Why do people say not to put steel cans in the Refridgerator ?

Question

They say it's dangerous why?

It was an open can of Hienz baked beans in this case

Answer 1

Its a myth; supposedly a chemical reaction is going to happen. When folklore is propagated without reasoning behind it, it usually gets distorted. True, if the can is open, you risk chemical reactions among the contents, the tin/zinc, and air. If the can isn't open, it's harmless but unnecessary because whatever is in the can, if unopened, isnt going to spoil. So there is no need to refridgerate. If it is open, chances are that whatever is in the can will only be good for up to a week, so rusting is out of the question.

Answer 2

OMG! What stupid answers! First, steel does NOT expand in the cold, as suggested. Steel retracts (shrinks) in the cold and expands with heat. The real reasons for not storing steel cans in a fridge is obvious enough. Someone has suggested rusting and that is one of the reason but it can happen quite quickly if the can is already rusting. The moisture in the fridge will accelerate the oxidisation. The next reason applies to opened cans. The same thing will occurr, "oxidisation". However, the oxidisation can not only rapidly cause rusting of the "inside of the can" it will also creat an envirnment for harmful bacteria to multiply to a large enough colony that once the food hits room temperature the bacteria will multiply rapidly. For an example of what the oxidisation can do, open a can of baked beans and use half. Put the can containing the other half in your fridge. Leave for seven days and then check the can. You will see that the inside of the can has discoloured due to the reaction caused by the oxidisation of the metal reacting with the chemicals in the sauce (preservatives etc.). Now check the beans! You are likely to find some mould growing on the surface. Regardless of whether the mould is on the surface or not, check deeper down and you should find an occassional mould culture. There is a high possibility that the mould is a strain of salmonella and if you eat those beans you will get seriously ill. Even after only 24 to 48 hours from opening the can, harmful bacteria has already started cultivation. Therefore, the safest way to store canned food is to store it in a dry, cool and dark cupboard and always use before the use by date. Another little tip is that you should never eat any food that comes from a can that has any sign of rusting on it. Even the tiniest of holes is enough for the food to be contaminated by deadly bacteria.

Answer 3

Because the condensation from the coldness in the fridge causes moisture to form on the can,which may cause rust- which might eat a hole through the can (eventually- this would take many months) and allow air in, causing bacterial growth. I put canned fruit in the fridge to get cold for up to a week, but any longer than that could be dangerous!

Answer 4

I can see no reason to worry, the food may take on the taste of the tin, but I don't believe it would have a chance to rust while there unless you put it in the back and forget it. Why not just take it out of the can and put it into a nice container for the fridge?

Answer 5

Gee, steel expands in the cold? Golly, that's a new one. That must mean steel contracts when you heat it. This is probably how that story of steel cans got started, by people who understand nothing and believe everything. The reach of dumbness is infinite...

And to think, they procreate, too. That's a really scary thought.

Answer 6

It is because tin cans are made of metals. I think reactions between the containing metals and water molecules from the refrigerator occur. this might lead to poisoning from the oxide of the metal, if the containing metal can form an oxide and if the oxide is poisonous.

Answer 7

I was always told that it can cause botulism in the food, which then if you eat you will become violently ill. I don't know if that is true or not though, because I was told that I never put any cans in the fridge, except soda cans.

Answer 8

Steel expands in the cold, and there is a possibility that a can could explode.

Answer 9

ONE WORD:



CANCER! *dun, dun duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnn*

Answer 10

they will rust.