PrepHow long do canned vegetables, beans and soup last?
FoodKeeper gives canned vegetables, beans and soup 2 to 5 years unopened, as a guide to quality. Once opened, that's 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
How to store it
These are the low-acid cans that fill most pantries: beans, carrots, corn, peas, potatoes, spinach, soup and stew. Put new cans behind old ones, so the oldest get used first.
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
USDA names low-acid vegetables such as green beans, corn, beets and peas as the canned foods at risk of botulism if processing fails. Throw out vegetables sitting in milky liquid when it should be clear. Don't taste them.
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
Tomato soup doesn't belong in this group. It's high-acid, and FoodKeeper gives it 12 to 18 months.
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 do canned vegetables, beans and soup last unopened?
2 to 5 years, according to USDA FoodKeeper, as a guide to best quality. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase.
How long do canned vegetables, beans and soup keep once opened?
FoodKeeper doesn't recommend keeping this at room temperature once opened. 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
Do canned vegetables, beans and soup 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 vegetables, beans and soup?
USDA names low-acid vegetables such as green beans, corn, beets and peas as the canned foods at risk of botulism if processing fails. Throw out vegetables sitting in milky liquid when it should be clear. Don't taste them.
Sources
- USDA FoodKeeper data (CC0) (data version 128)
- USDA FSIS: shelf-stable food safety
- USDA FSIS: food product dating
- CDC: keeping food safe after a disaster or emergency
Checked on 2 November 2026. This is an independent tool and not official advice. See sources and method.