What Is a #10 Can? A Guide to Sealing, Storing, and Using It
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You’ve probably heard of #10 cans if you want to stockpile emergency food for the long term. A #10 can (pronounced “ten pounds can”) is a food-storage size can. The term “ten pounds can” refers to the weight of the contents of the can, which varies depending on what you keep within.
Can sealers, both manual and electric, are available for sealing open top cans. Sealers are available for cans ranging in size from 4 oz. to 105 oz. Hand-powered sealers should be securely fastened or attached to a solid table or bench.In this article, we take a look at how to seal #10 cans, and everything you need to know about their size, use, and storage potential.
What is a Number 10 Can
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Many people wrongly believe that a #10 can holds ten pounds of food. In reality, the term means a standard can size for food storage and commercial packaging, not the weight.
A #10 can usually be 6 3/16 inches wide and 7 inches tall, holding about 104 to 117 fluid ounces which is around 3 to 3.5 liters. The weight of the contents is determined by what you have inside: rice or sugar will be heavier, while freeze-dried foods will be much lighter.
The can is about 9 ounces, so it is both strong and useful for storing a lot of food. Because it is tough and holds a lot, the #10 can is often used for long-term storage, emergencies and in places like schools, cafeterias and centers for disaster relief.
To help visualize the size difference, consider that a standard grocery store soup can—typically a #2 can—holds only 16 fluid ounces. That means a #10 can can hold six to seven times more, making it ideal for bulk food packaging and long-shelf-life supplies.
What Are #10 Cans Made Of
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Most #10 cans are constructed from tinplate which is steel covered with a thin layer of tin. The material is also called electrolytic tin-coated steel, since the tin is bonded to the steel by an electrochemical process. Because tinplate is strong, safe and does not rust, it is perfect for keeping food safe over a long period.
To ensure the food is safe, some tinplate cans are coated with acrylic or R enamel. They prevent the food from touching the metal which is important when storing things that are acidic or moist.
For dry foods such as grains and beans, unlined tinplate cans work best. They are cheaper and the lack of moisture prevents corrosion.
While aluminum and stainless steel can be used to construct tin cans, those materials do not work for storing food due to incompatibility with certain sealing methods and price. Therefore, the most common material used for commercial and DIY food preservation is still tinplate.
What Can you Store in #10 Cans
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#10 cans are highly versatile and can be used to store both food and non-food items. While they are capable of holding virtually any product, they are most commonly used for long-term storage of dry, non-perishable foods such as:
- Beans
- Grains
- Pasta
- Powdered milk
- Freeze-dried or dehydrated foods
These items are ideal because they contain little to no moisture, reducing the risk of corrosion and spoilage.
Commercially, wet or canned foods—like soups or fruits in syrup—can also be found in #10 cans. However, these cans are typically professionally lined to resist corrosion from moisture or acidity. In contrast, DIY canning #10 cans are usually unlined or lined with materials not suitable for wet contents. As a result, storing liquids or high-moisture foods at home is not recommended.
Without appropriate lining, moisture can cause the metal to corrode over time, potentially leading to rust contamination or leakage. For this reason, when using #10 cans for home food storage, it’s best to stick to dry goods only.
In addition to food, some people also use #10 cans to store non-food items, such as emergency supplies, ammunition, or medical kits, due to their durability, airtight seal, and rodent resistance.
The Key Benefits of Using #10 Cans
Using #10 cans for food storage offers several practical and long-term benefits, especially for households, emergency preparedness, and foodservice operations. Here are the key advantages:
- Extra Long Shelf Life: #10 cans are vacuum-sealed and often incorporate deoxidizers to preserve dry and freeze-dried foods for 10 to 30 years, making them ideal for long-term stockpiling and emergency use.
- Large Capacity: Each #10 can has a capacity of approximately 3 quarts, making it ideal for storing large quantities of food, reducing the number and frequency of packages and increasing storage efficiency, making it suitable for home and commercial use.
- Sturdy and Durable: The metal material can effectively protect against moisture, insects and rodents, more durable than plastic bags or paper packaging, and protects food well in a variety of environments.
