Shelf Life of Canned Goods ~ Think Before You Throw Out

"You can store canned goods for at least one year. After one year, the quality of the food tends to deteriorate. However, experiments have shown that properly canned and stored food may remain safe for consumption, even after 100 years."

~ The Home Preserving Bible by Carole Cancler

Though the nutritional value of your home canned goods may be less after one year, I would hesitate before I threw them out. If you need the jars in order to can more food, then that would make sense. However, if you are simply dumping jar contents because they are over your year mark, you may want to reconsider. These items can still be a blessing as an emergency food storage supply. If anything unfortunate was to happen, you would be praising God for your "old food"! I have personally eaten our plum jam five years later (and lived to type this story) and it still tasted wonderful!

"Properly Canned and Stored Food"

Just keep in mind that this applies to "properly canned and stored food" with updated and tested recipes and canned with the correct and modern processing procedures. In other words, if a recipe says to pressure can, you must pressure can. If your canning cookbook is from the 70's, consider a newer version.

For optimal storage, keep your jars of canned goods, with rings removed (and with jars wiped down with a damp cloth after canning), in a clean, dry and cool location (50-70 degrees is ideal, though not always possible for us). Avoid storing home canned goods in direct sunlight or in areas like a garage where there is extreme temperatures.

"When in Doubt"

When in doubt and in dire straits (like that emergency we spoke about earlier), you can boil all home canned vegetables and meats for 10 minutes (15 minutes if at 5,000 feet above sea level) prior to tasting and consuming. Boil home canned spinach or corn for 20 minutes prior to tasting. According to Carole Cancler who has a BS in food science, if toxin is present in those items, it is readily destroyed by boiling.

"When to Throw It Out"

Do not keep jars that are oozing liquid, with swollen or bulging lids, contents smell "off" or jar contains any fuzzy mold inside/around lids or with the liquid inside the jar showing moving bubbles. Seals should be inverted, strong and in place. Never taste food if jar shows any of these signs of spoilage. Botulism is deadly and can lead to respiratory failure, paralysis or even death. Lastly, remember the golden canning rule, when in doubt, throw it out!

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