Ask a Food Scientist: Are Dented Cans Safe to Consume?
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- Is that dented can of beans sitting in your pantry safe to eat? It may be tempting to stock up on dented cans on clearance to save a little money. According to food scientist, Joseph Bell, you need to be very careful when it comes to dented cans.
A huge thank you to Joseph for taking the time to educate us on this important topic!
Visit TheProvidentPrepper.org to learn more.
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Is that dented can of beans sitting in your pantry safe to eat? It may be tempting to stock up on dented cans on clearance to save a little money. According to food scientist, Joseph Bell, you need to be very careful when it comes to dented cans. A huge thank you to Joseph for taking the time to educate us on this important topic!
Visit TheProvidentPrepper.org to learn more.
How to Package Dry Foods in Mylar Bags for Long-Term Storage
theprovidentprepper.org/how-to-package-dry-foods-in-mylar-bags-for-long-term-storage/
Packaging Dry Foods in Glass Jars for Long-Term Food Storage
theprovidentprepper.org/packaging-dry-foods-in-glass-jars-for-long-term-food-storage/
Packaging Dry Foods in Plastic Bottles for Long-Term Food Storage
theprovidentprepper.org/packaging-dry-foods-in-plastic-bottles-for-long-term-food-storage/
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I got a suggestion, if the food is still good just pour it in another container and freeze it
This was a really good video, valuable info
I've always heard that if the top or bottom are not bulging the cans are fine.
"I have a neighbor whose basement is stocked with 1,000 cans of beans, leaving enough room for only one case of toilet paper. And this brainiac wants to be in-charge after the missiles fly?...."
@@RubenAraujo-z5o YES, but do imagine the electricity will be still be running after the Illuminati-inspired global crash reduces civilization to a kill-or-be-killed dystopia of Rapture-ready feudalism on our ideo-religious quest to seize control of what's left of the planet before the forces of darkness beat us to it?? (Cue thunder clap....) "Provident Preppers" . . . It's baked into the name. What do you THINK this channel, and countless others like it, is all about?
I've always wavoided them like the plague in the store, just not worth the small risk.
if we accidently drop a can in the store we should buy and use it right away, think of the children as a priority in such cases
ALL of the canned chicken at Walmart is dented. All of them. I will rummage through 15 or 20 on the shelf and I can never find a single one that is not dented.
I noticed that, too.
As a general rule, if I find a "dented can" after I purchase it, I use it immediately. I've always followed throwing out can goods that are "dented" on the seams. Common Sense!
I Learned around 15yo from my Grandma to push down on the top of cans to check to see if it was good or not if it would go down and when you let go made a popping sound time for it to go! Geez now I'm in my late 50s been some passing of time.
Have learned a bunch about cooking from her.
This is so good to hear cause sometimes you drop a can and dent it yourself on the side organizing the pantry and you wonder if you need to toss if if you can’t use it right away.
I bought that same pack of chicken tins at Walmart and some of the cans were dented once the plastic wrap was off.
Just cleaned out our little pantry in the kitchen. I had 2 of the pop top cans with popped seals they had little bugs. So I think from now on I won’t be buy pull tab cans anymore
Good to know , thanks for the good heads-up on dented canned goods safety, that could be a lifesaver, may God bless you and your families.
Thanks, you too!
I just received a delivery of what turned out to be dented cans, approximately 50%. I remembered this video and watched it again. Now I'm confident that I can determine what we can still use. Thanks!
That is so sad!
I order a lot of my preps online including canned goods, but many times they don't pack them properly and they get dented. This is great information to have.
If the seam of the van is damaged, or if there is bulging on either the top or bottom, it is not safe to eat. be careful when purchasing damaged products.
Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. I never gave WHERE a dent was on a can a second of thought!
Once again, a very useful video. This is the kind of thing that always made me a bit nervous and I didn't know anyone qualified to provide an answer. Thank you for pulling in an expert.
Would like to hear Joe talk about longevity of canned foods that have acid in them i.e. fruit, tomato sauce. Thanks!
It hurts me inside when I go to add a can to my preps and I notice a dent lol
Such good advice. "When in doubt, throw it out!" Thanks so much for sharing!
