The Reason Canned Goods Have Ridges In Them

Grab a can of corn or beans, and you will likely find a familiar sight: ridges running along or around its side. These are not just for decoration, however. The real reason for those ribs goes deeper -– literally. Those ridges are so important that they ensure the safety and integrity of your canned goods.

Picture a smooth-walled can filled with fruit, vegetables, spaghetti rings, or meat. Now, know that these items are subjected to high temperatures for sterilization during the canning process. This heat creates pressure inside the can. A smooth, non-ridged wall would be susceptible to buckling or bursting, which would obviously be a packaging and food safety nightmare. 

Enter the engineering genius of the ridges! These strategically placed ridges act like tiny pillars, offering structural support by reinforcing the can and preventing it from collapsing under pressure. The ribs distribute the internal pressure, so the can more effectively holds its shape during the sterilization process.

Ridges aren't just key to keeping cans together during sterilization; they also play an important role in maintaining safety during transportation, too. That extra rigidity allows cans to withstand bumps along the sometimes quite lengthy trip from the factory to your local store shelf. This minimizes the chance of dents and leaks, keeping your food safer. So, when you open a can of mixed fruit to enjoy on your yogurt parfait or blended into a smoothie, you'll feel better knowing that those ridges did their part to keep the fruit from going rancid.

The next time you open a can of your favorite soup, (which could be super high in sodium or sugar, by the way), give some respect to those ridges. They're a testament to the ingenuity that goes into food preservation, ensuring that your pantry staples arrive safely and remain delicious until you're ready to enjoy them.