tinned

Tinned is a term with two related meanings. In everyday British English, it describes food or other contents preserved in a tin can. In materials and manufacturing contexts, tinned refers to a metal surface that has been coated with tin, usually on iron or steel, to resist corrosion and to provide a solderable surface.

Tin coatings are applied to metal by processes such as hot-dipping or electroplating. The resulting tinplate or tin-coated metal is widely used for packaging because tin forms a relatively inert barrier and is compatible with soldering and with many food products when properly linings are used. Modern food cans typically use tinplate steel with interior polymer or epoxy linings to separate the metal from acidic contents.

The canning of foods began in the early 19th century, with early patents and commercial development in Europe and North America. Tinplate cans became the standard packaging for a broad range of foods and beverages, offering durability, light protection, and long shelf life. Over time, manufacturing evolved to improve seal integrity and reduce corrosion, while regulatory standards grew to address safety and labeling.

Safety and recycling notes: tin itself is considered relatively non-toxic in typical food-contact applications, though many cans include interior coatings to prevent interaction with contents. Recyclability is high for steel cans; the tin coating is recovered during metal smelting and recycling streams.