How Long Can You Keep Home-Canned Food?

May
7

How long can you safely store your home-canned food before it spoils?

Most expert sources recommend the standard guideline of one year for optimal quality, though it’s not really that simple. Some foods, such as jams, are considered truly best, at least from a flavor standpoint, if used within six months. However there is no way to give a blanket answer to the storage question as so many different factors affect storage quality, including temperature of the storage location (should be cool, not warm), how clean the fruits/vegetables were when packed in the jars, and whether or not proper processing and handling was followed in every detail. The best advice is to plan what you can. Can what you expect you can use or share within a year, especially if you are a new canner. After all, every year is a new harvest!

***

It’s a Ball Blue Book Project day! Today’s Ball Blue Book is sponsored by Billie at No Crack Cream. Visit her here!

For a chance to win: Leave a comment on this post and let me know you want it. You can just put (BBB) at the end of your comment or otherwise note that you want to be in the draw. One winner will be drawn by random comment number to receive a Ball Blue Book. Eligible entry cut-off is midnight Eastern (U.S.) time tonight (May 7). This post will be updated with the winner by 9 a.m. Eastern (U.S.) time tomorrow (May 8). Return to this post to claim your book if your name is drawn (or check the BBB Winners List).

Find out more about the Ball Blue Book Project and become a sponsor.

NOTE: You must be registered to comment. If you’re not registered, you can register here. If you’re already registered but not logged in, go here to log in.

UPDATE 05/08/11: The winning comment number, drawn by random.org, is comment number #53, BeverlyC. Email me at CITRgiveaways@yahoo.com with your full name and address for shipping!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED TO ENTRY.

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76 Responses
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5-7
2:14
am

On the other hand, I aim for a 2 year supply, so that if I have a crop fail one year, I still have some canned to get me by until a new harvest can grow.

vmfisher

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5-7
3:51
am

Yes, BBB please!

Richelle

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5-7
5:15
am

BBB please.

WolfWalker

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5-7
6:11
am

We had a record carrot crop when I was 16 & canned more carrots than I EVER want to see again! When my children were in their early ‘teens . . . . well, we were STILL eating those carrots – that was over 20 years. I DON’T suggest anyone ever use anything that old, but – I was a single Mom & we were ALWAYS broke. Believe it or not, those carrots were really good in stew . . . which, by the way, was canned from our steer (Old Sore Foot)the same year! BBB please!

prayingpup

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5-7
6:22
am

As I am getting back into putting up foods after being away from it such a long time, this type of info is helpful and this site is just DelightFul!! And to win a copy of The Ball Blue Book would be perfect! Yes I want in to BBB. Thank you for what you do
Teri

TeriStich

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5-7
6:23
am

We had a small garden, so our home canned food never lasted all year. That always made us appreciate the home canned food more! BBB, please.

Kathy in FL

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5-7
6:59
am

vmfisher, I will use things up to two years. I’ll use jams up to three years, actually. But. There’s a reason for the guidelines, especially for new canners. I’m trying to learn to calm down and not over-can!

Suzanne McMinn

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5-7
7:27
am

my friends all say I am canning, but dont want anyone to eat it, I just want it to build up on the shelves into a beautiful pantry….they are wrong, sort of BBB please

justdeborah2002

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5-7
7:29
am

BBB please.

farmerlady2

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5-7
7:32
am

I have a two year limit as well. Prefer to use within the year but will eat it up to 2 years. After that I usually toss it out and make a note not to can so much of it. At the moment I am trying lots of new recipes for canned corn as I need to work through those jars this summer!…. corn chowder, corn fritters, corn casserole, etc., etc., etc.

BunnyRuth

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5-7
8:29
am

BBB Please

Suzanne_Arlene

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5-7
8:33
am

BBB, Please

ladybird_1959

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5-7
8:34
am

BBB, please!

And I always struggle with the question of how long to keep my canned foods. I am sure I keep them too long!

HomesteadJen

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5-7
8:41
am

I had a blast canning this year..Love the way the shelves look full. Such a sense of accomplishment.
Granny Trace

http://www.grannytracescrapsandsquares.com

Granny Trace

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5-7
8:52
am

We have also eaten home-canned food long after one year. I can remember my father and aunt discussing if we needed to “put-up” more of a particular food. The answer always was “might not be any next year”. That said, I can tell the quality is not the same after at least the second year, so I struggle to forecast what our needs will be. BBB please.

judydee

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5-7
8:59
am

Thanks to Suzanne & Billie for the opportunity — BBB please — thank you

collector1

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5-7
9:23
am

BBB,please.

