I came across some old, unopened canned food in
my basement (originally from the grocery store) and
I don't know if it's still good. Advice, please?

About 9-10 years old:
canned tuna
canned salmon
canned pineapple
canned beans

About 4 years old:
canned sweetened condensed milk

Thanks,

Steve

Steven Zwanger wrote:

> About 9-10 years old:
> canned tuna
> canned salmon
> canned pineapple
> canned beans
>
> About 4 years old:
> canned sweetened condensed milk
>

If you have a dog or cat they would probably enjoy the
tuna and salmon. I would pitch the pineapple and
beans.

For the sweetened condensed milk, it should still be
quite safe. My personal favourite is Iris Cream.
Combine the SCM with a pint of cream, 4 eggs, 10-12 oz
of Irish whiskey and a spoonful of chocolate syrup in a
blender and whizz it together.

On 20 Dec 2003 15:51:06 -0800, (Steven Zwanger)
wrote:

>I came across some old, unopened canned food in
>my basement (originally from the grocery store) and
>I don't know if it's still good. Advice, please?
>
>About 9-10 years old:
>canned tuna
>canned salmon
>canned pineapple
>canned beans

Aa long as they're not bulging, indicating contamination, they're
still OK to eat. Quality ad taste usually suffers after a couple of
years, though. After 9-10 years I'd pitch everything.

-sw

Steve Wertz wrote:

> Aa long as they're not bulging, indicating contamination, they're
> still OK to eat. Quality ad taste usually suffers after a couple of
> years, though. After 9-10 years I'd pitch everything.
>

Do they have to bulge before they are inedible. Last year I grabbed a can
of tomato past out f my pantry to use in a dish I was cooking. It was
Top's brand, and I had not been to Top's in 5 or 6 years. I slapped the
can opener on it, squeezed the handles together and sprayed my ceiling
with tomato paste. Maybe I was a little hasty in judgement, but I pitched
the rest of the can.

On Sat, 20 Dec 2003 21:49:25 -0500, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>Steve Wertz wrote:
>
>> Aa long as they're not bulging, indicating contamination, they're
>> still OK to eat. Quality ad taste usually suffers after a couple of
>> years, though. After 9-10 years I'd pitch everything.
>>
>
>Do they have to bulge before they are inedible. Last year I grabbed a can
>of tomato past out f my pantry to use in a dish I was cooking. It was
>Top's brand, and I had not been to Top's in 5 or 6 years. I slapped the
>can opener on it, squeezed the handles together and sprayed my ceiling
>with tomato paste. Maybe I was a little hasty in judgement, but I pitched
>the rest of the can.
>
"Tomato past" is exactly what you opened. I don't think you were being
hasty is tossing the rest of the stuff after you washed it off the
rafters.

Boron

Steve Wertz wrote:

> Aa long as they're not bulging, indicating contamination, they're
> still OK to eat. Quality ad taste usually suffers after a couple of
> years, though. After 9-10 years I'd pitch everything.

You could donate it to a shelter or food pantry -- whatever
they call them where you live. It's perfectly safe and
nutritional, just doesn't taste so well or have as nice a
texture as more recent stuff.

On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 03:35:11 GMT, Mark Thorson >
wrote:

>Steve Wertz wrote:
>
>> Aa long as they're not bulging, indicating contamination, they're
>> still OK to eat. Quality ad taste usually suffers after a couple of
>> years, though. After 9-10 years I'd pitch everything.
>
>You could donate it to a shelter or food pantry -- whatever
>they call them where you live. It's perfectly safe and
>nutritional, just doesn't taste so well or have as nice a
>texture as more recent stuff.

I wouldn't feel excatly generous donating stuff like that. I've tried
to use stuff that was 8+ years old and have ruined a meal or two.

Most recently was using an old can of coconut milk to make curry.
Wasted two lbs of chicken because I had to throw it all away.

-sw

Mark Thorson wrote:
>
> Steve Wertz wrote:
>
> > Aa long as they're not bulging, indicating contamination, they're
> > still OK to eat. Quality ad taste usually suffers after a couple of
> > years, though. After 9-10 years I'd pitch everything.
>
> You could donate it to a shelter or food pantry -- whatever
> they call them where you live. It's perfectly safe and
> nutritional, just doesn't taste so well or have as nice a
> texture as more recent stuff.

