Used a can of chili last night (best by date 2008), for chili dogs/hot dogs to feed the friends/neighbors/their kids. It looked and tasted just like the newer can I put with it. So far....so good....everybody's still kickin'.
Besides bulging cans, I avoid rusty cans.
Have had days like that, and substitute something else...the result, my kids used to call "Mama Surprise".