I get dented cans of sardines from Amazon all the time, never had a problem
Wow, such a great video because I just recently bought several flats of dented cans because they were relatively inexpensive!
Thank you too for informing us about the pull tops. However I’ve got to be honest - I try my best to avoid them.
Great video, thank you Joseph, Jonathan and Kylene. Something I have lived by, but did not completely understand why. Happy trails!
Two years ago I was sleeping on my sofa because I was in the process of putting my new bed together. It's just little old me and things get done slowly lol. In the middle of the night I heard an awful crash coming from my Prepper room. I live in a tiny 2 bedroom apartment. It was during the good old days of 2021 with all the fun stuff going on. I literally thought the front of my apartment exploded. It was the plastic shelving units I had canned foods on. Also had glass jars of pressure canned foods. One of the legs bent in two and down everything came. Thankfully the jars didn't break. The cans that were dented were eaten first. I replaced the plastic shelves with metal. The plastic shelves remaining are for light weight supplies.
So...long story short...store your heavy canned foods on metal, not plastic😉
I had that happen to a friend of mine so you are not alone! That must have been a nightmare to clean up. Glad you are okay. Lessons learned :)
My grandpa built the most amazing wooden shelves for my grandma's canning. The shelves were floor to ceiling but small spaces to accommodate one jar high with no stacking
Once again many thanks for the useful, pertinent, and timely information to keep us both prepared and safe.
Thank you again for having Joe on to answer the questions I always worry about!
I always check my cans at the store, but sometimes the check out person dents them when they throw it in the bag. 😢
We’ve been eating them my whole life. Im 56. My Dad is 86. No issues so far. No air getting inside.
Love these sessions. I have wondered about dented cans
This series is really interesting.
This video was very helpful. I’ve ordered many canned goods online which arrive dented. This information provided the clarity I needed and put my mind at ease. 😊
I purchased a 8 pack of Dr Pepper and 1 can was dented FROM THE INSIDE underneath?
Very informative. Thank you.
what if there is a dent on the top but it doesn't actually go into one of the seams? is it still ok? I don't even know if that's possible lol, but I'm asking just in case
Now the question to ask is what to do with the goods in the can. Myself dented cans get thrown in the yard got some free range chickens who eat it up no problem.
Sure most of them were still good I only had a few that weren't and those because of the smell and you can see some discoloration in the can went into the trash. So check the can and use your senses smell and sight
Question: pop tops vs seamed cans Will the poptops last for long term storage past the best by dates as long as the seamed cans?
I don’t know but I would say yes. I have heard of some pop tops popping on their own but I think it was pineapple which doesn’t store super long anyway, too much acid in the pineapple-also the case with spaghetti sauce. They last maybe 5 years tops.
Was that canned chicken from Walmart? I also bought some with a dented can.
Good info! Thanks Mr. Bell :-)
What about the size of dents? Most of the cans at the store have small little dents on the seam. But I've heard that if the dent is smaller than your thumb - it is still ok.
Is the tiny dent on the seams ok? Or is the thumb rule for just dents not on a seam?
Seriously great video! I always wondered this!
Thank you for making this video!
I recently opened a can of Libby's brand peas dated 2014. There was no outward sign of dents or damage and the can did have a good vacuum sound when I opened it. The sniff test was good. However, the can liner was bubbled up. I took photos and saved the can along with two other cans from the same time period that didn't have any issues with the can liner. Has anyone else ever seen anything like this? I did not eat the peas but opened a different can. Any clues of what may have happened? The can has been stored in my home the hole time and not exposed to extreme temps or conditions.
Interesting! I would love to know what happened too.
@@TheProvidentPrepper Would you be able to ask your friend if he is aware of this happening or if he has ever heard of something like this happening? I heard that china will coat the inside of their cans with something. Never could find out what, but considering its china I can't imagine it being good. So the logical step for me is to ask is .... does Libby's have their product produced in china? Could you ask him please? I still have the photos and the cans. I saved them not knowing who I could go to.