No offense, but it sounds like 'this doesn't look good, give it to
the dog' ... I think throw it out and buy fresh stuff for the food
pantry. Or the soup kitchen. Whatever. Ten year old food needs
to hit the landfill, if someone isn't willing to eat it, then don't
foist it on some people down on their luck already. Geez, get a
case of canned vegetables for them.

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:
> Mark Thorson wrote:
>>
>> Steve Wertz wrote:
>>
>>> Aa long as they're not bulging, indicating contamination, they're
>>> still OK to eat. Quality ad taste usually suffers after a couple of
>>> years, though. After 9-10 years I'd pitch everything.
>>
>> You could donate it to a shelter or food pantry -- whatever
>> they call them where you live. It's perfectly safe and
>> nutritional, just doesn't taste so well or have as nice a
>> texture as more recent stuff.
>
> No offense, but it sounds like 'this doesn't look good, give it to
> the dog' ... I think throw it out and buy fresh stuff for the food
> pantry. Or the soup kitchen. Whatever. Ten year old food needs
> to hit the landfill, if someone isn't willing to eat it, then don't
> foist it on some people down on their luck already. Geez, get a
> case of canned vegetables for them.
>
> nancy

Yeah, seriously! If you have to ask, then don't eat it. While it might be
perfectly safe, it's not a good idea to foist it off on your pets or the
underprivileged. I never give either anything I'm not willing to eat
myself.

Jill

On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 03:35:11 GMT, Mark Thorson >
wrote:

>Steve Wertz wrote:
>
>> Aa long as they're not bulging, indicating contamination, they're
>> still OK to eat. Quality ad taste usually suffers after a couple of
>> years, though. After 9-10 years I'd pitch everything.
>
>You could donate it to a shelter or food pantry -- whatever
>they call them where you live. It's perfectly safe and
>nutritional, just doesn't taste so well or have as nice a
>texture as more recent stuff.
>
>

Why would anyone want to give away anything that old to unsuspecting
recipients. Puncture a hole in each can and toss them out.

In article >,
Steve Wertz > wrote:
> Aa long as they're not bulging, indicating contamination, they're
> still OK to eat. Quality ad taste usually suffers after a couple of
> years, though. After 9-10 years I'd pitch everything.

Don't be silly. Canned stuff practically last forever. People have eaten
(and enjoyed) canned items recovered from shipwrecks back when canning
was still new (and needed to be opened with hammers and chisels - no
cordless electric canopeners then).

Enjoy them if the cans are intact and not bulging.

-r

On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 10:47:05 GMT, Ricky >
wrote:


>Don't be silly. Canned stuff practically last forever. People have eaten
>(and enjoyed) canned items recovered from shipwrecks back when canning
>was still new (and needed to be opened with hammers and chisels - no
>cordless electric canopeners then).
>
>Enjoy them if the cans are intact and not bulging.

I can guarentee you that the taste has deteriorted on most canned
items after 10 years. I know, because I've tried it.

-sw

<sqwertz@clueless> writes:

>Ricky wrote:
>
>>Don't be silly. Canned stuff practically last forever. People have eaten
>>(and enjoyed) canned items recovered from shipwrecks back when canning
>>was still new (and needed to be opened with hammers and chisels - no
>>cordless electric canopeners then).
>>
>>Enjoy them if the cans are intact and not bulging.
>
>I can guarentee you that the taste has deteriorted on most canned
>items after 10 years. I know, because I've tried it.

You've sucked 10 yr old peepee too, doesn't mean it's a good thing. Moron!




