How long do canned goods last?
In the fridge, canned goods keep for 3 to 4 days after opening. In the pantry, they keep for 2 to 5 years from the package date. Once opened, use it within 3 to 4 days. All 2 kinds are below.
2 to 5 years
from the package date
3 to 4 days
after opening
3 to 4 days
in the fridge unless noted
By kind
| Kind | Pantry | Fridge | After opening | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| low acid (such as meat, poultry, fish, gravy, stew, soups, beans, carrots, corn, pasta, peas, potatoes, spinach) | 2 to 5 years | no guideline | 3 to 4 days | no guideline |
| high acid (such as juices, fruit, pickles, sauerkraut, tomato soup, and foods in vinegar-based sauce) | 12 to 18 months | no guideline | 5 to 7 days | no guideline |
No guideline: USDA gives no time for that place, usually because the food is not stored that way.
Do canned goods go bad?
Yes. The fridge time above is the window USDA gives for good quality; after it, canned goods may still be safe for a short while but quality drops and spoilage signs start. The date on the package is the maker's quality promise; the times here count from purchase unless marked "from the package date".
Two numbers to keep in mind: a fridge at 40 F (4 C) or below, and no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90 F / 32 C) for anything perishable.
How to tell canned goods have gone bad
- Throw out any can that is bulging, leaking, rusted through or cracked, without tasting. Do not use a can that spurts liquid or foams when opened.
- Dents: a small dent on the side is usually fine, but a deep dent, or any dent on a seam or the rim, can let bacteria in. Discard those cans.
- Once open, food with an off odour, mould, or a cloudy liquid that should be clear goes out.
- High-acid canned food (tomatoes, fruit, pickles) keeps best quality 12 to 18 months; low-acid (meat, fish, vegetables, soups) 2 to 5 years. After that the food is usually still safe if the can is intact.
Sources: Shelf-Stable Food Safety (USDA FSIS). The times on this page are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
How long do other shelf stable foods last?
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.