Shelf Life Tips
- How long do unopened canned great northern beans last? The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions - to maximize the shelf life of canned great northern beans, store in a cool, dry area.
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How long does an unopened can of great northern beans last at room temperature? Properly stored, an unopened can of great northern beans will generally stay at best quality for about 3 to 5 years, although it will usually remain safe to use after that.
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Are unopened canned great northern beans safe to use after the "expiration" date on the can or package? Yes, provided they are properly stored and the can is undamaged - commercially packaged canned great northern beans will typically carry a "Best By," "Best if Used By," "Best Before", or "Best When Used By" date but this is not a safety date, it is the manufacturer's estimate of how long the canned great northern beans will remain at peak quality.
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Storage time shown is for best quality only - after that, the canned great northern beans' texture, color or flavor may change, but in most cases, they will still be safe to consume if they have been stored properly, the can is undamaged, and there are no signs of spoilage (see below).
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How can you tell if canned great northern beans are bad or spoiled? The best way is to smell and look at the canned great northern beans: if the canned great northern beans develop an off odor, flavor or appearance, or if mold appears, they should be discarded.
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Discard all canned great northern beans from cans or packages that are leaking, rusting, bulging or severely dented.
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Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here
