February is National Canned Food Month. So are you ready to take advantage of some unique recipes. Visit my Coordinate Food Donation Drive post as canned food is a great item to donate to soup kitchen’s and hunger relief charities.
National Canned Food Month
First and foremost, now is a great time to take stock of your cabinets. In addition, canned food helps save you time and money. At the same time, you may not have time to make a big meal. But, opening a can is an easy way to have something quick to eat.
Canned Food Shelf Life
When you have vegetables and fruit in a can; the shelf life is 1 – 2 years. Additionally, canned meat and poultry can last anywhere from 2 – 5 years. Also, canned oranges and tomatoes can last up to 18 months. In the same fashion, make sure you store your cans of food in your pantry or kitchen cabinet. Hence, do not store cans of food under the sink or above your stove.
For instance, if you put your food under the sink; you could have a leak onto the cans. When you put your food in a cabinet above a stove; it is exposed to low and high heat. As with anything, be careful on where you store your food.
Canned Food Nutritional Value
In the meantime, food in cans can have the same nutritional value as fresh or frozen produce. Moreover, there are lots of food available in cans with a low amount of sodium and sugar. In fact, when heating food from a can; there are some instances where the can actually helps you.
Best Canned Foods to Have on Hand
Next time you’re looking for something quick to make; stock up on the following cans next time you’re out grocery shopping.
- Soup
- Tomatoes – Of course, this is a “Must” for making a quick pasta sauce.
- Beans
- Corn
- Peas
- Spaghetti and macaroni
- Anchovies – Whenever I’m making a caesar salad or pizza; I always have anchovies on hand.
- Sauces
- Gravy
- Meat
- Fruit
Canned Food Recipes
If you’re a foodie and like to try new recipes; I have a few to share with you. Since I cook with poultry frequently; there are a few things you can do with chicken. For instance, you can make a sweet and sour chicken entrée by adding a can of pineapple chunks and juice and add any additional spice. Also, you can use canned tomatoes to make a chicken parmesan. For some delicious vegetable recipes, add some bacon to a can of green beans or peas.
What are your favorite foods to purchase in a can? Do you have any favorite recipes you make from a can?
As always, I look forward to your comments.
