Canned Food

Q: I have various cans of food that have been in my cupboards for at least 5 years. Are they still good?

Lynne: Well, you should be admired because you actually clean out your cupboards. First off, toss any cans that are bulging. Those are the ones that can kill you. In the realm of the more benign, supposedly most canned goods are in their prime for about one year. In your case, this means that your cupboards will be empty! Get rid of any can that's dented because the seal could be broken, or any that have staining on the sides indicating leakage. One other thing: always clean cans before you open them to remove any contamination that may be present.