If a large can is divided into smaller containers, is it still shelf stable

food-safetystoragevacuum

Everyone knows that buying in bulk usually saves money. My question involves buying and saving bulk canned veggies and items of that nature. Can you divide a bulk or industrial size can of say green beans or nacho cheese into mason jar, vacuum seal the jar with my Foodsaver and it still be shelf stable without traditional "canning"? I don't want my "nacho cheese" to go rancid on the shelf but I don't want it taking up valuable fridge space either.

Best Answer

No. You can freeze items like that, and they will stay safe indefinitely in a fully functional freezer, but once you break the seal on the can, items like that are subject to same 2/4 hour shelf safety rules as any other cooked item.

See: How do I know if food left at room temperature is still safe to eat?