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Canned Food Storage For Small Spaces

Canning is one of the best food preservation techniques that can be done easily at home to keep the food safe. And every time you can food at home, you tend to preserve some extra, right? But you might end up with a shortage of storage space for the cans.

Do you have a lot of food cans to store but do not have that much space in your pantry? Or is your pantry disarranged due to the shortage of space? Whatever the reason could be, I have a few ways that will help you to store your canned food in a better way.

In this article, I will guide you through 8 possible ways to store your canned food in small spaces. These will help you to make the most of your small storage space and organize the cans into an arranged and neat cabinet. Check out the following sections for more!

1. Wire Baskets

Wire baskets are a great option to arrange your canned food in the kitchen pantry. This way the cans will not only take less space but will also remain organised. Wire baskets have an open design so that you can quickly find your food jars.

Another reason for using the wire baskets is that, they are quite sturdy and durable. They will last longer and therefore can be easily used to store food cans. They can also fit into any space, which means better storage.

2. Tiered Drawers

Tiered drawers will significantly simplify your small storage spaces. Because they are tiered, you can store more food cans at a time even if you do not have much space. They line up diagonally, and so you can easily reach and see the cans.

Tiered drawers also eliminate the need to dig into traditional drawers to search for a product. And what could be better, isn’t it? Simply install tiered drawers in your kitchen pantry and you will not regret it. They are the best when you have a small space.

3. Pull-out Cabinet Organiser

You might have seen pull-out cabinet organizers in modular kitchens. They are the best when it comes to making the most out of small spaces. So, if you do not have one installed in your kitchen, get it done for better space management.

They can be customized as per your kitchen space and therefore are worth the expenditure. They are also simple to use and a great way to make maximum use of cabinet depth for storage. You can keep and access the food cans in this way with ease whenever necessary.

4. Open Shelving

Keeping the kitchen shelves open will save you a lot of space. And therefore, this is one of the best solutions for limited spaces. They can be optimized when you need to store frequently utilized canned items.

You can also stack the food cans on top of each other in an open shelving system. This will also make it look more organized and arranged. You can install an open shelf anywhere in the kitchen.

5. Cabinet Door Organisers

A door organizer is a great idea to get the most out of the storage cabinets in your kitchen. With them, you can keep canned goods in the doors of the cabinet in addition to its shelves.

Cabinet door organizers can make a great difference in your kitchen spacing plans. Even though they are small in size, you can make the most of your storage space with them. In other words, they increase storage space without taking up much room.

6. Pantry Drawers

Pantry drawers are not similar to pantry shelves. They can help you streamline your food cans more effectively and at the same time simplify your search for the food jar you are looking for. Pantry drawers are one of the best places to store your food easily.

You will not have to go through multiple cans to get to the back when using pantry drawers as they can be easily found. Unlike a shelf, you can effortlessly reach every can by simply pulling the drawer.

7. Plastic Risers

The least expensive way to optimize the storage spaces in your kitchen is to use plastic risers. With them, you can seamlessly maintain the food cans by making the most of the depth and height of the shelves.

The plastic risers will also make your kitchen shelves appear more polished and well-organized, thus making the canned goods much more visible and accessible. This will further allow you to make the most of your storage areas.

8. Floating Pantry Shelf

Hanging or floating pantry shelves are a good option to balance out your available storage space. This is because on these shelves storing the canned food items can be done with ease and at your convenience.

Floating shelves are best for large-sized cans. However, keep in mind that because they will weigh more, you should place them near the bottom of the shelves. Lastly, floating shelves can be easily placed in any part of the kitchen.

Summing it up, that was all about the ways to store canned foods in small spaces. While these methods work great, alternatively you can also use can dispensers, wicker baskets, or clear baskets to maximize the storage rooms.

How To Store Canned Food After Opening?

You must be using canning as a method to store food at home. It is one of the best ways to preserve food at home. While canned food can be stored for years, the food might not go well with the surroundings when opened. What can you do then?