- Light and Air Barrier: The opaque metal structure prevents sunlight from penetrating into the package, slowing down the loss of nutrients. The sealed design also prevents air from entering, reducing oxidization and deterioration.
- Variety: The #10 cans on the market cover a wide range of food products, such as rice and noodles, beans, milk powder, seasonings, freeze-dried fruits and vegetables, and even whole meals, to meet diversified storage needs.
- Suitable for emergency stockpiling: Because of its storage, transportation and ease of use, it is often used as the first choice for family disaster emergency reserves, wilderness survival kits and institutional food reserves.
- Economical: Buying large-capacity canned goods in bulk can effectively reduce unit costs and minimize frequent purchases and food waste, making it a long-term and economical way to store food.
Types of #10 Can Sealers
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Manual Sealer
Hand-operated can sealers are designed for continuous usage and work by pressing the lid down on the can using a hand crank or flywheel. These open top can sealers are designed for heavy-duty use and can be used on a variety of can sizes. Two sets of rollers lock the lid to the can and then tighten and smooth the seam, while a spinning base supports the can during sealing. In hardware and paint stores, lid press sealers are commonly used to seal paint cans. These sealers can be used to seal a range of paint can sizes and can be attached to a bench or desk.
Electric Sealer
An electric can sealer is a less manual method for sealing your cans. These sealers work similarly to their manual counterparts and can also be used on open top cans. Electric models have the advantage of being able to handle a higher volume more consistently because they are not reliant on an operator to continually turning a crank. These machines can handle a variety of can sizes and are often portable, making them an excellent alternative for small-scale production or home canning.
How to Seal #10 Cans
Regardless of the machine type, sealing a #10 can generally involves the following steps:
- Fill Contents: Fill #10 cans with dry, clean foods (such as grains, beans, etc.), leaving a small amount of space for sealing.
- Putting on the Can Lid: Use the matching metal lid to cover the opening of the can flatly.
- Start Sealer: Place cans in the machine and manually turn or activate the motorized unit as the rollers crimp the lid to the can body to form a firm seal.
- Check the sealing: After sealing the cans, you can gently press the lid or observe whether the seal is tight, with no gaps or looseness.
- Label and Store: Label the date of can sealing and contents and store in a dry, light-proof, temperature-stabilized environment.
Tips for Use
- Always make sure the mouth and lid of the canister are clean and dry before use.
- It is not recommended to encapsulate food with high water content by yourself, which may easily cause corrosion of the can body.
- Attention should be paid to safety when operating the equipment, especially the start-up and press-fit process of the electric can sealer.
- After each sealing, it is recommended to wipe the machine rollers with a soft cloth to prolong the service life of the equipment.
The Key Difference Between Lined and Unlined #10 Cans
One thing many people misunderstand about #10 cans is that they are all the same. In fact, lined and unlined cans are very different and it’s important to know this if you want to store food safely for a long period.
The inside of lined cans is coated, but unlined cans are not. As a result, only certain types of food can be safely stored in the fridge. The following comparison should help you decide which one is better:
| Feature | Lined Can | Unlined Can |
|---|---|---|
| Feature Internal Coating | Lined Can Yes – usually acrylic or enamel lining | Unlined Can No – bare metal surface |
| Feature Corrosion Resistance | Lined Can High – prevents rust and metal-food interaction | Unlined Can Low – susceptible to rust when exposed to moisture or acids |
| Feature Best For | Lined Can Moist or acidic foods (e.g., fruit, tomatoes, soups) | Unlined Can Dry, non-acidic foods (e.g., beans, grains, powdered goods) |
| Feature Typical Use | Lined Can Commercial wet food packaging, long-term wet food storage | Unlined Can Home dry-pack storage, emergency supplies |
| Feature Liquid Contact Safe | Lined Can Yes – lining prevents direct contact with metal | Unlined Can No – liquids can cause corrosion and contamination |
| Feature Food Safety Risk | Lined Can Low – barrier keeps food safe | Unlined Can Higher – rust may develop and compromise food integrity |
Conclusion
We hope this article has been helpful in answering your #10 can sealer questions. Contact us at Levapack for more information about can packaging or get can sealers for sale.
Related Post: What Is Primary Packaging Material
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