Prep

How long does canned chicken last?

FoodKeeper gives canned chicken 5 years unopened, as a guide to quality. Once opened, that's 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.

Throw away, without tasting, any can that's bulging, leaking, heavily rusted or deeply dented, or that spurts when opened.

How to store it

Keep it with your other low-acid cans and date the top in marker when you buy it, because can codes aren't meant to be read as dates. It's useful stock for a power outage, because it needs no refrigerator until it's opened.

USDA says temperatures below 85°F are best, and to avoid anywhere above or beside the stove, under the sink, or in a damp garage or basement. USDA says unused food may be refrigerated in the can, but a glass or plastic container keeps it tasting better.

What to look for

Check the seams. USDA says to discard any can with a deep dent on a seam, because a sharp dent there can let bacteria in. A deep dent is one you can lay your finger into.

Throw a can away, without tasting, if it's bulging or swollen, leaking, heavily rusted or deeply dented, or if it hisses loudly or spurts when opened. USDA says a small dent on a can that's otherwise in good shape should be safe; a deep dent is one you can lay your finger into. Surface rust you can rub off isn't serious, but rust inside means don't eat the food. Double-bag anything suspect and put it in an outdoor trash can.

Worth knowing

FoodKeeper gives canned chicken 5 years. USDA's wider chart gives 2 to 5 years for canned meat and poultry, so plan on the shorter end for anything you're counting on.

USDA FoodKeeper says: “Canned items will be safe to eat well past the 'use-by' or 'best by' date as long as the can shows no dents, rust, or swelling.”

Similar foods

From preppantry.app. Checked 2 November 2026. Independent tool, not official advice.

How it works

FoodKeeper is USDA's food storage database. Its figures are guides to quality for food stored at cool room temperature, not safety cut-offs, and we show them as USDA gives them. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase. Opened times start when you open the pack.

Where FoodKeeper gives no figure, we say so instead of guessing. The date printed on a package is the manufacturer's, and it's about quality except on infant formula.

Common questions

How long does canned chicken last unopened?

5 years, according to USDA FoodKeeper, as a guide to best quality. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase.

How long does canned chicken keep once opened?

FoodKeeper gives no figure for an opened pack in the pantry. 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.

Does canned chicken go bad after the date on the package?

USDA says canned items will be safe well past the date as long as the can shows no dents, rust or swelling. Quality can drop with time, so use the oldest first.

What should I look for before using canned chicken?

Check the seams. USDA says to discard any can with a deep dent on a seam, because a sharp dent there can let bacteria in. A deep dent is one you can lay your finger into.

Sources

Checked on 2 November 2026. This is an independent tool and not official advice. See sources and method.

Next