How Long Does Canned Food Last? Guy Eats a 60-Year-Old Korean War Ration

When Did Canning Begin?

In the early 1800's, Napoleon commissioned a food expert to create a method for preserving large quantities of food to feed his soldiers.  What came from these Napoleonic Era efforts were original food storage techniques that are now recognized as the forerunners to modern canning and jarring.  

How Long Can Canned Food Keep?

Now that canning has been in practice for a couple hundred years, we know this is one of the best ways to preserve food for months and years.  We also know that a poorly canned item, or one having a breached container, can be deadly.  What we don't know for certain is how long a canned good will last before it's unsafe for consumption.   The USDA website states that canned low-acid foods may last up to 2 to 5 years; while, high acid foods such as tomatoes and pineapple can last up to 18 months without any problem.  

One Guy Who's Tested the Expiration Limits of Canned Food

What if you discover some canned food that's over 60 years old?  Is it any good?  Is it dangerous?  Well, we found someone who was brave enough to find out.  All we know about this gentleman is that his name is Steve.  And Steve recorded for posterity a play-by-play of his experience consuming canned food that was intended for a front-line soldier in the Korean War.  The following is Steve's recorded video log...