For what it's worth, I've home canned beef and chicken too. Assuming that canned beef isn't as good as fresh is a possible mistake. I started with bargain basement priced beef (don't remember the cut right now), followed procedures found in a canning book put out by Ball canning jars, and ended up with beef roast that was as tender as the finest filet. The chicken was really good too, by the way.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that anything mass produced is going to be as good as home grown/hunted/processed whatever, but I'd have to try it before I dismissed it out of hand. I'm also not suggesting that home canned goods are the best choice for a bug out bag, but having a well stocked pantry full of wholsome, nourishing, and TASTY food makes me a lot more comfortable about whatever may come my way (blizzard, tornado, terrorist shutdown of supplies, or just a long stretch of unemployment). I didn't start this to get into a "Survivalist" discussion, even though it might sound that way, but preparedness goes well beyond our PSK and the "next 48 to 72 hours".
Some of the depression generation's ideas and thoughts aren't so "old fashioned" or "far out" when you stop to give them some thought yourself.

Just my two cents worth.

Troy

Everything but the oink stuffed in a can, not too bad when you're hungry enough. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I can (not so fondly) remember being filthy, tired and soaking wet in the jungle and sliceing a piece of SPAM with a K-bar onto a C-ration craker with some C-ration cheese and a little tobasco sauce. Yesterday I saw a reciepe for SPAM sushi !!!
The discount Canned Food stores here in Ca. have several kinds of canned meats, many from South America.

On your > I'm also not suggesting that home canned goods are the best choice for a bug out bag.....<,

I Largely Agree.

And I'd like to mention a Few General Words about that.

What I Don't Like about Them, -Home Canned or Store Got, -is their Weight and Bulk! Especially their Weight! But Volume and Bulk is also a Large Downside Factor regarding them!

On their Plus Side, of course, -There's the Long Range Vacuum Packed Preservability. And the Can's Rugged Durability.

I'm Not all that Familiar with Home Canning, and Acknowledge that this may Involve Pickling Type Preservations, over only Vacuum types.

But their Weight and Bulk go against them!, While their Preservation, Economical and Nutritious Food Availability, Plentitude, and Durability, are Factors in their Favor!
[color:"black"] [/color] [email]wildcard163[/email]

Yes, canned food is bulky. On the other hand it is pre-cooked (no need for fire making or cooking supplies) and doesnt need to be rehydrated - saving on the h2o

Dinty Moore is good for at least 3 years. I use mine up after that time, and it still tastes good. I tried buying the cheaper store brand, and just wasnt the same (the dogs loved it though)

Oh, yeah. I have several can openers in our BOBs.

You've mentioned Two Additional Advantages of Canned Food, which I did Not Readily Think of. And I now Add those to the Positive Side of my List!

It would also be Interesting!, as to What can Possibly be Substituted For, or Jury Rigged as, -an Emergency Can Opener!

I've on Occasion at Home, -Pounded an at least Reasonably Sharp, Ordinary Kitchen Knife!, with a Hammer, or a Rock or Something Else Substituting for a Hammer. Towards Opening a Can.

Even when Being Mindfully Attentive / Knowing What One's Doing!, -This is Obviously DANGEROUS, DANGEROUS, DANGEROUS !!!

It's also a Very "Meat Axe" Way of Opening, or Trying to Open a Can!

You're also Left with Much More Resulting Sharp Edges than Normal!, a Further Safety Hazard! And there's a Good Chance that you might get some Sharp Chips of Metal in your Food!

That Said and Remembered, Much of Such Can Opening Isn't All that Hard! Though some Moments can be. Plus the Aforementioned Slipping, Cutting, Gougeing, Puncturing, and Other Sort of Dangers!

You Don't even Need to Open the Can All the Way Around. But Rather just Carefully Enuf Peel Back the Top in order to Eat, -once you have enuf of it so Peeled Back and Open. (You could also Do the Same with Ordinary Can Opening, -But Why?)

You would However, Have to somehow Hold or Steady the Can!, as you so Primitively Hack at It! That can be a Very Dicey and Dangerous Aspect of it All!, as well!

There's Got to be a Better Way! If there even is Such a Way! Thats What I'm Interested in Maybe Finding Out. Does Anybody have any Knowledge, Techniques, Equipment, Experience, or Ideas on This here?!

If you were Ever for any Reason *Without* your Can Opener! (Of any Standard Sort), -How would you Go About Safely and Effectively Opening a Can?!

Perhaps there Already is such within our Equipment World, Being a Newcomer, Especially to the World of Specific Gear and Equipment,-I Simply Don't Know!

But my Occassional Foray into "Caveman Style" Can Opening, -When the Ordinary House Can Opener is either Lost, or Not Working, is D-D-D-D-D-D-D-DANGEROUS !!! I Will be the First Person to Say This!!!

If you're Gonna Do so, -Do so at your Own Risk, AND Don't Do so At All!

No Slip Up or Other Accident here has yet Occurred to me, -But it So Easily Could!

It's Very Iffy and Dicey!, and I Don't Make a Regular Practice or Habit of it! And I am Certainly Not Recommending it!

There has Got to be a Better Way! I would be Interested in What That(s) Might Be!
[color:"black"] [/color] [email]DBAGuy[/email]

I haven't found a dinty more can that had decent flavor and texture straight off the store shelf <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Same here, I've had home canned beef and vegetables as well. Haven't canned myself but growing up on a farm my parents did a lot, now they are getting older and don't do as much anymore so I didn't get any this year. I have an Aunt who isn't well to do money wise but won't accept handouts but still cans, I think I'm going to take her a load of jars and pay her to can food for me as she makes mose of her income off odd jobs like that anyway. I can't eat spam anymore, the grease just makes me sick, although strange if i take it from the can and wash it then eat raw its not as bad as cooking it.

That is NOT grease!!!!! That is, ummmm, *thinks frantically,* the special flavor-enhancer coating. Yeah, that's it.

I really like spam, especially in a potato/spam/cheese cassarole that my mom came up with when I was a child. Of course, you need an oven of some kind to bake it in, but it tastes great!

Greg