Food - Drink
What Happens To Home-Canned Foods As They Age?
By AMANDA BRETZ
Most canning websites and books recommend eating your home-preserved food items within a year of canning, but this length of time actually has more to do with quality than safety.
As home canning company Mrs. Wages explains, when it comes to food safety, the shelf life of home-canned foods is around two to five years, depending on what type of food it is.
Even when kept in an ideal environment, the quality of canned food degrades over time. For instance, a jar of fruit preserves may oxidize and lose some of its vibrant color.
Likewise, pickles may not be too crisp after a couple of years. However, despite the degraded qualities of older home-canned foods, they're still safe to eat as long as they're not too old.