Some cans are made out of different metals, apparently. Spam is aluminum of course. I would presume that the same dent principle applies.
I'm not a fan of #10 cans, per se, as they have that plastic coating in them. How might that plastic effect the dent that is not on the seam?
I always thought of "air" getting into the can and not bacteria. wow
I always get a refund when Walmart sends me dented cans. I just store all of the dented cans together for SHTF. I will look through them now and compost the bad stuff and use up the good stuff.
Thank you guys. Muy importante for sure.
Is listening to the hiss caused by the higher pressure atmospheric air entering the can also a good test? Thanks!
Yes, that is a good indicator that the seal is intact.
@@oldtimerlee8820 this was a long time tradition in our house as far back as I can remember. Thanks!
@@oldtimerlee8820 Agreed!
Good to know. Thanks. Very informative
I heard the cans with the pull top lids will not store as long as the traditional lids.
How many years are the pull top lids safe to keep and use?
What a great video! Thank you for sharing this info on dented cans and the pop-tops. I'd wondered the same things. =)
Thank you so much for this information - very helpful.
❓I have a question ❓ if I follow the appropriate canning guidelines to try and creat long term storage... How long really can those foods last... I don't really "rotate" bc I eat fresh foods mostly. Also if I dehydrate foods too... I can't afford a freeze dryer 😢 but I can try and put some meals in a jar away or my own dehydrated fruits/veggies ❓. HELP 😊
You have to watch out for the tops of jars too. If someone started to open the pull top and then pushed it down again, it could be contaminated without it being obvious. If someone starts to open a jar and then tightens it and puts it back, it can be a problem. Just like there is malware , there are malignant people out there that mess with food. It's hard for decent people to believe that.
I’d rather not risk it. “When in doubt throw it out”
Bought some canned tomato sauce online. They have a loud pop when I open them. Is it just the acid inside or something else? Still safe? Cans still look new, just a very loud pop.
Good to know, thanks ✅
my assumption on the pull tops is this - does the pull top leak when taken up in an airplane change of pressure or from a combo of barometer changes and elevation also , and temperature also, and insects could chew at the pull top seams, so storing in clear plastic bags would keep rodent urine from acid etching the seams also.
Second comment just for what it’s worth my mom was on the team that won the Nobel Prize in Medicine (Microbiology) one year and she was also an RN and grew up on a farm in Alabama. She told me one of the quickest and worst ways to expire was from bad beans. Green beans are absolutely not something I would ever buy knowing that. I grow beans and don’t even can them in glass jars, I eat them fresh only. Botulism is a slate wiper. You cannot see smell or taste it that’s what makes it so terrifying. Don’t take a chance if it’s got dents just toss it.
It's not just about the outside seems! - please inspect the seems on the inside as well = there must not be any corrosion. If a can is dented in the middle, inspect that spot as well. High acid foods (fruits), are less risky. Never smell or taste questionable foods before boiling them very well. [ROLLING BOIL] Only air (not heat) will kill anaerobic bacteria.
Would it be safe to store canned foods, commercially canned and home canned, in a humid basement that never has issues with flooding?
Yes, provided you have an air space between the floor, the walls, and the product. Put the product up on skids, and keep them at least 6 inches away from the walls. This will slow rust from developing on the cans.
@@JosephBell-oq7kn thanks!
If a can is dented in ANY way, I don't buy/use it.
Do pull top can store as long as teg cans
Regular*
Thank you for this!!
What about a can of Pilot Bread Crackers with a dent on the seam? They are a dry product and perhaps not as prone to the effects of potential microbial contamination that can occur during the denting event.
Thank you for sharing. This is very good to know.
Great video and advice.
I ordered some real expensive canned sockeye salmon and had to throw half the case away because of the dents on the seams.Retailer had a no return policy on that item.Just took the loss, didn’t want to risk food poisoning.
That stinks!
I had some cans in storage get wet. A little light rusting on outside of cans, the label dried and I’m assuming the rusting stopped? Looks like it. Anything wrong with these cans of food?