---= BOYCOTT FRENCH--GERMAN (belgium) =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
Sheldon
````````````
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."

On 20 Dec 2003 15:51:06 -0800, (Steven Zwanger)
wrote:

>I came across some old, unopened canned food in
>my basement (originally from the grocery store) and
>I don't know if it's still good. Advice, please?

Discard any bulging or dented cans. Also any rusted ones. An intact
can in a dry environment is a sort of time-warp. I'm sure cans from
ancient Egyptian tombs have been found to contain perfectly safe food.
^_^ (joke!)

>About 9-10 years old:
>canned tuna
>canned salmon
>canned pineapple
>canned beans

>About 4 years old:
>canned sweetened condensed milk

Hmmm. 33 cents plus 99 cents plus 79 cents (? haven't bought canned
pineapple recently) plus 50 cents plus (unknown) for one 'set' of
these? The oft-quoted rule is "if in doubt, throw it out." If you have
to ask the question, you're going to be unhappy/unsure about using
these products. Toss 'em. (Do *not* donate to a food bank.). The idea
of 10-yr-old tuna makes *my* stomach roll.

On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 12:52:18 GMT, Frogleg > wrote:

>Discard any bulging or dented cans. Also any rusted ones. An intact
>can in a dry environment is a sort of time-warp. I'm sure cans from
>ancient Egyptian tombs have been found to contain perfectly safe food.
>^_^ (joke!)

I mentioned the bulging cans, too, but food can still be spoiled and
not visibly bulging to get out of the can. Small cracks can release
the built up pressure in the cans. I had one of these once. It was
only a year old, but inside was a huge glob of mold (creamed corn).

-sw

I just can't understand how anyone would risk their health or the health of
anyone else(by donating the 10 year old food) to perhaps save a few cents or
feel generous by giving the food away. If you get sick the cost of medical help
will far outweigh the value of the food. That goes for chicken left in the car
for a few hours as well. I always feel that when in doubt, throw it out. if
you have to question the food that should be the answer. Jan

JANIC412 wrote:

> I just can't understand how anyone would risk their health or the health of
> anyone else(by donating the 10 year old food) to perhaps save a few cents or
> feel generous by giving the food away. If you get sick the cost of medical help
> will far outweigh the value of the food. That goes for chicken left in the car
> for a few hours as well. I always feel that when in doubt, throw it out. if
> you have to question the food that should be the answer. Jan

But I'm not in doubt. If the can is undamaged, the seal is intact,
and it isn't bulging, it's perfectly safe. Throwing away safe and
nutritional food just because it offends your sensibilities doesn't do
the truly hungry any good. You would rather they starve?

And if they're not hungry, what are they doing at the food
pantry? A local pantry was on the news yesterday because
for the first time in 22 years, they ran out of food. I'll bet
there are some people hungry tonight who'd like that
can of soup or macaroni, even if the noodles were soggy.

On Mon, 22 Dec 2003 01:56:39 GMT, Mark Thorson >
wrote:


>And if they're not hungry, what are they doing at the food
>pantry? A local pantry was on the news yesterday because
>for the first time in 22 years, they ran out of food. I'll bet
>there are some people hungry tonight who'd like that
>can of soup or macaroni, even if the noodles were soggy.

How would yuou like if they used that can of soup mixed with another
$10 worth of ingredients and it made the whole dish inedible? Just
becaise it's perfectly 'safe' doesn't mean it's edible.

Plenty of stuff is edible, but it wouldn't be eaten unless someone is
literally starving to death.

It's not just a matter of soggy noodles. It's about stuff that makes
you gag and puke on taste alone.

-sw

Well Mark, If the food is so damned good and nutritional, why not eat it
yourself? Or is it that you are afraid that it is not so good after all and you
will feed it to some unsuspecting soul that is hungary who then gets sick after
eating the slop you sent to the food bank, If you don't want to waste the cans
charity begins at home-EAT IT YOURSELF!!! Jan

On 21 Dec 2003 21:30:09 GMT, (JANIC412) wrote:

>I just can't understand how anyone would risk their health or the health of
>anyone else(by donating the 10 year old food) to perhaps save a few cents or
>feel generous by giving the food away. If you get sick the cost of medical help
>will far outweigh the value of the food. That goes for chicken left in the car
>for a few hours as well. I always feel that when in doubt, throw it out. if
>you have to question the food that should be the answer. Jan

I agree 100 percent with you Jan.

I would toss 10 year old tinned food out without hesitating once.