how long to keep canned goods

[moolie]

I ate some candy that was from WWll. It was canned in some kind of big metal can. Not a #10 but similar. I'm still kickin

Sugar doesn't go bad

I know, I just love being able to tell that. I've no clue where my grandma got it, but that was the BEST lemon drops EVER

Betcha there's a story that goes along with the candy, about how she got it from some really handsome young soldier/sailor she danced with at a USO dance just before he shipped out and she never saw him again...

 

[Wannabefree]

Nah i think it's more like someone found it and gave it to her, and she tested it out on us kids to see if it was okay or not after about 40 years

 

[the funny farm6]

Haha. I would have done the same!

 

[moolie]

Lol, Grandmas huh! I like my story better--you should totally use it!

 

[so lucky]

This is going to sound like I should win "Bad Home Maker of the Year" but here's my tale about storing canned goods: When my DH and I combined our households nearly 20 years ago, we had some cans of vegetables and soups, etc to combine, too. Well, our pantry space is under the bar area--a deep, dark black hole, where things get lost forever. I have to sit on the floor to see what is back there, use a flashlight, etc. Recently, I had a short-lived spurt of energy and decided to clean and sort through all the canned goods under there. Back in the far corner, I found a dark stain on the shelf, not sticky but with some substance. A can was stuck to the shelf, but the can was empty! It had rusted/corroded through and all the contents oozed out, probably to be eaten by mice or ants. I don't remember what it was, but it wasn't something you would think of being corrosive, like maybe pineapple or tomatoes. There is a possibility that the can was as old as 40 years, but 25 years is more likely. Much too old, at any rate. So now you know my darkest secrets.

 

[Wannabefree]

solucky, that is hillarious. Maybe you should use that story to convince your other half to install new cabinetry or at the very least a light insde the cupboard down there I think just about everybody has one of those awkward "spots" in their kitchen somewhere where things get lost only to be found waaaaaaaaaaay to late to salvage whatever it was I have one cabinet I DON'T use, for that very same reason.

 

[so lucky]

This is sort of off-topic, but I have been thinking about ripping out the shower stall in the laundry room/bathroom, and putting shelving for a pantry in there. But it is close to the commode, and I don't know if that is appropriate in any way. There could be a wall left there, coming out as far as the commode sticks out, but it would still be in the same room. We haven't used that shower but about twice in 20 years. (Have two others) I guess if it didn't get used for canned goods, it could still be used for small appliances, canning supplies, cleaning supplies, etc. It is crammed full of stuff now, with the shower door closed! (another bad homemaker disaster) Does anybody see a pattern here?

 

[the funny farm6]

Y'all haven't seen my house! belive me I am NOT homemaker of the year!

 

[so lucky]

I am fully convinced that the folks who always have a clean house and especially a clean orderly kitchen, just don't use it much. My DH's friend has a spotless house, and they spend a lot of time cleaning, but don't cook, eat out every meal, and have no hobbies or projects. And no kids. Guess that's living for them, but I would rather have some stuff going on in my house!

 

[the funny farm6]

After raising 4 kids I'm not sure how I will handle when I have no kids around to mess things up all the time! Guess I need to hint harder about those grandkids!