Walk into any grocery store or a preppers pantry, and you will see a solid selection of canned goods. Canned goods have been a food staple for centuries, and for good reason.

For someone who want to be prepared, canned food routinely wins out over many other long life shelf food choices:

• As a food preservation technique, canning is very, very effective. In 1939, researchers found canned food left behind by Sir John Franklin in the Arctic in 1845. It was still edible nearly 100 years later! (The extreme cold environment did help in this case though. We don’t recommend you consuming 100 years old canned food at home.)
• Industrially manufactured canned food is cheaply available. In fact, one the cheapest (and also one of the easiest) ways to begin a food-storage plan is to just buy a few extra canned goods at each trip to the grocery store, gradually build it up over time.
• Canned food is easy to store. It requires no refrigeration, and places minimum demand on the storage condition: aim for room temperature, between 50 – 70 F (10 – 21 C) and away from excessive moisture, it will last for years.
• There is also a wide variety so you can find the best canned food for your family based on the taste preferences and the nutritional value of what you are storing.

All in all, canned foods are just simple: not only are they simple to buy, simple to store, they are also precooked, require no preparation to eat. All you need is a can opener, and you’re good to go!

Buying canned food

You should have a variety of foods in your stockpile. With over 1500 different types of foods coming in cans, there is a substantial selection of canned goods available. When buying canned foods, look at the expiration dates. However, always keep in mind that the expiration date on a can doesn’t mean your food is no longer edible after that date.  

Expiration dates on canned foods refer to taste and freshness. It doesn’t speak to the safety of it. I am in no position to offer medical advice or tell you to eat expired food; however, research has looked at canned goods past their expiration and found that although the nutritional value declined, it’s still edible. The risk of botulism is a more significant risk than the expiration date. Botulism occurs when air gets into the can, causing bacteria clostridium botulinum to grow, releasing toxins that are strong enough to kill you.  

The acidity of the food affects the expiration date. Highly acidic foods like tomatoes often have an expiration timeline of 1.5 years, where low acidic foods like meat have an expiry of up to 5 years. Stick to the expiration dates while you can, and rotate through your canned goods. This means eating and replacing foods that are close to their expiration. An organized storage system will make this easier.

Canning food at home

When preparing your emergency food supply, you may opt to can some of your own food, like, stews, fruits, and vegetables. The canning process is simple if you have the right tools. 

If you want to can homegrown food, you should invest in a home canning kit or purchase the supplies individually.

For prepared foods, you must purchase a pressure canner. If you have canned jams before, you may have used a water bath canner. Water bath canners work for jams but will not work for other items. There is a much greater risk of botulism in home canning. If bacteria aren’t killed off or if the cans aren’t adequately sealed, you put yourself at risk. 

Storing canned food

If your cans are damaged, air can get in and contaminate the food. You must store canned goods properly; otherwise, your efforts and food can go to waste. The area you store your foods should be cool, free from pests, low humidity, away from natural light, and easy to access. You must keep cans off the ground as well. Common areas include a pantry, under stairs, root cellar, or utility room.