You can still store the food for later use, but not as long as years. You will have to finish the opened canned food within a few days. It also depends on how you are storing the food to use it later. You can either freeze it or transfer the content into another container and seal it.

This article will guide you on proper storage of the canned food after opening it. Read till the end to know more!

How To Store Unfinished Canned Food?

Unfinished canned food can stay good for a few hours. However, it depends on the type of food and the temperature of the place where you are storing the food. Also, canned foods are either acidic or non-acidic, so the time really depends on these factors.

Additionally, if you intend to finish the unfinished canned food within a day, you can keep it in the can itself. On the other hand, if you want to use it later, it is suggested that you seal the can properly to avoid air contamination. This will keep the food for longer.

Is It Safe To Store The Food In An Open Can?

Well, you can store food in an open can for some time, but it is not safe in the long run. This is because the food in an open can is exposed to air, and therefore will develop bacterial growth, thus making it unfit for consumption.

If you intend to finish the food within a few hours, you can keep it in an open can. Otherwise, it would be best to refrigerate the canned food at least. It will stay in the freezer for quite some time, and you can finish it within 4 days.

Food in an open can degrade sooner than food in the refrigerator. Therefore, it is safer to store the opened canned food in the refrigerator. However, the time in the refrigerator will solely depend on the type of canned food you are storing.

Is It Safe To Refrigerate Opened Canned Food?

Yes, it is safe to refrigerate opened canned food. However, for the food to be safe, it would be best to transfer the opened canned food into glass or airtight containers. The food will stay fresh for a longer time when stored in an airtight container.

Hence, we can say that it is safe to store opened canned food in the refrigerator. It will be kept for 4-7 days. Post that the food will start spoiling, and it will eventually lose its texture and flavor. Sometimes it may also alter color.

How To Store Opened Canned Food Without A Refrigerator?

If you want to store the opened canned food without a refrigerator, you will have to transfer the meal into a new, nonreactive container, like glass or plastic with a lid. This will preserve the quality, texture, and flavor of the food.

You might think you need not transfer the opened canned food if it is already in a glass can. But that is not true, you will still need to transfer the food to keep it away from contamination. This will keep the food safe for a maximum of 1-2 days.

Summing it up, that was all about storing the canned food after opening it. Remember to use food-grade containers when re-storing the food to keep it safe.

Canning Raw Chicken

You might be thinking if you can store raw chicken for later. Well yes, there are two options for storing the chicken for later use- freezing and canning. While you might be familiar with the steps of freezing raw chicken, canning is slightly different.

Canning raw chicken takes more time than freezing the chicken, but you can also store canned chicken for longer. In this article, I have specified all the important dos and don’ts of canning raw chicken. Read till the end and you will not regret it.

How To Can Raw Chicken?

Canning raw chicken can be a little tricky because chicken is a low-acid food. And for this, you will specifically need a pressure canner. For preserving the chicken you will need specific equipment. I have a detailed list of all the necessary equipment and a step-by-step process for canning. Check them out below.

Equipment You Need To Can Raw Chicken

You will need some specific equipment to can raw chicken. Check out the detailed list below:

• Wide-mouth mason jars: wide-mouth mason jars are preferable because they are easier to fill. And since you are canning chicken, wide-mouth jars are the best option. I would suggest avoiding quart jars because they take more pressure canning time.
• Canning lids and bands: Make sure you use new canning lids, even if you are reusing old canning jars. Otherwise, they will not seal properly. You will easily get the lids and bands in any store.
• Pressure canner: Since chicken is a low-acid food, you will particularly need a pressure canner to can chicken. A water bath canner will not work in this case. Make sure you have a fully functioning pressure canner to preserve the chicken.

