At the same time, the period of her stay there should not exceed a day. Before using such canned food, make sure that there are no signs of spoilage and boil the contents to stop the development of harmful bacteria.
- The same rule applies to canned fish. After you open the canned food, their shelf life is reduced to a day. Moreover, they must be kept in the refrigerator.
- If you opened canned vegetables (peas or corn) and did not have time to eat them, then drain all the juice and put the jar in the freezer.
Now it’s worth considering one of the most important points regarding these products - marking on the lid of canned food.
What do the numbers on the lid or bottom mean?
Standard numbers are a set of symbols that are applied in two or three rows. For example, this option:
01/01/10
1 01V
A 15
- the first line indicates the date of manufacture: standard date, month and year;
- further - the shift number, which consists of one digit;
- product assortment number;
- then comes the index of the system of the enterprise that manufactures these products;
- and the last digits indicate the number of the manufacturer.
Now it’s worthwhile to understand in more detail the principles of labeling on various types of canned products.
Labeling on fish products
In this case, two options for marking information on the cover are considered: with domestic marking equipment and imported. In the first case, the signature is presented as follows: in the first row, the figures indicate the date of production, the month when the product was produced, and the year of production.
In the second row is the assortment index and the number of the organization that produces the products.
In the case of imported equipment: in the first row, the “R” industry is indicated first - that is, the fishing industry, then - the production date, month and year.
In the second row: shift number (if it is not one), assortment index (from one to three digits and a letter) and one or two digits of the enterprise index.
How are canned milk labeled?
As a rule, in the case of canned dairy products, the marking is indicated on the bottom of the container. First of all, it indicates from five to eight characters plus the date of manufacture. The first characters indicate:
- the product belongs to the dairy industry - "M";
- one or two digits as the index of the manufacturer, as well as the person responsible for preserving this product;
- product range index. Most often, one to three numbers and / or letters are indicated;
- serial number of the shift, if it was not one. It is indicated by a single digit.
Labeling of canned fruits and vegetables
This type of canned product is usually labeled with three lines. Thus, the first row indicates:
- assortment index of a specific product, consisting of three digits;
- one or two digits indicating the shift number or the brigade.
In the second row you can find out:
- production day;
- month;
- year.
In the third row it is noted:
- index of the industry to which the manufacturer belongs. In a particular case, it will be either "K" or "KS";
- index of the company engaged in the production of these products.
There are also cases of lithographic packaging. Then you can see:
- two digits of shift or team number;
- production day;
- month;
- year.
What should I look for when buying canned food?
The following is a couple of simple tips to help you choose foods that won't harm your body. Among them:
- carefully check the jar for integrity and swelling;
- shock and listen. If you hear a gurgling sound - inside is full of water;
- Check the composition for extraneous and suspicious products;
- read the labeling;
- check the manufacturer.