The Boat Galley On Rusty Cans

This week, the Boat Galley is checking the bottom of all the cans stored on your boat...

Tips From The Boat Galley, by Carolyn Shearlock

Photo by Carolyn Shearlock

Carolyn Shearlock, author of The Boat Galley, appears weekly on the Daily Boater with tips for getting the most out of your boat's kitchen. Download a free sample of her soon-to-be-published The Boat Galley Cookbook. 


Ever reach for a can and notice a bit of rust on it? Most likely, on the rim? And the question hits you...

Are Rusty Cans Safe to Eat From?

Whether it’s a few cans left from last season, or something that was forgotten in the back of a locker, or sometimes even being away from the boat for a month in a humid environment, rusty cans happen to all of us. Do you have to throw them away?

Good news: Probably not.

According to the FDA: "Discard heavily rusted cans. Cans that are heavily rusted can have tiny holes in them, allowing bacteria to enter. Surface rust that you can remove by rubbing with your finger or a paper towel is not serious. You can keep these canned foods. If you open the cans and there is any rust inside, do not eat the food. Rust (oxidized iron) is not safe to eat."

The Canned Food Alliance (a trade group for manufacturers of canned goods) says: "Rust or dents do not affect the contents of the can as long as the can does not leak. If the can is leaking, however, or if the ends are bulged, the food should not be used."

I'd add that you should probably wipe away as much rust as possible from the lid, so that when you cut the lid off, loose "rust dust" doesn't fall into the can (I don't have any source for that, just my own comment).

As with anything else when you're away from prompt medical care, use common sense and don't push it too far. If you have any suspicion that a can is unsafe (rusted or dented so that bacteria could enter), don't eat the food in it. Food poisoning is never fun, but it can be extremely serious when medical care is a day or more away.



About the Author

Carolyn Shearlock is author of The Boat Galley, with over 350 FREE articles to get the most out of your boat kitchen with galley tips, insights & equipment recommendations. A few recipes, too - plus an active Facebook community to ask questions and share tips with other readers! And be sure to download a free sample of her soon-to-be-published The Boat Galley Cookbook.

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