How can you tell if canned food is bad? Do you know the signs of spoiled canned food that might be deadly? There are several ways harmful bacteria can contaminate canned food. In the United States, there are over 100 cases of botulism are reported each year. This harmful bacteria can cause serve illness and even death.
Is there a way to tell if canned tomatoes are spoiled? A person can’t see or smell if a can is contaminated with botulism spores. However, other contaminants can be seen and smelled. The good news is that most of the signs that canned food has spoiled are fairly easy to recognize once you know what to look for. Below are eight warning signs of bad canned food. If you are concerned about a can or jar of food, don’t risk it! Can you guess the eight signs below of how to tell if canned food is bad?
Canned Food Gone Bad
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1. A Lid that Bulges Moving Up & Down
This unsafe can of whole potatoes had been exposed to extremely cold temperatures and relatively hot temperatures in my garage over a six-month period. Food storage shouldn’t be stored in a garage that is not temperature controlled.
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2. Food Projecting or Exploding When Opened
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3. Rusting / Corrosion of Can
This was pulled out of a house fire, and it was covered with soot. Soot and moisture corroded the metal. Corrosion will eventually create holes that let in air and bacteria.
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4. Leaking
It’s important to wear gloves when cleaning up a mess like this leaking can of peaches. Also, throw out any food that the contaminated liquid leaked onto.
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5. Dents
Dents compromise the integrity of the air-tight seal, which can expose the food to harmful bacteria.
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6. Acrid Smell
If it smells pungent, acidic, chemical, or has an unnatural smell, don’t eat it!
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7. Rising Bubbles or Unnatural Looking Colors
The picture above is a well-shook can illustrating safe bubbles. I didn’t have an example of unsafe bubbles, so I thought I’d show you safe bubbles. The bubbles to watch out for are small rising gas bubbles.
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8. Sound – Hisses Loudly When Opened or
No Sounds of Liquid Inside When Shaken
A soft, quiet hiss when the air rushes into a can you are opening is normal, but a can that hiss loudly when opened is a warning sign.
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It’s important to rotate your canned food to keep your food from spoiling. However, if a can is bulging, projecting liquid, rusting, leaking, dented, has a weird smell, looks funky, or hisses loudly… DON’T taste it! Handle and dispose of it very carefully so that you are not spreading harmful bacteria around your house!
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Canned Food Gone Bad
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As to dented cans… if the dent is on the seam of a seam-type can, or a v-shape or significant dent on the rim, then it is potentially dangerous. Also, if the dent is deep enough to make the metal overlap. Other dents in the side like the one in the picture are safe.
… I used to work in food salvage. These were the guidelines by the Dept. of Agriculture.
Thanks for sharing these ways to look out for bad canned food. While canning is a great way to preserve food, it’s important to know what to look for in case it didn’t work as planned or has spoiled.
I tried two different brands of canned chickpeas recently, both undented and well withing the expiration dates. Both smelled and tasty fishy, like canned tuna, even though both were non-gmo and one was low sodium and non-bpa lining. I’ve been eating canned chickpeas for years and I never noticed this before. Any comments are appreciated because I’m afraid to eat them. Thank you.
Just found a can of Edgell sauerkraut in the pantry which has leaked at the bottom, leaving a circle of thick black sludge around the base. I haven’t opened it but it feels partially empty.
i have tuna cans that are old and they have left a black sludge on top of my shelves. What is
the best way to remove the sticky black goup?
I have 12 cans of SPAM and the date on them are over 5 years and I open a can a few days ago and it look good and tasted ok I heard “SPAM” last for years
I opened a can of chopped chili peppers. They looked and smelled fine but there were black marks in the can. What might that be?
I have always been told that if a can is scrunched to the point of metal touching metal that the food is no longer edible, is this true?
I opened a can of Libby’s pear halves and the percussion from the small explosion when the seal broke hurt my hand. My dogs ran for cover – it was almost as loud as a small fire arm. I was shocked as this has never happened to me and caused me to look up any information I could find – hence why I am here. The can is well within expiration. I did notice the top looking a tiny bit bulgy but was fairly shocked by what happened. The pears look and smell fine but after what I’ve read here – I’m not taking any chances. Out they go. Thanks for the education.