Can I keep food in an open tin?

[Annemieke]

When I was young I was taught never to keep food in its tin: once the tin was opened, you had to put leftovers in a plastic box (in the fridge), for the tin, once open to the air, would contaminate it. Is this still the case, or do they treat the inside of a tin with something these days, so that it won't affect food?
Thanks! Annemieke.

[Annemieke]

[GrannieAnnie]

When I was young I was taught never to keep food in its tin: once the tin was opened, you had to put leftovers in a plastic box (in the fridge), for the tin, once open to the air, would contaminate it. Is this still the case, or do they treat the inside of a tin with something these days, so that it won't affect food?
Thanks! Annemieke.

There is a liner in the cans, has been for many years, to stop a reaction with the metal. That said, some say the liners give off BPA which in large quantities can cause cancer. Supposedly tests show it is a negligible amount of BPA.  I'd remove the leftover food and store it elsewhere if possible.

[Silverleaf]

Whether the lining does anything weird or not, won't the uncovered food go dry and/or make the fridge smell?

[Jayb]

When I was young I was taught never to keep food in its tin: once the tin was opened, you had to put leftovers in a plastic box (in the fridge), for the tin, once open to the air, would contaminate it. Is this still the case, or do they treat the inside of a tin with something these days, so that it won't affect food?
Thanks! Annemieke.

There is a liner in the cans, has been for many years, to stop a reaction with the metal. That said, some say the liners give off BPA which in large quantities can cause cancer. Supposedly tests show it is a negligible amount of BPA.  I'd remove the leftover food and store it elsewhere if possible.

From the bits I've read, some foods (I think those higher in acid) absorb more of the BPA used to line the tin, once exposed to the air. I empty any unused content into something suitable before putting in the fridge.

[ACE]

It might be just my imagination or a long time memory, but leaving the stuff in the tin seems to taint it. Perfectly alright to eat, but only until the next day in our house. Now all the kids have gone we don't seem to use a lot of tinned stuff, just tuna, corned beef, (emergency rations) baked beans for a lazy dinner and tomatoes for cooking.Oh and processed peas for my hot pork pie, a filthy habit I picked up from up north. The rugrats used to love spaggetti hoops (puke) tinned fruit, condensed milk and all the unhealthy options that grew them up to be strapping lads and pretty girls.

[Melbourne12]

I must admit that I thought it perfectly OK to store food in an open tin in the fridge (suitably covered, obviously), but a quick scout round the Food Standards Agency and NHS websites shows that they recommend otherwise.  The rationale seems to be that metal from the cut edges round the lid will oxidise and taint the food.

It is not connected with the presence of Bisphenol A in the lining of the tin. (Reassuring statement on BPA and BPF here: http://cot.food.gov.uk/cotstatements/cotstatementsyrs/cotstatements2001/bisphenol)

We rarely store opened tins in any case, but from now on I shall use ceramic or plastic bowls (in spite of the BPA in the plastic!)

[Rallychef]

The other thing to factor in is how clean is the outside of the tin, where has it been on its journey between manufacture , distribution, sale and your larder! The tin exterior could pass on contamination to the inside of your fridge.
When I was in full time catering a tin in the fridge wasa huge no-no to the environmental health bods

Regards Ian D

[Jayb]

That's what I was always told about drinking out of cans or bottles...