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

Part of the canning process usually includes cooking in the can after it’s sealed, so that any bacteria inside is killed and there’s no way for more bacteria to get inside to spoil the food.