Rockyshore

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5-7
9:35
am

BBB Please! I have used jams, butters and pickled peppers 2 or 3 years later and they’re still delicious. I always run out of canned tomatoes though! By the way, what’s that cookbook in the picture? That recipe for “Roasted Roma Tomatoes” looks like a good one–I’d like to try it!

TinaBell

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5-7
10:02
am

Oh yes! BBB please.

patricialynn

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5-7
10:04
am

BBB please!!! I usually don’t keep any canned foods more than three years. Juices a couple years longer. My mother-in-law always says the same thing, Judydee, ” there may not be any next year”. The problem I really have is keeping my husband from planting too much and then we have an over abundance of vegetables. He is known for raising enough for ten families!! We keep our community supplied with fresh produce almost every summer.
Thank you, Suzanne for your hard work and a great website. I hope you had a wonderful, well-deserved vacation with your children.

cricketjett

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5-7
10:40
am

TinaBell–the cookbook in the picture is the BBB!

Suzanne McMinn

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5-7
10:57
am

Count me in.

laurajenkins

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5-7
11:00
am

please enter me.

laurajenkins

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5-7
11:06
am

BBB
Good morning! Thank you Suzanne and Billie.

azladychef

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5-7
11:09
am

BBB Please. I have some sasla we made about 2 summers ago and it is still good however I always check to see how things are doing every time I step in my pantry. I also try to make something if I notice I have more of one kind or I’ll give it away if still good so it doesn’t go to waist.

jkubemt1

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5-7
11:24
am

I just realized my BBB is from 2003, may as well toss my name in the hat!

Thanks!

dgkritch

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5-7
11:26
am

I’d love to win a BBB :-)

DebbieInMemphis

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5-7
11:59
am

Howdy Suzanne, just got the garden rototilled YEA!!!! BBB for me. LOL. BTW, I did order the pack of different creams and WILL be getting more!
Mary

marylhall330

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5-7
12:15
pm

I would love to win a BBB please. I plan to start my canning adventures this year.

Brittany P.

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5-7
12:26
pm

My grandma always canned and everyone loved the plums from her tree in the back yard. BBB please. I want to take up the tradition.

jeepdriver

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5-7
12:36
pm

Please put me in for the BBB.

marymac

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5-7
12:39
pm

Please add me in the BBB drawing thank you xx

morningstar

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5-7
1:06
pm

BBB please!

ashmmorgan2

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5-7
1:14
pm

BBB please! Boy, I had trouble getting in to leave a comment, had to update password and then I got blocked for ‘too many attempts’…..

MousE

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5-7
1:22
pm

Wouldn’t it depend on the type of food? For example, I’d trust canned pickles for a much longer time than canned peas. I’d use up canned meats and butter (Yeah, I think I’d remember someone saying they canned butter) before I’d worry about the vegetables.

And you’d think canned jam, with all that sugar, would last forever but… I sent a can of my strawberry jam to school with my son for show and tell in his kindergarten year. The public school “show and tell has to relate to the letter we are learning about” deal. “J” is for jam, get it. I also sent crackers so that everyone could taste the jam. It was almost a year old. June to May. When the teacher opened it she said it smelled “musty”. Ewww!
I’ll bet there’s a lot of kids in that class that won’t grow up to be homecanners. Luckily, the teaching assistant froze her jam and went home on her break to get some for the class, so all ended well. Sometimes I think school exists just to embarrass the parents. Anyway, BBB, please.

lavenderblue

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5-7
1:27
pm

MouseE, I had trouble, also. It did the same thing to me but then eventually let me on with out registering again. Have I missed something while I haven’t been commenting? Are we doing things differently?

lavenderblue

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5-7
1:44
pm

Oh, BBB Please!

AnnieB

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5-7
1:49
pm

BBB please!
I learned my lesson- I drank some bloody Mary mix that was out of date and got deathly ill…
They have dates for a reason.

smiledarlin

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5-7
1:56
pm

Pick me for a BBB, please!!

Nadeanne

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5-7
2:13
pm

BBB please! Pick me! Pick me!

Mariah

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5-7
3:13
pm

BBB, please

leann

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5-7
4:14
pm

I’ve planted Blackberry and Strawberry this year…my first year to do jams. BBB please!

CarrieJ

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5-7
4:26
pm

BBB please! I would prefer to can harvest to harvest. A year seems about right for shelf life.

MissShannon

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5-7
4:27
pm

BBB, please.

Bonnie S.

