Tin Can Day

Categories:: Food & Beverage
Tags:: American Appreciation Food
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Every January 19
Holiday emoji:: 🥫

Tin Can Day arrives every January 19, celebrating the humble yet revolutionary invention that changed food preservation forever. From staple ingredients to gourmet delights, canned goods offer convenience and accessibility to kitchens worldwide. Dive into the history of this everyday hero, explore creative recipes, and appreciate the enduring impact of the tin can on our culinary lives.

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Expected Tin Can Day Deals

While we await official 2027 promotions, history shows grocery chains and food brands often highlight canned goods with special offers around Tin Can Day. Look for discounts on pantry staples like canned vegetables, fruits, and beans at stores such as Walmart, Target, and Kroger. Specialty food retailers like Whole Foods Market may feature artisanal canned fish or gourmet preserved items. Brands like Del Monte, Campbell’s, and Bumble Bee Seafoods might run social media contests or recipe challenges. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as January 19 approaches.

Platform Guide for Tin Can Day

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #TinCanDay. Share creative recipes using canned ingredients or showcase your pantry organization.

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #TinCanDay. Film a quick ‘can-do’ recipe hack or a fun challenge using empty tin cans.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #TinCanDay. Share your favorite budget-friendly canned food recipes or stories about family meals.

Tin Can Day Hero

Peter Durand

British merchant Peter Durand is credited with patenting the tin can in 1810, building upon Nicolas Appert's earlier work on food preservation. His invention revolutionized the storage and transportation of food, making it possible for armies and explorers to carry provisions for extended periods. Durand's tin can paved the way for modern food canning, significantly impacting global nutrition and logistics.

History of Tin Can Day

The history of the establishment of the holiday is unknown, but the story behind the invention of tin cans is quite interesting. The credit for this revolutionary idea of storing food goes to a number of people. While it was the Northumbrian developer Bryan Donkin who first built a commercial canning factory, Peter Durand eventually succeeded in receiving the first patent for tin cans. Before them, it was Nicolas Appert who had earned the moniker ‘father of canning’ after he came up with the method of sterilization to store food for Napoleon’s army at war.

In 1818, Durand introduced tin-plated steel cans in the U.S., and it has been in vogue ever since. A year later, Ezra Daggett and Thomas Kensett Sr. of England started canning food items such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and oysters, in New York. As tin cans were initially thick with no provision for opening them, a rock, bayonet, or hammer and chisel, did the job for decades. It wasn’t until 1858 that Ezra Warner invented the first can opener. It was used by the U.S. military during the Civil War.

They started as a tool to preserve food supplies for soldiers at war, but now, tin cans have become a staple container in kitchen cupboards, refrigerators, and pantries. Who could say no to this portable and affordable product filled with easy-to-cook delicacies?

Tin Can Day timeline

1810

First Tin Can

British merchant Peter Durand receives the original patent for the idea of using tin cans to preserve food.

1813

Establishment of the Canning Industry

Bryan Donkin and John Hall set up the first commercial canning factory in England.

1858

First Can Opener

Ezra Warner of Waterbury, Connecticut, receives the patent for the first can opener.

1870

The invention of the Modern Design

William Lyman invents the modern design of a can opener with a wheel that cuts around the rim of a can.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Tin Can Day

Local businesses can honor Tin Can Day by showcasing the versatility and value of canned goods. Restaurants might offer special menu items featuring canned ingredients, like a gourmet sardine toast or a hearty lentil soup, highlighting their quality. Grocery stores can create eye-catching displays of canned food, run ‘stock your pantry’ sales, or organize a canned food drive for a local charity. Even craft stores could promote DIY projects using repurposed tin cans, engaging the community in creative ways.

Tin Can Day FAQs

When is Tin Can Day?

In 2027, Tin Can Day is celebrated on Tuesday, January 19, offering another opportunity to recognize the enduring impact of this humble invention. Consider learning about its origins and global contributions.

Who invented the tin can?

While Nicolas Appert developed the method of preserving food in sealed glass jars, it was Peter Durand who patented the idea of using tin-plated iron containers in 1810. This innovation made food storage more durable and portable.

How popular are canned foods?

Despite the rise of fresh and frozen options, canned foods continue to be a significant part of global diets. Their accessibility and role in food security, especially in times of crisis, ensure their continued widespread use and popularity.

What are the benefits of canned food?

Beyond their long-term storage capabilities, canned foods are a cost-effective way to access a variety of ingredients year-round. They also contribute to reducing food waste and are crucial for emergency preparedness.

Tin Can Day Activities

Get crafty
We have a fun activity for you and your kids today. Instead of throwing away used tin cans, upcycle and transform them into cute items like a miniature drum set, pencil/pen holders, portable can telephones, a lantern, and more.
Eat only canned meals
In honor of National Tin Can Day, why not rustle up a few recipes using tinned ingredients? Pork chops with canned mushrooms sound like the perfect evening meal. Oh! And we’d love a dill tuna and chickpea appetizer on the side.
Send e-cards
Send e-greetings to your friends and family to remind them of this unique holiday. Invite them all over for a canned food special dinner.

5 Interesting Facts About Tin Cans

What a motto!
National Tin Can Day comes with its own motto, ‘Yes, we can!’ and we absolutely love it.
Not tin?
Tin cans are actually made of steel coated with a layer of tin to prevent corrosion.
Can turn into a pest
If exposed to around -20ºF, tin cans crumble into a dull, brittle powder called ‘tin pest.'
Ever heard of a tin crying?
‘Tin cry’ refers to that distinct whining sound when a piece of tin is bent and the tiny crystals of the metal graze each other.
The wow factor
About 50 - 75% of tin cans are recycled annually, which makes it the world’s most recycled packaging product.

Why We Love Tin Can Day

A useful product
A day to honor a multi-purpose storage product? Sounds a little silly, we know. But we can’t deny its utility when it comes to preserving perishable food items. After all, how would a University student cope without a tin of baked beans in their dorm room?
It raises awareness about recycling
We know how important it is to recycle tin cans to sustain the good health of our environment. Who wouldn’t fall in love with such an eco-friendly holiday?
A reason to celebrate
While you don’t need a reason to celebrate, National Tin Can Day gives you one. Buy canned items and treat yourself to an easy peasy lemon squeezy dinner!