Is it safe to store unopened metal cans in the refrigerator?
A co-worker and I are having a disagreement on whether or not it's okay to put unopened cans of pizza sauce in a refrigerator. I say it's not, because the acidity in the tomatoes in the can will make someone extremely ill. He thinks as long as it is not opened, it will be fine. Who is correct?
Best Answer
There's nothing wrong with storing unopened metal cans in the refrigerator. But it's pointless in terms of food safety - the whole point of canning is to make the food safe to store at room temperature. Don't waste the fridge space unless you're actually trying to chill the contents of the cans.
Now, if the cans are open, sure, that's a problem. You should transfer the food to a sealed container for storage, whether it came from a can or a pot or anywhere else.
But none of this has anything to do with acidity. Acidity doesn't make you sick, and in fact, it can help keep bacteria from growing and keep food safer. That's why a lot of canned goods have a bit of acid added, and why we pickle foods.
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Quick Answer about "Is it safe to store unopened metal cans in the refrigerator?"
It is best to store unopened commercially canned foods in a cool and dry place (such as in a cupboard). Metals can corrode and rust in moist environments. However, you may store them in the refrigerator for a short period of time.Can you leave metal cans in the fridge?
You should not try storing open metal cans in the refrigerator, because the iron and the tin can seep into the foods and taint the flavour and in some cases cause negative health effects. Keeping open cans in the fridge is especially dangerous if the food is quite acidic, such as fruits and tomatoes.Is it bad to put a can in the fridge?
Storing open food cans in your fridge won't cause food poisoning or botulism, but it will affect the taste. The only time you could get food poisoning is if the can shows tangible signs of damage like foul-smelling contents, dents, leaks or bulges.Is it ok to store open cans in the fridge?
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Answer 2
I see no reason why closed cans should have a higher risk of causing the tomatoes to become acidic. When closed the only difference is, that there is no (to very little) oxygen. This is actually what causes your products to last longer. And the United States Department of Agriculture states that canned food can be stored in the fridge once opened, so it should be safe to store it in the fridge when closed.
The only difference I am aware of with closed cans is the botulism bacteria, which likes to live in anaerobic environments, where it can produce a deadly toxin. Refrigerating products usually slows down the spread of bacteria, so if anything putting the cans in the freezer helps to reduce the risk of a botulism poisoning.
Answer 3
Of course there's no risk. Cans are commonly stored in warehouses with no heating (and probably no control of the upper temperature limit as well) for long periods
Answer 4
The moisture in the fridge allows rust to start forming
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