Can of tuna - and other canned stuff. When to throw it out?

[Weazel]

I have some canned goods which I gathered during the thing we shall not mention.
I also have dry pasta, rice and other dry stuff.

I just went in the cupboard to check what I had, and I have a few cans of tuna that expired in 2022.
Now, I know that a lot of canned goods (Tomato, corn, soup, beans etc) are perfectly good to use way after the expiration date, but tuna?

What say you, and do you have any other advice on other long term canned stuff?

 

[johnny k]

Do it ! in the name of science !

• Harry Callahan: [to Killer] Uh uh. I know what you're thinking, punk. You're thinking "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Now to tell you the truth, I've forgotten myself in all this excitement. But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world and will blow your head clean off, you've gotta ask yourself a question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?

Just kidding. I would throw it out.

 

[Jared Purdy]

I have some canned goods which I gathered during the thing we shall not mention.
I also have dry pasta, rice and other dry stuff.

I just went in the cupboard to check what I had, and I have a few cans of tuna that expired in 2022.
Now, I know that a lot of canned goods (Tomato, corn, soup, beans etc) are perfectly good to use way after the expiration date, but tuna?

What say you, and do you have any other advice on other long term canned stuff?

I'd recommend listening to Burgers or Live at the New Orleans House by Hot Tuna and then decide.

All kidding aside, the sniff test always works. If the can is bulged, toss it. Just open a can, give it a sniff. I bet it's fine. We eat a lot of canned fish in my house, so it never even reaches months old. Tuna is in a brine, so that helps with the preservation. As for the pasta, while it might not be bad in the literal sense, it's most definitely stale. Rice also goes stale. I went through my cupboard recently and inspected the pasta. It's not something that we eat regularly, so I threw out all of it.

 

[uriah1]

If armagedeon happened and it was my last, you bet your bippy I would.
However, if it is just the regular now, I would not.
They probably push that date around anyway based on production
quotas.

 

[Weazel]

Thank you, @Jared Purdy that is what i always do when things in the fridge have passed the expiration date. Look and sniff.

(I love overexpired beef steaks though, especially sirloin steaks but I always do the sniff test. Beef can often smell a bit dodgy right out of the vacuum pack, but sniff it again after a few minutes and you will know.)

Chicken and pork? No way. I am not even going to sniff it. And to be frank, I do not buy that much of it.

As for dry goods, I circulate them regularly, although I really hate to throw out food. Both pasta and rice are fairly cheap.

 

[stxrus]

If the can is damaged or bulging, dispose of immediately. I would not open it.

My general rule is 6 months after the expiration date. I’d rather be safe than sorry. But that’s me.

I’ve found stuff in the pantry that has been 3 years since it’s due date

 

[memorex]

Unless you're auditioning for the show Eating History, I would pitch it.

 

[Manual Slim]

I recently cleaned out the cabinets at my mother-in-law's place and ate a couple of foil packs of tuna dated 2019. I'd have done the same with cans if they were intact.

 

[dkmw]

 

[BigDaddyLH]

Don't throw anything away! The apocalypse will be here any day now.

 

[john_cribbin]

Don't have any issues with out of date tins. Found some 2019 beans in the back of a cupboard a few months ago, they were fine.

At the bottom of the chest freezer I've found some frozen salmon fillets from 2017. Worked through the first bag one more to go and I've not died yet.

If it doesn't smell off, it's good to go in my opinion.

 

[drf64]

View attachment 1263135

Don't throw anything away! The apocalypse will be here any day now.

I kind of agree with both of these bits of advice.

And…I’ve eaten tuna older than that both from a can and a foil pouch. I’m still here, ain’t I?

My stage name is P.T. Omaine.

 

[Nicko_Lps]

perfectly good to use way after the expiration date, but tuna?

Open the can and if it doesnt stink, feed it to a kitty.
You will make a new friend!

 

[catdaddy]

As others mentioned with canned foods, if any damage to the can then pitch it. If it doesn't smell right pitch it. In general, when in doubt toss it out. With dry pasta or rice make sure you check for insects. I've found little bugs in old sealed pasta boxes.

 

[Preacher]

If the can looks like this

Throw it out!

 

[Weazel]

Ask a Swede and he will tell you it is supposed to look like that

 

[Chiogtr4x]

I have a 10 year max limit on tuna.

* I also store cans of dehydrated water- 'Just add water!'

 

[Killing Floor]

When my daughter comes home from school she throws out everything in the pantry and refrigerator that is near “sell by” date so I don’t worry about it.

 

[canteytoque]

As others have said, check the can for damage and/or bulging.

One of the things that makes botulism so deadly is that the tainted food won’t smell or taste bad. But cooking tainted food neutralizes the spores and their deadly toxins. So, you’ll want to be extremely careful with canned goods that you’d eat raw. Peaches, for example.

This information is available online, so don’t take my word for it, and check reputable sources. Reputable is the key word, because there’s an awful lot of nonsense online about food and nutrition. USDA website: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/foodborne-illness-and-disease/pathogens/clostridium-botulinum

That said, where I live, two years beyond the expiration date is nothing (again, make sure the can is intact and check the contents). In Spain and probably in Portugal, it’s common knowledge that canned fish gets tastier beyond its expiration date (maybe up to five years; I wouldn’t push it beyond that), but the industry here is famous for being among the best worldwide. Check the label to see where it’s from. Here’s a link about Iberian canned fish and seafood:

https://www.seriouseats.com/what-are-conservas-iberian-spanish-portuguese-canned-seafood

 

[Toto'sDad]

If the can is damaged or bulging, dispose of immediately. I would not open it.

My general rule is 6 months after the expiration date. I’d rather be safe than sorry. But that’s me.

I’ve found stuff in the pantry that has been 3 years since it’s due date

It's a little known scientific fact, there is no expiration date on ice-cream, if it's still frozen, I'm gonna eat it!