Many pantries have a can or two of tuna fish on hand, as it’s a highly nutritious and affordable source of protein. If you popped open a can the night before, you may have only realized in the morning that you forgot to refrigerate the leftovers.
Canned tuna that has been left on the countertop overnight is no longer safe for human consumption and should be discarded immediately. The maximum amount of time that perishable food items should be left out at room temperature is 2 hours, according to the USDA recommendations.
If food has been left out at temperatures of over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, it should be tossed after an hour. The higher the temps, the quicker unwelcome bacteria have a chance to multiply.
To preserve your perishable foods for later, you’ll want to get them sealed up tightly and placed inside the fridge at the optimum temperature of 35-38 degrees.
How Long Does Canned Tuna Last?
If you eat tuna often enough, you may want to stock up next time the grocery store puts the cans of fish on sale. But how long will they last once you purchase them?
Naturally, unopened cans will last significantly longer than opened ones and there are different methods of storage for each. Always use common sense when determining whether your canned tuna is okay to eat — such as using your senses of sight and smell.
Taste should be your last option, especially if you’re already feeling suspicious. Tuna that has gone bad will have an unpleasant taste and may leave you feeling nauseous.
Opened
Once you’ve opened your can of tuna fish, you’ll want to place it in the refrigerator soon thereafter. A can of opened fish, if sealed in an airtight container, can last between 3-5 days in the fridge.
If an opened can has been left out on the counter, this timeframe drops dramatically down to 1-2 hours, depending on the temperature it’s been exposed to. If you’re unsure as to how long the opened can was left out, it’s best to toss it and start over.
Unopened
Cans of tuna often have an expiration date of 3-5 years past the date of purchase, though they can stay perfectly safe to eat well past this recommended best-by date. As always, it’s best to give your cans a quick once-over to ensure that there’s no damage and the contents are still free from spoilage.
Storing your cans in the proper environment can ensure that they last for quite some time. If they’ve been exposed to any flooding or warm temperatures, you can expect them to go bad at a much quicker rate.
What Happens If You Eat Tuna Left Out Overnight?
Due to tuna fish being highly perishable, you don’t want to consume it after it’s been left out on the counter for 8-10 hours or overnight.
If you accidentally ate leftovers that sat out well past the 2-hour mark, you’ll want to keep a close eye on any symptoms you may begin to experience.
If handled improperly, you can get food poisoning from a spoiled can of tuna, and likewise, if you eat the tuna after it’s been left out and bacteria have had the chance to multiply.
Tuna left on the counter for too long will take on an unpleasant fishy aroma and this is usually a tell-tale sign that you shouldn’t be eating it anymore.
If you’re a regular consumer of canned tuna, you’ll surely know the difference between a fresh can of the fish and one that’s gone a bit rotten. Once you get a whiff of this “off” smell, you’ll want to toss the remainder and disinfect any surfaces that the fish encountered.
After you realize that you mistakenly ate tuna that was left out, you’ll want to prepare for any feelings of nausea or stomach cramping.
Further signs of food poisoning may lead to a fever and general feelings of being unwell, such as fatigue and chills.
You’ll want to get plenty of rest if you begin to feel sick and replenish your electrolytes and fluids in order to flush your system from the bad fish. Most cases of food poisoning remedy themselves within a week with plenty of rest and hydration.
How Should You Store Canned Tuna?
When you have leftover tuna from an opened can, you’ll want to promptly refrigerate it to retain the best possible quality. Once refrigerated, your tuna can last for multiple days and be perfectly safe and delicious for your next meal.
Tuna is a great option for an affordable and healthy meal, so it’s only natural that you’ll want to save any extras for the next day.
Similar to most other perishable foods, you’ll want to pack your tuna into an airtight sealed container for optimal freshness.
If you haven’t opened your can of tuna yet, you’ll want to store the can in a cool and dry location. A pantry is usually a great spot for canned food items, as long as they’re off the ground and on a shelf.
You should never store canned goods in the freezer or outdoors, as the temperatures become too extreme and can lead to a damaged can.
If you’re storing canned items for a longer period, make sure you rotate through the cans as you use them so nothing gets too far past the expiration date.
Can Canned Tuna Go Bad?
Canned tuna, like any other canned and perishable good, can absolutely go bad. Even if the can has never been opened, the contents can eventually become spoiled due to poor storage methods or potential damage to the metal, such as rust or punctures.
Storing cans in freezing temperatures can cause the contents to go bad and potentially explode. At too high of a heat, canned foods are at a much higher risk of premature spoilage and should be carefully handled while opening and likely won’t be safe to eat.
While canned tuna should last years after its labeled expiration date (if stored properly), it will still inevitably get too old and experience a sharp decline in nutritional content, taste, and texture.
It’s unlikely that many people will enjoy eating the tuna at this point, especially if it has become overly mushy.
How Can You Tell If Canned Tuna Has Gone Bad?
When examining the canned packaging of your tuna fish, you’ll want to inspect for any dents or rust, especially along the seams. These are signs that you shouldn’t consume the contents of the can, as it’s possible that they’ve been contaminated already.
If you’ve already opened the can of tuna, you’ll want to look at the color of the fish and ensure that it’s pinkish and not an unappealing gray or brown color.
You’ll also want to note the smell and if it has a strong and unpleasant odor, it’s likely that the fish has gone bad and it’s best to discard it immediately.
Once you’ve created a recipe with your canned tuna, whether it be a tuna salad or a tuna patty, you should keep an eye out for any mold on the leftovers.
Even when properly stored in the refrigerator, your tuna will inevitably go bad if it’s left for several days.
Your eyes and nose can tell you whether or not the tuna is bad and it’s important to do a quick inspection of your food before consuming it, as this will tell you if it’s safe to eat.
When in doubt, don’t risk your health over a can of potentially bad tuna — toss it out and pick up a new can instead.