Out here in the dry deserts of Utah, corrosion really isn’t a concern for me. For many of you, however, the humidity can become your worst nightmare. If you live in a humid environment take care to protect your canned goods from rusting. What a tragedy it would be if you spent all this money on preparation only to have it ruined from the elements.
Preventing corrosion is really no more complicated that creating a barrier between the cans and the moisture in the air (particularly salty air for those of you on the coasts). Here are a few ways to go about this. Before using any of the following “coating” methods you will want to clean the cans, remove the labels and write the contents of the can on the outside.
NOTE: Use the paraffin or mineral oil methods on cans that require a can opener
Paraffin
Use a double boiler to melt the paraffin. You will coat the can by either dipping it directly into the paraffin (Dip it in and out quickly. You don’t want to warm the contents of the can) or painting it on. If painting on the paraffin take care to generously coat all of the seams.
Mineral Oil
Pour a small amount of food-grade mineral oil on a rag and wipe down the outside of each can. You’ll only need enough coating to generate a light sheen. The cans will attract dust with the mineral oil so wipe down the tops of the cans prior to opening.
Paste Wax and Mineral Spirits
In a double boiler, warm a combination of 2-3oz. of paste wax and 1 quart of mineral spirits. When the blend is well mixed and dissolved, paint the cans with it.
Silicone Spray
Lightly spray your cans. When they have dried, wipe them gently with a clean cloth to remove the excess
Rustoleum
Rustoleum is the longest lasting of the different methods. Clean the tops of cans treated with Rustoleum prior to opening.
Pictures of these processes coming soon!
Do you know if canned food can rust in the fridge? My husband and I have been keeping ours in the fridge in the garage since we dont have ANY room in the house and the garage gets to 100 degrees in the summer. It’s been in there about a year now…..
Hey Jennifer! It’s actually not recommended to keep cans in the refrigerator. There’s actually a considerable amount of humidity inside a fridge and can lead to them rusting through. Is there anything in the house you could put in the garage that isn’t temperature sensitive and use that space for your cans?
Do you know if there is a way to see tell if a can of food is rusted without opening it? We are finally getting more storage room in the house so we are taking it all out of the fridge this weekend but I dont want to risk it if it may be rusted…..Thanks for any help!