I love this. I hope Mr. Bell will be willing to do lots more of these. My question; I have several cases of whole canned Tomatoes I bought on clearance. They have a BB date of 9-23. I thought about re-canning them in my canning jars. Is it safe to do or a bad idea? Can this be done with other kinds of vegetables and foods you can get in cans? Like corn, green beans, soups, etc.?
Why do you want to repackage them in glass canning jars? You would need to pressure can for sure. Home bottled goods have a shorter shelf life than commercially canned products. It is an issue with the lids. I'm interested to hear Joseph's thoughts.
@@TheProvidentPrepper The cans are the large sizes like a restaurant would use. I wanted to get them in sizes that would be easier to use for my husband and I. I’ve also been told tomatoes in cans start tasting tinny if kept in them too long because of their high acid content. Don’t know if that is true though.
Do you have access to freeze drying? Might be better to freeze dry the contents and store vacuum packed in meal size portions. What's the expert say?
What happens if there's some rust on the top side of a can? I Have some cans that have some rust sings, I was able to scraped it off with a metal sponge and the lid still looks good as well as the seam.
Will appreciate your comments on this one.
What to look for with “best by date” . If it is okay to use. Opened and unopened items
I'm thinking about the pouches. Like tuna, chicken or salmon. Are they safe to use after the due date?
My question is about brown rice. Before I knew that brown rice had a more limited shelf-life, I put a 25 lb bag away for storage. How do I know when brown rice has gone rancid?
Trust me, you will KNOW when it has gone rancid!!
It will smell rancid. If cooked it will taste rancid. Depending on your storage conditions, I found that about a year is the most I can store brown rice before it turns rancid. For long term storage, I store white rice.
Hope this helps.
Thank you for this video. My fiancé thought I was making this up.
Good info!
Rusted dry pack #10 can from 1990s, that didn't rust all the way through (spaghetti noodles specifically). Ok to eat?
I don't think you would have to worry about botulism. Smell the product before using. If air reached it it would smell stale. Sometimes older pasta can smell okay, but then smell stale after cooking.
What about dented soda cans
What about expired dates?
You can safely eat most canned goods well past the date on the can (assuming intact seals and a lack of rust/corrosion, of course). Past the date of "expiration", they might lose flavor, texture or color, but will be otherwise edible.
Best By Dates are not "expired dates". Expiration Dates are usually used on medications. When you see Best Buy on food products (excluding fresh, unprocessed, raw foods) it means the product is of the Best Quality during the time before Best By is reached. As products age, there is some nutrition loss. Can be changes in color, flavor and texture. In the case of canned goods, the rule (IMO) is that as long as the seal is still intact, the food is safe to eat. As long as the seal isn't broken, nothing can get into the container to cause spoilage. I'd rather have a can of green beans with 85% of the original nutritional value than to go hungry in an emergency situation.
For dry foods, such as crackers, cereal, rice, pasta, grains and such, many have a good shelf life far beyond the Best Buy Date. With crackers and such, they may become stale over time. May become rancid, if there's a high fat content. I recently ate a box of Nilla Wafers with a Best Buy date in 2021. They tasted as fresh as the box of them that I bought last week.
I have stored white rice for 10+ years, in 2 liter soda bottles with good results. At the time it was purchased, it had a Best Buy Date about 2 years from the date I purchased it. I've stored dried beans and pop corn much longer than the Best Buy Date suggested, as well.
May I suggest that you learn, if you don't already know, (1) How to identify signs of spoilage in foods. (2) Average shelf life of foods that you intend to store beyond their "Best Buy" dates. Plain pasta, white rice, beans for example, if properly stored have the potential for 30 years. In general canned goods can last 3-4+ years beyond Best Buy. Exception: Acid based products have a shorter shelf life because the acid in tomatoes, pineapple, for example, will corrode the can from the inside. Eventually breaking the seal. I try to use those products, packaged in metal by the Best Buy date. Generally, those items packaged in jars have a much longer storage life.
Hope some of this helps.
I’d like to know his information on this too. Good question.
