I canned my green beans in October 2016. I still have some jars left. Are they OK to eat?
Thank you.
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Theoretically they are past their prime. In reality, canned goods last long after the date on the can. Discard if bulging or rusted. Open the can. If the contents look and smell ok it is ok to eat.
Are these jars of home made canned goods or store bought.
If home canned, I would be inclined to toss as I have gotten sick from home canned goods past their prime which is usually 12-14 months.
Store bought, I tend to go up to, but not over two years past the date. That said for store bought, if the can is dented, bulges or if I open the can and looks or smells off, out it goes! Safety first!!!!
If properly stored they can last up to 3-5 years.
But of course, open can to see if anything unusual. If so, discard.
The answer does not seem to be a simple one and many "experts" advise different times.
Most agree that for the best food quality it is best to use home canned goods within one year.
It is usually very easy to tell if canned goods are no longer safe to eat; tops bulged, lots of black inside the jar, bad odor when opened.
You can tell if they have lost some of their flavor as the color will be pale and there may be a little black around the top. Open and check for safety - discard if in doubt and do not take a chance on food poisoning.
Here is a good site that will show you the differences of opinion but read all of the article as it does explain that your green beans are probably still safe to eat.
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