If it smells and looks fine when you open it I would say go ahead and use it.
I have used my home canned tomato sauce after 2-3 years on the shelf.
Been wondering about this. I have some apple pie filling that I made and canned a few years back...what's the consensus on expiration dates for stuff you've canned?
Tomato products in metal cans need to be watched. They eat thru the cans in a few years. Other then that ive eating stuff a few years past out of metal cans and so far still alive lol.
Botulinum toxin is indeed deadly in even very small amounts.
One of my microbiology lab partners from many years ago was employed testing canned products for the presence of the toxin. He was immunized against the toxin as there was easily enough toxin released into the air when you opened a bad can that inhaling the mist could be fatal.
I find it amazing that 40 years later injecting this toxin has become a very common medical procedure for a number of different diseases.
Fortunately when we're discussing canned food the toxin is a protein that is easily and quickly destroyed by heat.
If the can is swollen, no bueno.
Thanks guys. I did can in glass jars, and they're from ~6 years ago. I wasn't worried about pickles...there's enough vinegar in those to last forever, but the apples and sugar I was concerned about.
Is there a way to test for botulism?
Yes. Let someone else try it first.