Opening A Tin Of Corned Beef

[ethandron]

They're an accident waiting to happen aren't they? I wonder why corned beef is put in those rather unique and dangerous tins, anyone know?
I'd have thought someone would have come up with a safer one by now.

[MargoTester]

I have to agree they are a nightmare. I always put the tin in the fridge for an hour or so and I use a tin opener at the top and bottom and then push the meat out. I have no idea why it still comes in those stupid tins!

[hc4361]

Probably tradition. You can of course open it with a conventional tin opener

[Jackdaw33]

The worst is when you are calmly turning the key and suddenly the bloody thing snaps. That is a nightmare.

[Mamyalynne]

I love this from an old article on the subject.

//Why are corned beef tins such peculiar shapes?

A. They're not peculiar - they're the same shape as the corned beef inside.
Gavin, Cambridge //

[Jackdaw33]

LOL! How true!

[-Talbot-]

Ah ha! The mystical position! The T of the key has to line up with the base of the can as shown. I used to try to roll it as packaged with the can. Yes folks, I will read the comments soon enough.


:0/

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Open-a-Can-of-Corned-Beef/

[follyfancier]

it was issued to the troops during the war and made like that so they could open it anywhere without needing a tin opener

[fender62]

perhaps they should rethink can design, i broke the key off once as a young man, and did not have a can opener at the time, i eneded up using and screw driver and a hammer, then a knife looked a mess by the end,

[fender62]

then someone said it's your karma, you have to turn vegan ahhh what
nah cave man instinct mate i will have my meat....

[Mamyalynne]

Why can't they do this - top and bottom of course.

http://c8.alamy.com/comp/BGHGGH/tin-of-princes-corned-beef-BGHGGH.jpg

[Jennykenny]

Yep, took a good slice into my thumb with one of those. Still got the scar, despite the nurse, who was stitching me up insisting that if she didn't give me an anaesthetic, and sewed into the flesh (excruciating), there would be no mark. I didn't care. It was my thumb, not my face.

[Smowball]

They actually do round tins now as well.

[Tilly2]

I don't like corned beef. Far too salty and fatty. I do buy three slices from the butcher every week though, for Mr T. He does like it.

I couldn't eat corned beef in a hot dish.

[Captain2]

Tip: the keys off this type of can unlock most supermarket trolleys (saves you having to have a £1 coin or whatever to hand).

[ichkeria]

Another tip: you can get tokens for supermarket trolleys that attach easily to a key ring. This saves you having to carry a tin of corned beef with you :-)

[DC_FC]

I hate buying tins of bully beef like this, not bought 1 for years, just find it much easier to buy it already sliced.

[diddlydo]

I have no idea why corned beef is still produced and even less of an idea as to why anyone would buy it!

[ethandron]

It does make a very tasty pan haggerty, I'd not eat it any other way though, the thought of a corned beef sandwich..bleurrgh.

[theprof]

The can shape is down to tradition. Virtually all corned beef comes from Argentina or Brazil and still comes into the UK in tightly packed poor quality cardboard cases. The can shape means that there is no wasted space in the outer cardboard case as almost all gaps between cans are eliminated. More cans means more profit per case. Keeping the consumer safe will never be a prime consideration - the tin design originated in South America where safety issues are treated somewhat differently.

The reality is that the manufacturer could package it in any shape tin they liked. Corned beef is packaged as a hot liquid that solidifies on cooling and the stuff will take up the shape of any container it's poured into. That's why the white fat in the product can be seen mainly on the ends of the meat after it's removed from the can.

Many years ago, I visited a corned beef cannery in Brazil to give them some advice on bacterial pathogens. The canning process was quite an experience to see.