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

There are many types of plastic, and different types of plastic melt (or otherwise degrade) at different temperatures.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) for example remains food-safe above the boiling point of water.