Which canned foods should I get for my long-term stockpile?
“There are wide a variety of canned foods… I can’t decide which ones to buy…”
“What are the key points when buying canned food for a long-term emergency?
“I am worried about taste…”
In an emergency situation, if you have food, you will be lucky. Canned food might not be as tasty as you would like, but you will be glad to have it.
This post focuses on our long-term stockpile. For our long-term stockpile, we need a limited variety of high calorie food (see post #15). High calories should be our goal when shopping for canned food. Also: we want high protein canned food. In a previous post, I recommended rice and dried foods (#22, #26). Canned food is a very good source of protein. It is a must have!!
When you buy canned foods, please check to make sure there are no dents or bulges, and be sure to get the latest possible expiration date. I don’t recommend buying canned food over the internet, because I sometimes receive cans with short expiration dates. I always check the full range of expiration dates at the store and pick up the ones with the latest dates I can find. Sometimes they’re hidden way at the back of the shelf.
Explosion!? Yes! Some canned foods have a risk of explosion, sitting for a long time in your long-term stockpile. The most common causes are spoilage and hydrogen. Hydrogen can be produced from the interaction of acids in the food and the metals of the cans. (Examples of high acid foods are tomatoes and other fruits. Examples of low acid foods are meat and vegetables.) Tin is often used as a coating for steel cans to prevent corrosion and to prolong shelf life. Cans with tin coatings are suitable for acidic foods; tin provides a barrier against interactions and helps protect the taste and quality of the food. But sometimes the tin coating does not work after the expiration date. So that’s one of the factors companies consider when they set expiration dates. You need to be careful.
Bacteria causes spoilage and creates gas buildup. While canned food is generally safe, there are cases where the food goes bad. Exploding cans are proof of this. I imagine, during can preparation and packaging, the may be cases where the food is not cooked completely, leaving some bacteria alive and thriving in the cans. This remaining bacteria continues to grow, producing the toxin. Clostridium botulinum does well in environments that are low acid, low sugar, and low oxygen. (USDA)
Canned foods that come from other countries might explode because they stay in the heat for a long time on a ship. Especially if the ship passes near the equator. If a ship has a cooling system, it might be ok, but if not… Always be carful and check this.
Signs of canned food spoilage (do not eat!)
- A lid that bulges or that moves up & down when you press on it.
- Food spewing or exploding out when the can is opened.
- Rust/corrosion on the can.
- Leakage.
- Dents/Swelling.
- Acrid smell/the color seems off.
- Rising bubbles or unnatural looking colors.
- A loud hissing sound when a can is opened is a warning sign. A soft, quiet hiss is normal.
In most of cases, it’s safe to eat expired canned food. Canned foods are designed to be shelf-stable for long periods of time, and as long as the can isn’t damaged, the food inside should still be safe to eat. But it’s always best to err on the side of caution. When in doubt, throw it out.
High calories should be our goal when shopping for canned food. Also: we want high protein canned food.
Also, when you set up canned foods in your emergency stockpile, be careful not to pile up too many cans on top of each other. Too much weight can overload a can and may cause leakage.
Things to Remember
- Keep your food in a cool, dry place. No high humidity and no direct sunlight.
- Please do not forget that before eating long-term stockpile foods, absolutely check the food’s appearance and smell. Trust your five senses. Eat them at your own risk.
I prefer to pick up commercially available canned foods because I don’t want to use my energy making canned foods by myself. One day I will learn how to make DIY canned foods, but it is not the right time. Not just yet.
These are the canned foods I bought.
Tuna
Salmon
Sardines
Mackerel
Beans
Azuki beans
Spam
I made Spam Musubi (super easy way).
Recipe for Spam Musubi (easy way).
1. Cook steamed rice and grill both sides of sliced Spam. (Many people use sauce or other seasoning to grill Spam, but it already contains enough salt. So, just grill it up and use it.)
2. Put the rice on top of nori seaweed, and Spam on top of the rice.
3. Wrap them up.
4. Enjoy!
Pick up canned food with a few simple ingredients (or better yet, one single ingredient) and it will keep much longer in your stockpile.
See you next time.