Safe storage of tins and jars

[SingingBabooshkaBadly]

I started slowly building up a reserve about a year ago. Before Christmas I moved most of it (tins and jars stored in large plastic lidded crates) into the shed as space was an issue at home and have put all new purchases there since.

It never occurred to me that it might not be safe to store tinned food and jars like this. Given that we had record breaking temperatures a couple of weeks ago will the food still be safe to eat? I’ve googled and one article says if the tin looks ok (no rust or bulging) then it’s safe to eat but other articles imply otherwise.

I really don’t want to waste it. There’s about 20 cans of tuna for a start! Loads of tomatoes, fruit etc. I didn’t really run my stocks down after March as most of it was very long dated and I thought it better to use up freezer food first and while I’m more than happy to eat tinned fruit if necessary I preferred to carry on eating fresh while it’s readily available!

Hoping Bellini or other, wise, more experienced preppers can offer advice.

They are probably fine.
If you open them & they smell funny or look weird (or weirder than tinned food usually looks if you see what I mean) I'd bin them but unless they've been really cooking I wouldn't throw them away until I'd at least opened one to see.
Your shed may not have got as hot inside as you think (but only you know that of course)

Cool, dry & dark is always the recommended storage for pretty much everything food wise (especially things in glass jars because they are usually clear glass.)

I'm worried about the Armageddon. What should I be doing?

Thanks @Snugglepumpkin I suppose I’m more worried about there being an issue you can’t necessarily see. You might be right about it not having got as hot as I’m imagining. The shred is in a relatively shaded spot and tbh, the house itself was pretty sauna-like that week.

Thanks for your contribution Pepperpot. Such a pity you don’t have something more interesting to do on a Friday evening.

Probably fine. I found a little stash of tins I had put away haphazardly in a plastic bag in the garage a few years ago. The tins had got a bit rusty on the outside. We emptied them to recycle the cans. The contents of the cans looked and smelled fine. Didn't want to risk there being some contamination I couldn't see. And dh insisted

@pepperpot99 - you could start by learning how and when to use definite articles.

you could start by learning how and when to use definite articles. 😂😂😂😂

@bellinisurge - thanks for replying. I think that’s my issue really. That I think they’re ‘probably’ fine but I wouldn’t necessarily know by just looking/smelling the contents and if we’re in a situation where we need the food in a few months time how will I know if it’s safe to eat? One article said if the can itself looks ok then the contents are ok. I really want to believe that as it would be such a criminal waste of good food to chuck it. It’s a stash that was built up slowly over almost year so it’s a lot of food and represents quite a significant financial outlay.

I’m in a quandary. I was feeling pretty well prepared and now I’m eyeing up everything wondering if I’m just going to give us food poisoning 😱

Wondering how long stuff has to be stored at high temperature as that heatwave was pretty short-lived and it was very hot in our kitchen where the day to day stuff is kept anyway.

I’m a terrible worrier!

If it's recently bought and the tins aren't corroded, I would use them. The seal on them hasn't been broken in some way. Maybe put a mark on them with a marker pen so that you know which ones they are. If you, on reflection find a better spot to put them, you will know which ones they are.

Thanks again Bellini. They aren’t all recently bought - having been at this for about a year now - but they are all well within date. I think I’ll start using them now and replace as and when. At least I’ll be able to spot any obvious problems sooner rather than later.

Appreciate your help, as ever.

A year old is "recently bought" in tin language.

bellini 😂😂😂😂😂

Have made corn chowder for lunch from the stash. Will report back later and let you know if I’m still alive 😂

With the recipe, I hope 😂

Tins don't seem to last as long as they used to in my experience. I ate a tin of oxtail soup that was expired by about 6 months. It was separated and off.

@bellinisurge

So far so good but you never know so I’ll leave the recipe now just in case...

I did post this on the thread bercows started yesterday but I think I forgot a couple of things.

Fry chopped onion for a couple of minutes, add chopped mixed peppers and fry some more. (Can used fresh or frozen)
Add a tin of sweetcorn kernels, a tin of creamed corn, chicken stock cube and milk, black pepper, garlic paste, some chopped tinned potatoes and loads of dried thyme.

I don’t measure out the milk etc just chuck in what looks right.

I usually use fresh potatoes, veg, milk etc but tried it recently with all store cupboard/freezer supplies including UHT milk and it was pretty good.

Today I was out of fresh milk and used half powdered and half Oatly barista. It was a revelation. So creamy and delicious.

If only I’d had some bacon to fry up and scatter on top...

Thanks. Oatly Barista is yum imho.

I was wondering the opposite, if I build up a stash of tins in my garage does it matter if it freezes in there?dont really have the room to fill up the house with tins, but I want to get a good supply going of tinned veg, freezer is full but a power outage would render it all useless.

I would speculate that it doesn't get cold enough to freeze the contents. Although it feels very cold. I put any of my tins or jars on either old carpet or old cardboard if they aren't in an old cupboard I use for storage in there. Not directly on the garage floor.

If it freezes it'll expand and damage the tins I think.

My garage is detached and not insulated so not much warmer than a garden shed I would guess. Although I think we’re past the point of it dropping below freezing most days now.