You should not freeze canned food in its original container — especially if it’s sealed. The expanding liquid inside can break the seal, compromise safety, and potentially lead to foodborne illness. If your canned goods freeze accidentally, they might still be salvageable, but it depends on how the can looks afterward.
Let me walk you through what happens when canned food freezes, how to check for spoilage, and what to do instead.
❄️ What Happens When Canned Food Freezes?
Most canned foods contain a good amount of water. And water, as you might remember from high school science, expands when frozen. This expansion builds pressure inside the can and may:
- Break or weaken the seal
- Cause the can to bulge or even leak
- Allow bacteria to enter and spoil the food
This is why freezing is not a safe long-term preservation method for store-bought cans.
🕵️ My Canned Goods Froze — Are They Ruined?
Not necessarily. It depends on whether the can’s seal has been compromised and if the food thawed. Here’s what to look for:
✅ It may still be safe if:
- The seal is still intact
- The food is still frozen (hasn’t thawed yet)
- The can is not bulging or leaking
In this case, move it to the refrigerator to thaw slowly. Once thawed, inspect again. If everything still looks good, it can be used — though the texture and taste may not be the same.
🚫 Toss it immediately if:
- The can is bulging
- The seal is broken and the contents thawed
- There’s any leakage or rusting
- The food smells off or looks spoiled
🔗 Related: Freezer Burn 101 | What It Is, How to Prevent It, and When to Toss Food
🧪 Why Freezing Canned Food Is Risky
Cans are designed to stay sealed at room temperature or slightly below — not frozen. Freezing raises the risk of:
- Botulism from compromised seals (a serious but rare illness)
- Spoilage from bacteria growth once thawed
- Textural damage that makes the food unpalatable
🔍 The science: When water freezes, its molecules form a hexagonal crystal structure that takes up more space than in liquid form. This expansion creates pressure inside a sealed container — and when that container is a can, there’s nowhere for that pressure to go. Eventually, the seal may snap open, introducing oxygen and bacteria.
❌ Foods You Shouldn’t Freeze in Cans
Avoid freezing the following types of canned goods — they’re all high in water or prone to textural changes:
- Canned vegetables (green beans, corn, tomatoes)
- Canned fruit (pears, pineapple)
- Canned beans (black, kidney, chickpeas)
- Canned soups and stews
- Canned tuna or meats
🔗 Related: Foods You Shouldn’t Freeze (And What to Do Instead)
🧊 Can You Freeze Canned Food After Opening?
Yes, absolutely — just not in the can. If you’ve opened a can and want to freeze leftovers:
- Transfer the food to a freezer-safe container
- Leave a little headspace for expansion
- Label with the date and contents
🔗 Need help? Check out: Best Freezer Containers for Every Type of Food
If the food sat out a while before freezing, consider boiling it briefly before refreezing to kill off any surface bacteria.
🌡️ At What Temperature Will Canned Goods Freeze?
It depends on the liquid inside:
| Type | Approx. Freezing Point |
|---|---|
| Water-based | 32°F (0°C) |
| Milk-based | 31°F (-0.5°C) |
| Soft drinks | 30°F (-1°C) |
| Beer | 27°F (-3°C) |
Most canned goods will freeze if left in an unheated garage or shed during a hard winter.
🧨 Will Canned Food Explode When Frozen?
Most won’t explode violently — but carbonated beverages like soda or beer can pop their lids and spray liquid everywhere when frozen. Think more “foamy mess” than “rocket launch.”
👩🍳 What to Do With Frozen Canned Goods That Seem OK
If your can looks intact:
- Thaw it slowly in the refrigerator
- Inspect it again — no bulges, rust, or leaks
- Smell and stir once opened
- Boil or heat the food thoroughly before serving
You may notice some textural changes, but it should still be safe to eat.
🧊 Best Practices for Freezing Canned Food (Post-Opening)
- Always transfer food out of the can
- Use air-tight, freezer-safe containers
- Label with contents and date
- Portion into usable sizes for convenience
🔗 How to Freeze Food in Perfect Portions
Final Thoughts
While freezing unopened canned foods is not recommended, freezing leftovers from cans is perfectly safe if done correctly. Always inspect the can after freezing, and when in doubt — toss it out.
Canned food is shelf-stable for a reason. If you want to prolong its life, focus on cool, dry storage, and save the freezer space for items that actually need it.
Thanks for stopping by,
—Anne
🔗 For more: Don’t miss my comprehensive article on Freezing Food the Right Way | A Complete Guide to Portioning, Packaging, and Preserving.
Anne James—lovingly known as Jelly Grandma—is a professional canner, seasoned home cook, and lifelong preserver of traditional Southern skills. With over 55 years of hands-on experience in canning, gardening, cooking, and quilting, Anne brings generations of wisdom to every guide she writes.
Featured in both local media and by national brands like Hershey, Anne now shares her knowledge through PreservingSweetness.com and her YouTube channel, helping others rediscover the “old ways” of living well and making things from scratch.