[Deadeye]

I keep my pantry stocked with canned goods & keep them rotated as best I can. I was just wondering what the average shelf life on them was. I remember eating C-Rations in basic training in 1980 that had to be Viet-nam or Korea issue (not sure but know they had to be atleast 10yrs old).

 

[sheepdog]

Most have a date of expiration...may be clear or coded....I'd say 2 years max....I've been donated for church pantry some 5 years...opened them....yech or swelled cans....2 years is safe....

 

[Johngoboom]

Just watch out for the stewed tomatoes!!!

They liked to kill me.

 

[Deadeye]

I know they have dates on them, but aren't they sell by dates? I know they don't last forever depending on whats in'm but then how did the old C-rats last so long?

Also there should be some foods that will last a lot longer than others.

 

[sheepdog]

The reason Crats lasted so long is there was no food value in them to start with...nothing perishable....the only reason for Crats was to justify the TP contract that made the 4-star's brother-in-law rich.......

 

[Deadeye]

The reason Crats lasted so long is there was no food value in them to start with...nothing perishable....the only reason for Crats was to justify the TP contract that made the 4-star's brother-in-law rich.......

That sounds about right & I imagine the military had stricter standards when it came to the canning process.

 

[Deadeye]

This subject also makes me wonder about MREs. I've been wanting to order a case of them but was not sure how long they last. I just don't want to end up with some that are already old & don't have much time left.

 

[Wizard]

You would be better off to buy freeze dried food....sealed, it can last up to 25 years. Be aware, though, it is rather expensive.....

 

[sheepdog]

..or.....Johngoboom's selling a set of plans for a really marvy chicken coop and you could raise your own fresh food.................

 

[Wizard]

Now that's just funny, Sheepdog.... :lol:

 

[Johngoboom]

I didn't want to build it too nice, or I figured I might go out some morning and find some family of illegal aliens living in it.

 

[Bountyhunter]

:lol: :lol:

 

[sheepdog]

Good one, John....but not entirely unlikely...if you got a coupla Mexican chickens and gave them a cellphone, you might get a coopfull in a day or two!!!

 

[Johngoboom]

Do mexican chickens come pre-spiced for fajitas???

 

[sheepdog]

Ain't you never heard of chicken chitlins, Yankee boy??? Takes a lot to fill you up but spicy, yeah!!!

 

[Deadeye]

Hey John you should raise those boneless chickens I see in the grocery store all the time! You wouldn't have to build them a roost but you may need more floor space for them to lay around in. I wonder if they lay soft eggs??? :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Terry_P]

The reason Crats lasted so long is there was no food value in them to start with...nothing perishable....the only reason for Crats was to justify the TP contract that made the 4-star's brother-in-law rich.......

I ate one can of the pressed ham in water and I liked to die of thirst that afternoon. After that I would trade them for anything else even the ham and lima's or go hungry.

 

[sheepdog]

That ain't what we called 'em.....

 

[Wizard]

My wife researches all the "emergency preparedness" stuff she can find. Freezedried is the way to go, but it is expensive. She also says you can extend the life of canned goods by spraying the outside of the cans with a good coat of silicone....it is supposed to keep air from decomposing the metal so quickly, which is the main culpret in canned goods going bad.....

She wants me to have a well drilled and put an old fashioned handpump on it. Makes sense...

 

[Johngoboom]

That makes great sense Wizard!!! If you do it let us know how it turns out.