How Long Is Home Canning Good For?

Home-canned food has a long shelf-life.

Home canning allows you to preserve food for long-term storage. In general, home-canned food is at its best for one year, but that can vary, depending on the canning method, the type of food and the storage conditions.

Time Frame

Home-canned foods that have been prepared properly with a modern, well-tested recipe and that have a good vacuum seal will keep indefinitely, according to Ball's Fresh Preserving website. However, the longer the food is stored, the more likely that changes in texture, color or nutritional value may occur that will render the food unappetizing. Most experts agree that home-canned food will be at their highest quality within the first year.

Considerations

Cool, dry storage conditions are crucial to maintaining both the quality and the safety of home-canned foods. Storage at temperatures above 80 degrees can reduce the nutrient content of the food. Exposure to sunlight can damage the jar's seal, allowing bacteria to contaminate the food. Storing highly acidic foods for a long time can allow the acids to eat through the jar's lid and seal, again allowing bacterial contamination.

Warning

If you open a home-canned product and notice an "off" smell or any growth of mold, the food should be discarded, even if it is within the safe time frame. If the food foams or smells bad when you cook it, immediately discard it and thoroughly clean anything that has touched it. Do not taste the food to see if it is safe to eat --- the toxins produced by some bacteria are so dangerous that the smallest amount is fatal.

References

• University of Georgia National Center for Home Preservation: Canning FAQ
• "Stocking Up: How to Preserve the Foods you Grow, Naturally"; Carol Hupping Stoner; 1977
• University of Maine Cooperative Extension: "Can Home-Canned Food Spoil?"; Mahmoud El-Begearmi; 2000
• Eat Right Ontario: Home Canning FAQs
• Ball's Fresh Preserving: FAQ