Other important equipment that you will need for canning chicken are as follows:

• Bubble remover
• Tongs
• Wide funnel
• Jar lifter
• Paper towels

Steps To Can Raw Chicken

Now that you know the equipment you need for canning raw chicken, here is the step-by-step guide to can the food. Check them out in the below-mentioned points:

• The very first thing to do is to sterilize the jars. To do this, you will have to fill the pressure canner with water and bring it to a boil. Then, place the jars on the canning rack inside.
• The jars will be sterilized in about 20 minutes. Next, remove them and set them aside for cooling. Leave them on a paper towel as this will absorb all the water. Leave them undisturbed until the jars are completely dry.
• In the meantime, cut the chicken into tiny cubes, ideally one-inch cubes. And once the jars are dry fill the raw chicken into the jars with a clean spatula.

• As you fill each jar, leave a 2-inch headspace. This will be useful while processing the jars in the canner at a later stage of the process.
• Add half a teaspoon of salt and the preserving liquid to all the jars. Next, use a bubble remover or straw to carefully remove air bubbles from the jars. Close the lids.
• Put the packed jars inside the pressure canner to process them. Make sure they are not slanted. The jars should be upright and sit straight in the canner.

• Processing the filled jars in the pressure canner will take about 20-30 minutes. Make sure you keep the heat on medium to low and wait until the pressure turns to zero.
• Once all these steps are fulfilled, you can carefully remove the pressure canner lid. Use the jar lifter to remove the cans from the canner and place them securely on the counter.

That was all about canning raw chicken in a pressure canner. Now, it is time to let the jars cool completely before you store them in your kitchen cabinet.

How Long Does Canned Chicken Last?

Chicken canned raw can last for as long as 2-10 years. This is true only if the chicken has been sealed tightly and there is no air contamination. The chicken will be kept safe on your pantry shelf if it is unopened.

However, keeping chicken canned for such a long time can cause flavor and texture alterations. The nutritional value of chicken might also diminish. Therefore, it is best if you consume your canned chicken within the first years for the best results.

Does Canned Chicken Taste Normal?

Raw chicken has a fresh and juicy flavor that is enhanced when cooked. So, we can say that raw chicken has a certain flavor. However, when you go for canning the raw chicken, it is preserved in brine, which alters its taste.

If the chicken is canned for a long time, it will probably lose its flavor and become dry. This happens because the chicken loses its natural fat to some extent when preserved in brine. The brine causes the chicken to lose its flavor though it will still be safe for consumption.

Summing it up, that was all about canning raw chicken at home. The process is quite simple but needs to be done carefully to avoid any alteration in the flavor of the food. Yes, it takes time, but this way you can store your raw chicken for a long time.

Is It Possible To Can Chicken Recipes?

Yes, it is possible to can chicken recipes at home. While the process might be a little long because you will need to follow certain precautions to keep the food safe for a long time, once you have canned chicken recipes you will not regret it.

When you know you can preserve chicken by canning, you will not have to bother about the smaller freezer space at home. You can store as many chicken cans as you want at a time. Not only this, but they are also perfect for your quick chicken meals.

Canning is also a safe process so you need not worry about the chicken recipe going bad. You can store the jars in your kitchen pantry or cabinet and the food will stay for more than 6 months. Make sure that you keep the canned jars away from heat and light.

How Do You Can Chicken Recipes?

Chicken recipes can be canned using the pressure canning method. You will have to choose the pressure canning method because chicken is a low-acid food, so it cannot be canned in a normal water bath canner.

