I am going to take a stab at canning my own foods as I am not partial to the long ingredient list on store bought canned goods. I am not just looking to can jellies but would like to set aside some of my own canned beans, soup, etc when I make it for my family in bulk. What equipment do I need and do you know of any tutorials online or have experience of your own?

Hello-Just joined the site today. My wife and I are wondering how long canned foods will last.

I believe the expiration depends on the content of the cans. From what I've seen the cans have expiration dates on them. On average though they can be kept for several years.

rdiver98@yahoo.com wrote:

Hello-Just joined the site today. My wife and I are wondering how long canned foods will last.

Home canned vegetables are generally considered to have a shelf life of one to two years at most.  That assumes that the jars are stored in a cool, dark, dry location.  Canning supplies are readily available but the prices are getting outrageous.  New Quart jars retail for about $1 each and new (replacement) lids retail for 10¢ or more each.  Of course, the jars can be used over and over for as long as they retain their seal, but you've gotta overcome an initial investment of $1.10 or more per jar just to break even.