Opened canned food: how to store it in Australia
Why an opened tin needs fresh-food precautions even when the sealed can is shelf stable.
Australia · FSANZ · NSW Food Authority
Commercial canned food can often be stored unopened in a cool, dry cupboard. FSANZ warns that opening a can changes the situation: its contents may become highly perishable and need the same precautions as fresh food. A best-before date on an intact tin is not a licence for leaving leftovers on a bench.
Inspect the unopened container
Avoid badly dented, swollen, leaking or heavily corroded tins and other packages with signs of seal damage. Do not taste their contents to determine safety.
Transfer leftovers to a clean container
FSANZ advises emptying unused contents from an opened tin into a clean plastic or glass container, covering it and refrigerating it.
Follow the same rules as fresh food
Once opened, canned contents can spoil quickly. FSANZ says they should not be stored longer than the equivalent uncanned food; follow any specific after-opening instructions from the manufacturer.
What to do, step by step
- Check the can or jar for obvious damage before opening.
- Read the food label for refrigeration requirements and any after-opening consumption instructions.
- If contents remain, transfer them into a clean, suitable container and cover them.
- Refrigerate perishable opened food promptly at 5°C or colder.
- Discard opened food with unknown temperature history or signs of spoilage instead of relying on the unopened package date.
Does the same guidance apply to cartons and pouches?
Products sold in glass jars, flexible pouches and long-life cartons can also become perishable after opening. FSANZ advises following their storage instructions and avoiding any unsealed, leaking or swollen package.
Australian official sources
Guidance for Australia from FSANZ and NSW Food Authority. Read the original conditions, particularly for temperature and elapsed time:
Country scope: Australian consumer advice. The 2018 USDA FoodKeeper values have not been reused as Australian safety deadlines.