How Long Does Canned Meat Last?

How long do canned meats last? Canned meats can last for years beyond their "best by" dates. How long does spam last? The shelf life of canned meat depends on a variety of factors, such as the best before date, the preparation method and how the canned meats are stored. Since fresh meats have rather short shelf lives, canned meats like spam and chicken prove practical to have on hand and available at any time. Canned meats can include canned chicken, canned tuna, deviled ham, corned beef and spam.

Exactly what is spam? Spam is made of pork, ham, salt, water, potato starch, sugar and sodium nitrate to preserve the nice pink color. Because of the high heat process used to can meats and the added salt, canned meats are pretty well preserved.

So, how long does spam last last? When properly stored, the shelf life of spam past its best before date is approximately...

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Canned Meat Expiration Date

(Unopened) Pantry
Past Printed Date
Spam lasts for 2-5 Years
Canned Chicken lasts for 2-5 Years
Canned Tuna lasts for 2-5 Years
Canned Corn Beef lasts for 2-5 Years
Deviled Ham lasts for 2-5 Years
Canned Clams last for 2-5 Years
(After Opening) Refrigerator
Spam lasts for 7-10 Days
Canned Chicken lasts for 5-7 Days
Canned Tuna lasts for 5-7 Days
Canned Corn Beef lasts for 7-10 Days
Deviled Ham lasts for 7-10 Days
Canned Clams last for 5-7 Days

But remember that spam, and other meats, usually have a best before date and not an expiration date. Because of this distinction, you may safely use spam and other canned meats to compliment your favorite meals even after the best before date has lapsed.

How to tell if Canned Meat is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Sight is usually the best way to tell if your spam and other canned meats have gone bad. If the top of the can is rounded and dome shaped instead of flat across, the meat has most likely gone bad and the can should be tossed. Also be cautious with dented cans. If you open the can and anything is brown or black, then do not eat the spam, tuna, canned chicken, or corned beef. Do not use leaky or rusted cans, toss them immediately.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Canned Meat to extend its shelf life?

You can help spam and other canned meats stay fresh longer by storing them in the pantry where the temperature is always less than 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Always discard cans that are dented, rusted or leaking without tasting your product. Remember that food quality and nutrition of canned food does slowly decline with age, but the safety of properly stored canned foods can remain for years.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Canned Meat:

  • Because of the long cooking at high temperatures that are needed to can meats, the meats may contain less nutritional value than they had before canning.
  • How long is Canned Meat good for when prepared in a dish?

    How long do canned meats last? That depends. How long does pasta last? In general, spam will last as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the prepared dish.

    What are our shelf life resources?

    In determining how long Canned Meat lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Canned Meat.

    *An important note about expiration dates...

    Although the Canned Meat shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!

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    With oven-safe glass and water-tight lids, these food storage containers are ready for action! Not a Prime Member? Try a 30-day free trial today!

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