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5-7
4:28
pm

Good advice…all of it! I agree it looks very pretty lined up on shelves. I thought of making gell candles to look like jellies just to display! BBB please.

cabynfevr

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5-7
5:11
pm

Must.have.BBB!!!

farmershae

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5-7
5:11
pm

BBB please.

omnislash

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5-7
5:24
pm

BBB please!

PamelaAdkins

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5-7
5:25
pm

I always have such high hopes and over-plant each year. My chickens certainly enjoy the excess, but I’d love to learn to can it, especially considering here in Maine the fruits and veggies in the stores in the winter are disgusting and overpriced. Sign me up for the BBB please!

jodypharmd

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5-7
5:31
pm

Want BBB

missamy

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5-7
5:37
pm

Thanks for the guidelines. Last year was my first year canning, and I don’t have a lot of space. Consequently I ran out of everything this winter – ended up at the store for canned tomatoes – among other things. I planned my garden space more efficiently this year, hoping to eat homegrown longer this time. Wish me luck!
C’mon BBB random generator. Pick me please.

Vicki in So. CA

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5-7
5:43
pm

I don’t have the courage to tell you how old some of my canned goods are-just leave it at it was some time in the Clinton administration. That said -we are still alive and kickin!! I try to use restraint but always think I’ll not have enough to last through the year.

Thanks for the BBB project. I’d love to win one.

Willamette Valley Girl

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5-7
6:20
pm

BBB please

BeverlyC

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5-7
6:51
pm

BBB Please

countrygirl221

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5-7
7:10
pm

BBB, please!

langela

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5-7
7:40
pm

This is really good to know! My first year canning and we are just now putting our garden together. I guess I should keep this in mind before I go nuts.
I do recall my mother having pickles for longer than a year though.

BBB please!

JRR.Esq

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5-7
7:51
pm

BBB please

TeresaJM

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5-7
8:13
pm

We have planted a nice garden this year with canning in mind. The Ball Blue Book would really come in handy. BBB please!!

catrct

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5-7
8:20
pm

BBB!

Spring Peeper

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5-7
8:49
pm

BBB, please. I had a jar of beans that my Grandma canned, kept it for years after she passed away because it was a connection to her. We never ate them, I finally threw them away and used the jar in her memory!

barbie

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5-7
8:51
pm

BBB please!

Lindsay

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5-7
8:56
pm

BBB, please.

cheena

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5-7
9:10
pm

BBB please.

atlast

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5-7
9:27
pm

BBB pleeeeeeeease!

brookdale

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5-7
9:29
pm

PLEASE pick ME for the BBB!

cotswolds93

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5-7
9:37
pm

BBB. How can you not use your canned goods within a year? They’re so good compared to store bought.

LisaAJB

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5-7
9:57
pm

I must be canning impaired!
I never can more than we use in a year.
Or maybe I’m just kind of lazy.
I need the BBB, I think.
Thank you, Suzanne and Billie.

heidiannie

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5-7
10:47
pm

I am finally starting my garden this year and am giddy with excitement at all of the possibilities! BBB me please. I’m hoping I have a bounty worth canning!

Kristen A

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5-7
10:58
pm

Suzanne,
I love to read all of your posts. It’s the first place I go to when I get on the computer. Love to win the BBB.
Thanks,
WVgirl

“Montani Semper Liberi”–Mountaineers are always free!

wvgirl

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5-7
11:33
pm

Thank you for this post, I’ve wondered about this. BBB!

Ann

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5-8
12:00
am

BBB?

gran@granjean.com

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5-8
12:07
am

Hi…….I would love to win the BBB canning book. I have started a garden this year! I am learing how to can and could really use the book! Thanks and I love your blog.

qmh1026

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5-8
12:09
am

Hi again….by the way I live in Texas and it is 11 PM here so I hope I still have a chance to win!
Thanks Jane

qmh1026

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5-8
12:12
am

I always keep a record of my canning so I know how much I made and when we ran out (or if we went over). I try to tweak it each year to come closer to what we will actually need.

It’s hard though when you have tomatoes coming out your ears. You hate to waste them and after a while nobody wants freebies anymore–even the chickens get sick of them eventually–so I end up canning tons of them, even the heirlooms.

Journey11

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5-8
7:24
am

UPDATE 05/08/11: The winning comment number, drawn by random.org, is comment number #53, BeverlyC.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED TO ENTRY.

Suzanne McMinn

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5-8
6:59
pm

Wooooooo Hooooooooooo!!!! Thank you soooooooo much!!!

BeverlyC

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