Stocking - Up

[Gunner12]

How long will most canned foods last, or how long can I trust them before I throw them out?
Is it safe to buy older canned goods to save a little $$?

[Keith]

It varies a lot on what the item is and what you are preserving it in.

Also I would suggest glass over cans as cans will leech into the food over time esp. if the food is acidic like tomato products.

[Gunner12]

I'm talking about off the shelf type canned goods, like from a store.

[1Brotherbill]

Higher acid foods don't last as long as no acid foods.

Cans with solid tops I find last longer then cans with easy open lids.

I went through a horders house about a year ago. I found baked beans that were ten years old and looked good. I also found canned stew that was ten years old and the can looked good. I also found canned tomatoes that the can was completely empty. Same thing with canned pineapple can completely empty.

So if push came to shove. I would have to say I would eat the baked beans and stew. Though right now I wouldn't eat anything much passed the expiration date. There is a reason they put the date on the can.