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National Tin Can Day

History · January 19

A day about the humble tin can, the sealed metal container that keeps food shelf stable and fills pantry shelves across the country.

National Tin Can Day falls on Tuesday, January 19, 2027. That is 84 days away.

A tin can is a sealed metal container that keeps food safe to store for a long time. Most cans today are steel with a thin coating of tin, or aluminum, though the old name stuck. Food goes in, the lid is sealed, and the can is heated so what is inside stays good on a shelf.

It is easy to overlook something so ordinary. Open any kitchen cupboard and there is a good chance a can of beans, tomatoes or soup is waiting in the back. Cans made it possible to carry food on long voyages, ship it far from farms, and keep a pantry stocked through winter. The can opener, oddly enough, came along well after the can itself, so early users had to get creative with knives and hammers.

Marking the day can be simple. Some people cook a meal built from what is already in the pantry. Others rinse and reuse cans as pencil holders, planters or little storage bins for screws and buttons. Kids sometimes make the classic string telephone, two cans joined by a taut line, which carries a voice better than you might expect.

Steel and aluminum cans are widely recycled, and the metal can be melted down and made into new cans again. A quick rinse before they go in the bin helps.

Ways to celebrate

• Cook a meal using only canned goods already in your pantry.
• Turn a clean empty can into a pencil holder or small planter.
• Make a string telephone with two cans and a long piece of string.
• Rinse your empty cans and put them in the recycling.

Dates

All national days on January 19

Also on January 19

• National Popcorn Day

Categories: History days