Eli5 How can canned meats like fish and chicken last years at room temperature when regularly packaged meats only last a few weeks refrigerated unless frozen?

Question

Eli5 How can canned meats like fish and chicken last years at room temperature when regularly packaged meats only last a few weeks refrigerated unless frozen?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

You ever check out the series “modern marvels” on the history channel? They do some great episodes and one went over how military rations get cooked and sterilized in huge batches. They use a pressure cooker the size of a small tractor trailer.