National Tin Can Day is observed on January 19 each year. On this day in 1825, Ezra Daggett and Thomas Kensett received a U.S. patent for storing food in tin cans. Canned food changed the way people eat, making it possible to store food safely for long periods and ship it around the world. Today, cans hold everything from soup and beans to tuna and drinks.
History of National Tin Can Day
In the late 1700s, French leader Napoleon Bonaparte offered a prize for a better way to preserve food for his armies. Confectioner Nicolas Appert discovered that sealing food in glass jars and heating them kept it from spoiling. He won the prize and published his method in 1810, decades before scientists understood that heat killed germs.
Also in 1810, British merchant Peter Durand patented the idea of using tin-coated iron cans instead of breakable glass. Early cans were heavy and had to be opened with a hammer and chisel. In the United States, Ezra Daggett and his son-in-law Thomas Kensett began canning in New York, and they received a patent for tin cans on January 19, 1825.
The first can opener was patented by Ezra Warner of Connecticut in 1858, nearly 50 years after cans were invented. Canned food became crucial during the Civil War and both World Wars. Today, most 'tin' cans are made of steel with a thin tin coating, while beverage cans are usually aluminum.
Why National Tin Can Day Matters
Canning made food safer and more widely available, helping people eat well through winter and in places far from farms.
Canned foods are affordable, long-lasting and nutritious, and they're often a key part of emergency kits and food bank donations.
Steel and aluminum cans are also among the most recycled packaging materials and can be recycled again and again.
How to Celebrate National Tin Can Day
- Donate canned food: support your local food bank.
- Build an emergency kit: stock canned goods and a manual can opener.
- Recycle cans: rinse and recycle steel and aluminum.
- Cook from the pantry: make a meal with canned ingredients.
- Make crafts: turn clean cans into pencil holders or planters.
Celebrating at Work, School and Home
At work, organize a canned food drive for a local food bank, setting a team goal. In classrooms, students can learn how canning prevents spoilage, compare packaging materials or build sculptures from donated cans before giving them away. At home, families can check their pantry, update an emergency kit and recycle empty cans. Discard cans that are bulging, leaking or deeply dented.
Fun Facts About National Tin Can Day
- Daggett and Kensett received a tin can patent on January 19, 1825.
- The can opener was patented in 1858.
- Most 'tin' cans are actually steel with a tin coating.
National Tin Can Day FAQs
When is National Tin Can Day?
National Tin Can Day is observed on January 19 each year.
What happened on January 19, 1825?
Ezra Daggett and Thomas Kensett received a U.S. patent for tin cans.
Who invented canning?
Nicolas Appert developed food preservation by sealing and heating food around 1810.
When was the can opener invented?
Ezra Warner patented the first can opener in 1858.
Are tin cans made of tin?
Most are steel with a thin tin coating; drink cans are usually aluminum.
How long does canned food last?
Many canned foods last for years if stored properly; check best-by dates.