eli5 How are shelf stable canned products, like cooked beans, placed in plastic containers (instead of cans) without melting the plastic?

Question

As I understand it, food products, like beans, are heated up to very high temperatures to kill all germs, and then put into a metal can and sealed. Thus, they are sealed while sterile, and so no germs live in them, making them shelf stable.

How is this possible with plastic packaging for shelf stable products like beans, etc.?

In: Other

Answer 1

Most plastics used for food packaging can survive temperatures above 100 C. The temperature and duration that it must be kept hot when canning, varies from food to food. Many foods are Pasteurized at temperatures significantly below 100; at lower temperatures, they just have to be kept hot for longer to kill the germs.