Dented Cans

[ChickenHawk]

Should I throw out dented cans or keep storing them? I've heard they are fine as long as you don't hear a bunch of gas escape. Is that true?

 

[Leadchunker]

I’ll eat some out of date stuff that most people won’t touch. Example was lunch today. Two spam and cheese sammiches. Best before February 2013. I had half the can and the pups split the other half.
That being said I don’t buy dented cans, yes I check all of them. If I dent one it gets consumed immediately.
One of the checks for food spoilage is a swollen can. If the can is releasing pressure it won’t bulge. Dents are an area where the integrity of the container is compromised. The crease in the metal will degrade/rust before the rest of the can.
There is a reason why stores will have dented cans discounted. They have are more likely to spoil.
I have no sources to back up my beliefs on this matter other than what I’ve read, my wife, my mom/dad, my mother in law, grand mother/dad, have told me. Some of the during the Great Depression.

 

[Leadchunker]

I would toss them. Most folks that get food poisoning only get to enjoy food poisoning once.

 

[ChickenHawk]

I’ll eat some out of date stuff that most people won’t touch. Example was lunch today. Two spam and cheese sammiches. Best before February 2013. I had half the can and the pups split the other half.
That being said I don’t buy dented cans, yes I check all of them. If I dent one it gets consumed immediately.
One of the checks for food spoilage is a swollen can. If the can is releasing pressure it won’t bulge. Dents are an area where the integrity of the container is compromised. The crease in the metal will degrade/rust before the rest of the can.
There is a reason why stores will have dented cans discounted. They have are more likely to spoil.
I have no sources to back up my beliefs on this matter other than what I’ve read, my wife, my mom/dad, my mother in law, grand mother/dad, have told me. Some of the during the Great Depression.

That is the same knowledge that I have. Figured toss to be safe. I just wanted to know if anyone has waited it out and used canned stuff that had been dented after a few years.

 

[GymB]

Dented - Yes
Old - Yes
Dented & Old - No

 

[REELDOC]

Save them for especially bad times. They will either be really bulged or really stinky or both. Or give to someone with animals especially chickens.

 

[cjcullom]

Savem if you have room. If a can fails you will notice the deformity of the vessel or scent of the product. As far as gas I cant say but I trust my senses.
As far as consumption I would not feed infirmed folks questionable vittles and if I had a question about food integrity I would eat a small amount and transfer food, refrigerated, into a different dish until I was sure.
Activated charcoal is a must for questionable times. There are other treatments for GI problems you may want to learn just in case. If food becomes life or death, it's good to have knowledge.

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