Reuse of Food Grade Tins
I am interested in using a food grade tin (such as this) to store small amounts of food, in particular for storing summer sausage or cheese for short periods of time (1-2 days). What are the food safety concerns (if any) for this? My searches online seemed to concentrate on reusing industrial canned food containers (verdict: not recommended), and I'm not sure if this type of container warrants different treatment.
Best Answer
Different types of tins are intended for storing different types of foods (dry crackers are very different from cheeses that contain some moisture). And as mentioned previously, linings can chip when the tin is being cleaned. Food grade does not mean that they are reusable - I'd contact the source and ask them. Usually the I&I (industrial and institutional) market has sturdier packaging than home use. If the I&I is not to be reused, I'd really doubt yours is suitable, especially for moist products.
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Can you reuse food cans?
While nearly everyone can participate in the process of reusing old cans, instead of throwing them away, old aluminum containers can be developed and creatively refashioned to produce new useful things.What can I do with old food storage containers?
As much as possible, try to recycle your containers, to the extent that is possible, and they cannot be reused by someone else. But typically, unless you've got a full set in extremely good condition, it is not worth your time to try to sell these, at least in my experience. So consider donating them.Can food grade buckets be reused?
Food Grade bucketsThey can be cleaned (here's how to get that pickle smell out) and then reused for your own food and emergency supply storage. You'll want to check the lids to make sure they still fit well (or opt to purchase a new lid from a DIY box store or invest in a Gamma Lid ).Why should you not reuse containers or products other than foods in storing foods?
Chemicals lurking in some containers \u2014 especially those that aren't designed for reuse \u2014 could leach out of the plastic and into your food if you heat them in the microwave, toss them in the dishwasher, or leave them in the sun for a long period of time, Halden says.Reuse our food tins
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Answer 2
The problem is that many 'food grade' tins are coated, and not solid. As such, cleaning them can end up flaking off the coating that's been applied, making them reactive.
Unless you're dealing with antique materials, I suspect that the majority of 'tins' are going to be either coated steel, or stainless steel.
Although I mentioned looking for tooling marks, and if it's matte or shiny, an easier test might be to use a magnet -- if the magnet sticks, they're most likely steel, and thus prone to rusting. Even if they're coated, if you put something moist in there, it can seep into any cracks it finds, leach at the metal, and then ruin your food. I had this happen with some Pecan Whiskey Cakes that I had put up, as they need to soak for a couple of months ... I now understand why my aunt wraps hers in (alcohol soaked) cloth, then a plastic bag, then whatever she's going to store it in.
You could probably do the same thing as you're only dealing with a few days -- wrap it in plastic, then put them in the tin.
It's possible that some (non-stainless) steel containers might have a more durable coating ... but unless it's specifically sold as being re-usable (or as wombar mentioned, for the industrial/institutional market), it's likely made to keep the costs down and not intended for re-use.
You should also avoid acidic or salty items, as they're known to pit stainless steels, especially when there's moisture and/or poor ventilation.
Answer 3
People have been storing food in tins for generations with no negative effect. I remember crackers being sold in tins when I was a kid. Have at it. You'll be fine. You may not want to store moist food in it once you start seeing rust though.
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