Question I've been surfing the web and have found many answers to this question with a range of 1 year all the way up to 10 years if stored in a cool dark place. My mother-in-law has tons of old canned vegetables she wants to give me but I want to make sure they will be safe first. Thanks for your help!
Answer The most common recommendation is not to use home canned items beyond 1-2 years. The processing techniques used in the home are designed to keep the food safe, but are not as reliable as a commercially processed item. A good indicator would be whether or not the metal seal remains down when the retaining ring is unscrewed. If it pops off or is very easy to remove, it may indicate spoilage organisms have grown within the jar.
