Most of the time, canned goods will have an expiration date on it. These are typically expressed as the “Best By” or “Best Before” date.
Although some would argue that it does not necessarily mean the food contents will go bad exactly on that date, it does, at the very least, mean that the quality may not be its best anymore.
That’s why stores may also clear their shelves, or put up sales with huge price drops for products closer to their expiration date. If you’re certain you will be opening the can within the optimum dates for good quality, then sure, go ahead and buy them.
But otherwise, if you’re only thinking of stocking them in your pantry, you might want to reach for the can with a faraway Best By date.
I usually trust my judgment by the way the food looks and smells. Sometimes, if the canned food still looks good and doesn’t smell all that bad, I think maybe the canned food is still edible. It’s nice to know more than just that thanks for this blog!
Pretty commonsense stuff, but good article.