I just order something from Amazon and it was dented and one was actually kind of bust open like a Damn pin hole where some of the product leaked on the top of the can and my chips came busted open all spilled onto the bag that it was packed in and my cracker box was open I immediately called Amazon with pictures and videos of it and I’m getting a replacement and throwing that bullshit away
I have always known this in the back of my mind. Any suspect can I must discard. Better safe than sorry! Thanks for the video!
True❤
Do pull-tab cans last as long in storage as regular cans?
No.
@@americafirst9144No for everything or just like pineapple, spaghetti sauce type acidic things? I know those don’t hold up but peaches in water will not make it?
@@eyepodoblivion1189 I have heard that manufacturers put shorter Best By dates on pull-tab products.
You could likely confirm that by comparing same-product cans in a grocery store or calling a manufacturer.
Pull tabs and pull tab lids are made from aluminum and aren't very strong, especially when stacked.
Old cans were made from tin. Then they were made from steel. They are moving into different alloys now.
Metals got very expensive during COVID, so most cans are made from flimsier, cheaper things now. So you see more dented cans.
How do you stop cans from rusting????
Keep moisture away from the product. Then store the product up on skids and at least 6 inches away from the walls. This will allow some air flow around the product and will prevent rust from forming.
@@JosephBell-oq7kn thanks for the tip. Im currently wrapping mine individually in plastic bags, but o do know they let the air in slowly. Someone mentioned silica spray food grade but not sure about that. Or bees wax dip. I suppose rotating is the best but I've got 1 kg corned beef that is expensive that I bought for preps, do you know how long that keeps?
Unless the food stinks I wonder if boiling for 5 minutes will kill any bacteria that may have entered the food?
You can kill the bacteria, but the other concern is the metabolic waste products (poo) and toxins those bacteria produce. They eat and excrete, like us. 😮 There's no effective way to filter or remove those things once contaminated.
I buy that Walmart canned chicken. When i first open it, it always smells weird for a few seconds. Is that normal?
I think it smells a bit funny too ... kind of like tuna :) I think that's just how it is. If you are ever worried, don't eat it.
I purchased #10 cans with potatoe flakes, peanut butter etc and half of them are dented from shipping. Could I open the can and place the powder in Mylar bags with an oxygen absorber?
You can the potato flakes. I'm not sure about the peanut butter. Is it powdered peanut butter?
Yes it is powdered.
I say if its not leaking its still good.
I check my cans at the store for dents. granted i might dent them, but it depends on how bad i did it.
Thank you.
I want to marry him. Kidding….or am I???? 😂 I’ve bought dented cans …on purpose… my whole adult life. I do appreciate the truth, though, in anything…so this was helpful. You guys come up with great questions for him. I got nothin’! Keep up the good work!! ♥️
Awesome
I bought three cases of tomato products online when they got here to the cases were busted to where the cans were actually open but one case was Ok the top row was dented and broken so I was going to use the ones below it that weren’t broke and some of them only had a little dent but they were the pull tab tops And when I went to use them when you pulled it open, it really popped to the point where you noticed it more than other pop tops so I’m just wondering if that was safe or if something was building up in there I ended up not using them just in case
There is a risk
I am a fanatic about dents.
Nope! Learned the hard way with a pull top.🤢
Yes.. follow dates. Cook em really good❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
If I buy a dented can for a discounted price, I re-can.
1:40 into this and Joe is in orbit around planet earth looking like the jigsaw killer talking about seals and seams….😂😂. This video is too long 😂 is it safe or naw?! 😂😂😂😂
naw
Walmart beats the daylights out of thier cans
Botulism is not worth it. Dented meats go to the feral cats, dented beans go in the trash.
🙂👍
I do not eat Danted can of food It's like Teflon PAN
God The same chemica
When you eat out of Dented cans
There is
AND WHAT DO THEY GIVE FOODBANK PEOPLE???? DENTED CAN AND EXPIRED FOOOD. AND WHAT DO THEY TELL YOU TO DONATE FROM YOU KITCHEN ?? YOUR OLD DENTED CANS....HOW TO HARM POOR PEOPLE WHO NEED FOOD!!
Heeyy good, you did a great job. I have similar. You can definitely visit me.
❤️👍🇺🇲
Jesus is Lord
LoL
What about rust? How much is too much