Why would hot-packed green beans go bad when still sealed?
My hot-packed green beans went bad. They are still sealed, look nice and green. On the bottom there is a white slime. When I opened a jar they smelled terrible. What happened?
Best Answer
I know this is kind of old but unless green beans are pickled or processed as in the link below, they are considered not safe (NOT safe to waterbath unless pickled). So in answer to your question, if they were not process in a pressure canner at the appropriate pressure for your altitude and for the correct length of time for the jar-size, then that would be what caused them to go bad.
http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_04/beans_snap_italian.html
- you said the jar is sealed and they are nasty smelling/looking - that specific problem is often due to a false seal from either stacking the jars or storing them with rings on. If the seal breaks for whatever reason, the ring being on can cause it to "re-seal" after letting air and whatnot in/out of the jar. It then gives the appearance of being sealed while actually being quite gross/unsafe. To prevent this, rings should be removed 24 hours after the item has been out of the canner.
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Quick Answer about "Why would hot-packed green beans go bad when still sealed?"
Whether you water bath or pressure canned them, the most likely reason is that you didn't process them long enough.What causes canned green beans to spoil?
People who see their beans spoiling after underprocessing them (not using enough heat when canning them) may also have jars that contain botulism toxin because they are showing signs of underprocessing by other spoilage that might include cloudy, bubbling liquid and jars that pop open after initially sealing.Can green beans in a bag go bad?
Even if an unopened can is past the expiration date, it's safe if the package is undamaged. The texture and color may change when you pressure can green beans but the flavor will not be affected. If the beans smell bad or mold appears in the jar, discard them.How can you tell if canned green beans have botulism?
The container spurts liquid or foam when you open it. The food inside is discolored, moldy, or smells bad.How do you know when bagged green beans are bad?
When it comes to signs of spoiled green beans, look for the following:Freezing Green Beans: Blanched vs. Unblanched Comparison \u0026 Taste Test
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Answer 2
Green beans are very low in acid and need to be processed carefully. Whether you water bath or pressure canned them, the most likely reason is that you didn't process them long enough.
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