Chicken canning is easy. Check out the following steps to can your chicken recipe at home:

• Whatever recipe you are making, allow the chicken recipe to completely cool first. You can place it at the counter undisturbed for some hours to cool sufficiently.
• Once the recipe has cooled, transfer it into sterilized pint-sized jars carefully with a spatula. Leave a little headspace in each jar.
• Tap the jars gently to remove air bubbles and seal them with proper jar lids. You can also use bands to fasten the sealing even more tightly.
• Meanwhile, you can fill the canner with water and set it to boil on a high flame. Place the canning racks inside the canner.
• Once the water has a boiling temperature, use a tong to place the chicken jars carefully inside the canner. Make sure they are totally submerged in the water.
• Close the pressure lid and set the heat on a medium to low flame. This will let the jars process inside the canner. Cook it for 75-80 minutes before turning off the flame.
• After the timer clicks to 75 minutes, you can turn off the flame, and gently remove the jars on a paper towel. The paper towel will absorb all the moisture.
• Again, let the jars cool completely. Check for the sealing, if it is tight enough. Once all of these are done, your chicken recipe is ready to be canned.

Is Chicken Safe For Canning?

Yes, chicken canning at home is safe. You should know how to use a pressure canner correctly, otherwise, you might end up spoiling the food. Also, if you are a beginner at canning, it is advised that you seek supervision while using a pressure canner.

You can check out the USDA’s complete home canning guide to learn more insights about canning safely at home. It is better to read instructions than to simply start with the process. Remember chicken can only be canned in a pressure canner.

Canning Chicken Recipes

Chicken can be easily used as an ingredient in almost any recipe, from soups to gravy, from tacos to pizza, or anything. You can just mix chicken with any spices and recipe to enhance the flavor. The decision with chicken can never be wrong.

So talking about chicken recipes, there are so many that we cannot list all of them here. The good news is you can preserve any cooked chicken recipe as long as it does not contain any other raw ingredients.

Additionally, you can store whole, cut, boneless chicken, or chicken with bones, it is really just whatever you like. This indicates that you can cook the chicken recipe as per your choice without worrying about its storage processes after canning.

I have listed a few chicken recipes below that you can easily store in cans. The preserved chicken recipe will be stored for a long time, which means you can cook it once and enjoy it later for a long time.

Canning Chicken Soup Recipes

Following are some chicken soup recipes that can be canned:

• The classic chicken soup
• Roasted pepper chicken soup
• Creamy chicken soup
• Mushroom chicken soup
• Mexican chicken soup

Canning Chicken Chili Recipes

Following are some chicken chili recipes that you can store:

• Chicken chili gravy
• Chicken chili dry
• White chicken chili
• Chicken chili verde

Canning Chicken Meal Recipes

Following are a few chicken meal options that can be canned:

• Spicy chicken with gravy
• Rosemary chicken
• Sweet and sour chicken
• Chicken taco meat
• Chicken salad
• Chicken paprika and vegetables

Summing it up, that was all about canning chicken recipes at home, I have only mentioned a few recipes in this article, you can preserve any chicken recipe with this method. You just need to follow instructions carefully and your chicken will be safe for a long time.

Canned Food Poisoning Symptoms!

If your canned food is acted upon by botulism spores, you might not know by its taste or smell. But you will notice some changes in the jars, they will appear cracked or bloated. However, sometimes it might not be visible when the botulism is very less.

In that case, if you consume the food you might have a few symptoms. What symptoms? The following are a few possible reactions that can be caused by botulism spores in the human body:

• Difficulty in speaking or swallowing food
• Extreme dryness in the mouth
• Double vision or blurry vision and sagging eyelids
• Difficulties in breathing
• Stomach cramps, vomiting and nausea

Types Of Botulism

Botulism is broadly classified into three different types. All of them are mentioned in the following points:

1. Foodborne Botulism: This is botulism that is caused by food. This happens when home canned foods are exposed to improper storage conditions. This further leads to an effect of hazardous bacteria thus producing toxins in the food.
2.  Wound Botulism: These bacteria create major infections when they react with any cut or wound. The deadly bacteria produces toxins thus worsening the wound or cut.
3. Infant Botulism: Infants are prone to botulism when the bacterial spores proliferate in a baby’s digestive system. This is intestinal, and sometimes adults can suffer from this too.

While these types of botulism are deadly and seriously life-threatening. You would be glad to know that botulism is rare. It does not occur easily and can be simply prevented. You just have to be careful.

