What's the shelf life of canned foods?

If you can't remember how long that can of beans has been sitting on your pantry shelf and there's no apparent expiration date to clue you in, then toss it. If you do know how long you've been hanging on to the goods you've got stashed around your kitchen, here are some good rules of thumb.

The FDA says that high-acid canned foods, like tomato, grapefruit, and pineapple, can stay put for 12 to 18 months if kept in a cool, clean, dry place. If stored correctly, canned meat and most vegetables can stick around for, get this: Two to five years. Just keep these few items in mind when tending to your cans.

• Cans that are dented or rusty may contain food that is unsafe to eat.
• Throw away any cans that are bulging or leaking -- signs that the food inside is spoiled.
• When eating canned foods, use the older cans first.