I've always put the recommended amount of Stabil in my gas cans before filling them. Never had a problem with gas sitting in the mower over the winter.
I had a stroke in 2023 & hired a lawn service for a few years. For the 2026 season, one of my grandsons wanted to do our lawn, so I got the mower out (Deere X330) & started it. It started & ran fine while driving/mowing, but wouldn't idle for more than 10-15 seconds or so. He mowed the lawn and found that after mowing, it idled OK, and has done so & run fine for the rest of the summer, using the gas which sat in the cans for those few years. I think I was just lucky.
I had a stroke in 2023 & hired a lawn service for a few years. For the 2026 season, one of my grandsons wanted to do our lawn, so I got the mower out (Deere X330) & started it. It started & ran fine while driving/mowing, but wouldn't idle for more than 10-15 seconds or so. He mowed the lawn and found that after mowing, it idled OK, and has done so & run fine for the rest of the summer, using the gas which sat in the cans for those few years. I think I was just lucky.