Canned Bacon Is The Pantry Meat You Can Wait Up To A Decade To Enjoy

No kitchen pantry would be complete without an assortment of canned goods. Convenient and easy to prepare, canned veggies, fruits, meats, and seafood can easily be stored in the home for months or even years in some cases. While canning is a standard practice these days, it's a relatively recent development. The first canning process was created by Nicolas Appert, an inventor who responded to the French army's offer of 12,000 francs in exchange for a safe, reliable food storage option to sustain its troops. After 14 years of toiling, Appert developed the canning process in 1809.

In addition to normal canned selections like corn, peaches, and lunch meat, canned goods also include a few off-the-wall options. Take canned bacon, for instance, which is an actual thing that exists in this world. While the idea of canned bacon is bound to put some people off (bacon is supposed to be crispy and crunchy, not soft and mushy), this preparation is actually quite practical when you think about it. After all, who wouldn't want to have a steady supply of bacon in their home that can last a seemingly interminable amount of time?

If the idea of waking up one morning and realizing that your home is bereft of bacon inspires dread in you, canned bacon is the solution you're looking for. This canned meat product has an impressive shelf life of 10 years when unopened. That means it can live in your pantry indefinitely, or at least until you can no longer resist its salty siren song. At that point, you must relocate your can of bacon to the refrigerator to keep it fresh, tasty, and safe for consumption.

While having bacon that lasts for 10 years sounds like a dream come true, you're probably wondering about how this canned product actually tastes. Rest assured that canned bacon manufacturers go to great lengths to ensure a quality product. Individual bacon slices are wrapped in paper to retain their shape and texture. Manufacturers also drain the fat from the bacon before it's placed into the can, which ensures optimum crispiness. This bacon is pre-cooked, which means it can be enjoyed right out of the can. However, you can also fry it as you normally would to achieve the perfect texture. There's no denying the longevity of canned bacon and other canned foods but proper storage is still crucial to maintaining quality.

Canned bacon and other items are definitely resilient, but not completely impervious to food safety issues. The key is to store canned meats and other products correctly to make certain you can store them for as long as possible. The area should be dry and well-protected from heat sources and light. Consider that the ideal storage conditions for canned items range between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Very high temps (think 100 degrees Fahrenheit and higher) contribute to spoilage while freezing temperatures can ruin textures once the food thaws.

You should also be aware of the signs that a canned item is no longer fit for consumption. Rust on the exterior of a can might not seem like a major issue, but keep in mind that rust can penetrate the metal and expose the contents to air. Accordingly, heavily rusted cans should be discarded, even if they've not expired yet. Canned foods can also exhibit signs of spoilage even before they're opened. In this case, watch for issues like dents, bulges, and bad odors emanating from the can. With a modicum of effort, your pantry will be the perfect place for your essential reserve of bacon.