How Long Does It Take For Botulism To Grow In Canned Food?

Botulism is rare and does not grow easily in the canned food. For botulism to develop, certain factors such as high pressure and high temperature need to be present. So, if you store your canned food in a cool and dry place there is no chance of botulism.

On the contrary, botulism occurs only when food is stored improperly. You will notice changes in the jar, it might appear leaked or bloated. Sometimes you might also find a layer of foam on the food. This usually takes about 2-3 months to form.

Home Canning Shelf Life!

You already know that canning is a massive food preservation technique along with freezing. And processing food items this way is a great idea to extend their shelf life. Wondering how long can you store a portion of food vastly depends on the food item.

On average, canning can increase the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by up to 18 months and meat and fish by up to 2-5 years. Pickles on the other hand can be perfectly stored for 1 year. So, the shelf life of canned goods depends on the type of food you are canning.

Do not worry, if you store the canned food in proper storage conditions that are away from sources of heat and light, it will not be affected by botulism. Remember, botulism occurs in high-pressure and high-temperature areas, so keep your food away from them, they will be safe.

Why Is It Dangerous To Can Vegetables At Home?

Canning is one of the best ways to preserve food for later use. Foods that perish quickly can be stored for a longer time by canning. However, sometimes canning can prove to be dangerous. This is because the canned food might be unsafe and unfit for consumption.

This can happen due to botulism. Yes, botulism is a serious threat to food items that can even lead to difficulty in breathing, muscle paralysis, and sometimes even death. This mostly happens to canned food, therefore canning can sometimes turn out to be dangerous.

Botulism happens due to the spores in most food items, especially vegetables, which multiply and grow due to improper storage of the cans. Another leading factor of this can be low oxygen levels, low acidity, and temperatures between 40 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Things You Need To Know

• The toxin that causes botulism cannot be determined by smell or appearance, but even a small bite of the food can cause serious health effects.
• To avoid botulism, always go for the correct canning procedure. Take precautions and store the food in adequate storage conditions.
• If you find a change in the odor or appearance of the canned food, immediately throw it away. Do not consume spoiled food.

How Safe Are Canned Vegetables?

Canned vegetables are mostly safe and fit for consumption. It is quite uncommon for canned food to contain bacteria, be it commercially canned or home-canned. Nevertheless, you should always check a can before opening it.

Damage such as cracks, dents, or leaks is the first impression of food contamination. This can simply mean that even if the canned food has been kept in hygienic conditions, it might have been exposed to harmful germs.

Is Home Canning Healthy?

Yes, home canning is healthy. Canning locks a major part of the nutritional value of the food, therefore the food stays healthy anyway. Along with this, it also preserves most of the minerals, fat-soluble vitamins, protein, fat, and carbohydrates in unaltered amounts.

While home canning is healthy, you should also keep a check on the storage properties of the food. Proper storage is necessary for the food to maintain its healthiness. Therefore, always make sure the storage place is cool and dry.

What Does Botulism Look Like?

Botulism occurring in foods is dangerous. The harmful bacteria in home-canned food can cause life-threatening symptoms such as trouble breathing or swallowing, dry mouth, facial weakness, and blurred vision.

You will know if the canned food has undergone botulism or not. This is because botulism in food is noticeable due to its odor. Yes, while the food might seem relatively well, you will know that there is something wrong with its smell.

Things To Do To Prevent Botulism From Home-Canned Food!

When you are canning food at home, follow the following tips to prevent botulism:

• Always follow the canning instructions carefully and especially take care of the timings of jar preparations. This is very important to maintain the food value. Use tried and tested recipes if you are unsure of safe canning.
• Never mess up with the use of all the necessary equipment in the canning process. Use the ones that are specifically mentioned in the guide to avoid any mishaps. This will also keep your canned food safe.
• Use specified canning techniques for different types of food items. For example, use water bath canning techniques for high-acid foods and pressure canning techniques for low-acid canning foods.
• If you notice any difference in the stored container, such as building, cracks, or discoloration of the food, immediately through it out as it might be botulism. Sometimes, you cannot even sense the odor, so be careful.
• Lastly, if you have opened a canned food and are unsure if you can finish it within the same day, it is preferable that you immediately refrigerate it. This will prevent any food spoilage and keep it safe for some more days.

