Putting can in refrigerator

Yes, I know the arguments for starting from dried and no, I have not aquafaba'd. When I roast a bunch to snack on, I'll use two whole cans, but when I just want extra protein on a salad, I'll take what I need from one can, dump the rest in a container, and stick that in the fridge.

Because that's what you're supposed to do, right? It's not a trick question. That is what you should do with leftover canned food, as opposed to covering the opened can and sticking it in the fridge. There's nothing wrong with storing unopened metal cans in the refrigerator. But it's pointless in terms of food safety - the whole point of canning is to make the food safe to store at room temperature. Don't waste the fridge space unless you're actually trying to chill the contents of the cans.

Now, if the cans are open , sure, that's a problem. You should transfer the food to a sealed container for storage, whether it came from a can or a pot or anywhere else. But none of this has anything to do with acidity.

Acidity doesn't make you sick, and in fact, it can help keep bacteria from growing and keep food safer. That's why a lot of canned goods have a bit of acid added, and why we pickle foods. I see no reason why closed cans should have a higher risk of causing the tomatoes to become acidic. When closed the only difference is, that there is no to very little oxygen. This is actually what causes your products to last longer. And the United States Department of Agriculture states that canned food can be stored in the fridge once opened, so it should be safe to store it in the fridge when closed.

The only difference I am aware of with closed cans is the botulism bacteria , which likes to live in anaerobic environments, where it can produce a deadly toxin.

Refrigerating products usually slows down the spread of bacteria, so if anything putting the cans in the freezer helps to reduce the risk of a botulism poisoning. Of course there's no risk. Cans are commonly stored in warehouses with no heating and probably no control of the upper temperature limit as well for long periods. Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group.

Create a free Team What is Teams? Learn more. Is it safe to store unopened metal cans in the refrigerator? How long can meat and poultry remain in the refrigerator, once thawed? After you open a can, how long can you keep the food in the refrigerator? Trending Articles How long is meat or poultry safe to use after the sell-by date?

How long can you store eggs in the refrigerator? How long can you freeze chicken? How long can you freeze ground beef? A quick rinse under lukewarm water can help remove some of the added salt from canned foods, Kundu says. Of course, if something in the canning process itself unintentionally goes wrong, your food could pose a danger too. The Food and Drug Administration FDA warns to look out for damaged cans, as they can harbor contaminants such as Clostridium botulinum , which can cause botulism.

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