Should I boil canned food in water?
Do I have to boil canned food, specially tuna can, in water for twenty minutes? I think it's necessary to prevent food poisoning by botulism. However, currently that I am in Europe, I have not seen a written passage on tuna can to advise people to boil the can before consumption, or did I miss to see such a thing?
Best Answer
No, you should not need to boil your canned food. Most canned foods have already been heated to boiling — or higher — temperatures to kill all microbes as part of the canning process. Seafood is heated to temperatures even higher than boiling and canned under pressure.
Canned food is, by definition, sterilized and hermetically sealed so unless you believe the seal on the can is compromised, canned food is safe to eat as-is.
If you don't trust that it was properly canned, or you think the can's seal is broken, then simply don't eat it, boiled or otherwise.
It's interesting to note that canned food over 100 years old has been opened and — despite losing its flavor and nutritional value — deemed safe to eat.
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Quick Answer about "Should I boil canned food in water?"
No, you should not need to boil your canned food. Most canned foods have already been heated to boiling — or higher — temperatures to kill all microbes as part of the canning process. Seafood is heated to temperatures even higher than boiling and canned under pressure.Should you boil canned food?
The 10-minute boil is a safety precaution to inactivate any toxin present that might cause botulism. IF everything was done right in the pressure canning of meats and vegetables, then there should not be a problem.Can you heat canned food in boiling water?
Although we don't recommend boiling canned food in the can, if you must (for example, in a survival situation), at least make sure you do it safely. Take off the paper labels around the can and throw them away. Puncture at least two holes in the can. Use a can opener to open the top as well.What happens if you boil canned food?
The bacterium Clostridium botulinum is destroyed in low-acid foods when they are processed at the correct time and pressure in pressure canners. Using boiling water canners for these foods poses a real risk of botulism poisoning.How long do you boil canned food?
The University of Florida says, \u201cIf consuming home-canned foods of low acidity, heat to at least 80\xb0C (176\xb0F) for 10 minutes. Canned corn, spinach, and meats should be heated for 20 minutes.\u201d Preventing Foodborne Illness: Clostridium botulinum. University of Florida IFAS Extension.Easy Method for Cooking Some Canned Foods
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Answer 2
Commercially canned food (at least in reasonably wealthy countries, which I think would include at least all of the EU) is safe to eat straight out of the can. Provided the can is undamaged, of course. Damaged, bulging, etc. cans should be discarded.
You didn't say what country in specific you're in, but your country's health, food safety, etc. department should have specific guidelines to your country, if any are needed.
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Images: Gary Barnes, Klaus Nielsen, Pixabay, Klaus Nielsen