Botulism In Food

Botulism is a serious life-threatening toxin that frequently develops in home canned foods when stored improperly. While there may be other reasons for botulism, it is a matter of fact that this can lead to a fatal illness.

Botulism can originate in raw food as well. This is because spores of bacteria primarily cause them in fresh food. These spores, however, get killed in the process of canning. But sometimes it can be the opposite, and canned food can also be affected by botulism.

Predominantly two ideal factors could give rise to botulism- low oxygen and low temperatures. These conditions allow the spores to germinate and thus produce toxins. And this happens majorly in improper storage conditions of canned goods.

However, there is nothing to worry about. In this article, I have listed all the possible ways to test for botulism, its symptoms, how to kill botulism and other related topics that will be helpful for you. Read till the end to learn more about botulism in food.

How To Test For Botulism In Food At Home?

The signs of botulism in canned food cannot be correctly determined. This is because it is not visible on the food. The food might look the same when canned. But the following pointers can help you identify botulism to some extent:

• The container appears to be leaking or bloated.
• There might be unnecessary cracks in the jars.
• You find a bubbly layer on the food when you open a can.
• The food might change color or appear rancid.

These are just a few ways to determine botulism. Remember that botulism lacks both taste and smell, therefore you should never attempt to taste the food. If you are in doubt, it is always a good idea to throw away the food.

Unfortunately, there are no perfect methods for testing botulism at home, as you would do in a lab. Therefore, look for the above-mentioned signs in canned food to check for botulism. And if you are still in doubt, throw away the food. It is anyway better than having symptoms.

What Are The Symptoms Of Botulism?

The symptoms of botulism vary depending on the amount of toxin consumed. Accordingly, it might take from hours to days to show up. Following are a few possible symptoms of botulism that are most common:

• Difficulty in speaking or swallowing
• Dryness in the mouth
• Blurry eyesight and drooping eyelids
• Vomiting and nausea
• Breathing troubles

How To Prevent Botulism in Food?

Because botulism is not very common, a few extra steps can easily help you to prevent it. And these are safe methods to keep your food fresh and flavorful. Check out the following steps to prevent botulism effectively:

• Using high-quality and freshly produced foods that are free of molds
• Thoroughly run the fruits and vegetables under running water to prevent spoiling
• Adding lemon juice or vinegar to acidify the stored food items
• Maintaining an adequate temperature while pressure canning low-acid foods
• Sterilizing the canning jars adequately so that there is no chance of food spoilage
• Storing the canned food items in a cool and dark place
• Refrigerating the opened canned foods

Can You Cook Out Botulism?

Yes, you can induce high temperatures like cooking and boiling to kill botulism. But that is only possible when the spores of the bacteria have not highly affected the food. If the food has spoiled, cooking will make no difference.

Know that high temperature is a botulism enemy, therefore it is always a good idea to prevent the same. For instance, processing the canned jars in adequately hot and boiling water always works to keep away botulism in food at home.

Is It Safe To Consume Home Canned Food?

You might be wondering if your home canned food might be affected by botulism. But as mentioned earlier botulism is rare and only occurs if you are following a wrong canning or storage process. Home canned foods are safe.

Therefore, as long as your canning processes and storage techniques are accurate and adequate, there is no chance your food will spoil. But yes, it is always better to check for the jar shape and signs of spoilage for safety.

Summing it up, that was all about botulism and its do’s and don’ts. I hope this article was helpful for you to determine what you should do with your canned food if by any chance it is affected by bacterial spores. Just be careful while checking for botulism.