“If the can is not breached, that stuff can last for decades. Just open the lid and it’s ready to eat.”
modern canned goods are not hermetically sealed, instead, the top is joined to the can with a high-speed mechanical press/fold fit around the rim ... in my own pantry, i’ve seen where one can that has gone bad spew stuff into the pantry that infects adjacent cans, clear evidence that external bacteria can enter canned goods ... most canned goods have a shelf life of a couple of years ...
> one can that has gone bad spew stuff into the pantry <
Interesting (and messy). I’ve read that cans without the pull-ring top last longer than the ones with such a top - I think I got that right. Do you recall what kind of top that can had?
Oh, and I do keep my canned goods in the basement. It’s always cool and dark down there, even in the middle of the summer. That should help.