Prep

How long does canned tuna last?

FoodKeeper gives canned tuna 3 years unopened, as a guide to quality. Once opened, it has no figure in FoodKeeper.

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

How to store it

Once opened, put what's left in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Tuna in a pouch doesn't last as long: USDA gives seafood in retort pouches 18 months on the shelf.

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

Small glassy crystals in canned seafood aren't a fault. USDA says the FDA regards them as harmless. They're struvite, which can form naturally after canning. Throw out anything that smells wrong.

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's tuna entry has no opened figure. FoodKeeper's general entry for low-acid cans, which lists fish, gives 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. USDA also gives 3 to 4 days for seafood from a pouch.

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.”

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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 doesn't tie this figure to the date of purchase, so count it from the day you bought the food, which is the cautious reading. 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 tuna last unopened?

3 years, according to USDA FoodKeeper, as a guide to best quality. FoodKeeper doesn't tie this figure to the date of purchase, so count it from the day you bought the food, which is the cautious reading.

How long does canned tuna keep once opened?

FoodKeeper gives no figure for an opened pack in the pantry. FoodKeeper gives no refrigerator figure.

Does canned tuna 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 tuna?

Small glassy crystals in canned seafood aren't a fault. USDA says the FDA regards them as harmless. They're struvite, which can form naturally after canning. Throw out anything that smells wrong.

Sources

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

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