Canned potatoes = pleasant surprise. Any other good canned foods?

[slugg]

So for the first time ever, I've used some canned new potatoes. I was making some carne molida and decided to throw them in. They were fantastic! The thing I like about these potatoes is that, on top of being delicious, they're also shelf-stable for an indefinite amount of time. I can have them on-hand and use them as needed.

Growing up, my family didn't really use any canned foods, so this is new to me. What else am I missing out on? Are there any canned ingredients that kick major butt?

 

[norseamd]

i just farted and it smelled like that type of fart you get after eating strong pizza with spices and pepperoni and like spiced amazing sauce.

like red savoy or something

thing i can here to off topic and read your title and thought of farts right away

 

[CPA]

In before the "canned potatoes are disgusting, I grow my own potatoes and they're better than anything you can find at a store." post.

 

[Fern]

Canned new potatoes are good.

Other canned veg I like:

black eyed peas
field peas
whole kernel sweet corn

When I make chili I often use various canned beans.

Asparagus and green beans are particularly nasty in a can.

Fern

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I know a lot of people that tell me I'm nuts, but I really don't mind canned tomatoes. Just gotta get the low-sodium ones.

Hmm... other things I eat from a can...

Maybe not so much? I buy corn and peas frozen. Can't stand canned meats.

I do use canned beans for chili, *ducks* but that's more because I don't want to soak/cook them myself. I have no idea if the dried ones would taste better. Either would be shelf-stable for a long time.

And I probably have a few cans of soup kicking around the back of the pantry.

 

[techs]

I have read in numerous places that without salt and sugar added canned veggies are disgusting and inedible.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I have read in numerous places that without salt and sugar added canned veggies are disgusting and inedible.

They inhibit bacterial growth, I think.

Canned tomatoes typically have a LOT of added salt. Low-sodium ones have about 2/3rds as much.

I usually rinse off the canned beans.

 

[lxskllr]

I'm a big fan of canned food of all kinds. I prefer canned vegetables to frozen, and sometimes even better than fresh. I like beets a lot. I put them in a jar and add vinegar. It's kind of like pickled beets without the sugar. If you want to get fancy, add some whole cloves.

Margret Holmes has canned southern food that's pretty good. A few favorites are seasoned collards, tomatoes/okra/corn, boiled peanuts, and seasoned lima beans. Some of those have a ton of salt, especially the limas, but I like the taste, and even drink the juice when I finish the vegetables.

Diced tomatoes with spices are good for a quick bruschetta. Just add olive oil and cheese.

Sauerkraut is a given. Asparagus can be iffy depending on the brand, and more expensive isn't always better, but when it's good, it's pretty good, but not like fresh.

Finally, the king of meats, Spam comes in a can. I love the stuff. Makes a great breakfast sandwich, or use it for quick fried rice, and other things where you just want a bit of meat for flavor.

 

[WelshBloke]

Canned tomatoes and canned pulses certainly have advantages over fresh.

 

[Mixolydian]

Canned chili is pretty decent these days.

 

[WelshBloke]

Canned chili is pretty decent these days.

:hmm:

 

[DrPizza]

I just used up 3 quarts of canned crushed tomatoes - but I can those myself.

From the grocery store, for some weird reason, I like canned spinach. I also love canned venison, though you're probably not going to find that at the grocery store.

 

[Ichinisan]

My friend is nuts about canned tomatoes. I never tried them.

 

[Slacker]

Canned chicken is nice to have on hand.

oh, and albacore.

 

[WelshBloke]

My friend is nuts about canned tomatoes. I never tried them.

You use fresh tomatoes every time you make a tomato based sauce?

 

[Ichinisan]

You use fresh tomatoes every time you make a tomato based sauce?

I don't cook. I don't make sauce.

My friend just eats the tomatoes right out of the can.

 

[WelshBloke]

I don't cook. I don't make sauce.

Fair enough. You should learn.

My friend just eats the tomatoes right out of the can.

Thats moderately odd. Although I seem to remember eating them on toast and them being OK.

 

[wabbitslayer]

Canned chili is pretty decent these days.

especially with chopped up canned tamales, shredded cheddar and some jalapenos dumped on top of some fritos...:biggrin:

 

[spittledip]

I only make tomato sauce with canned San Marzano tomatoes. Much better than fresh only b/c they are San Marzanos. There might be some good fresh plum tomatoes that make better sauce, but I haven't found any... not that I have gone searching. I used to make with fresh.. and that only seems to make sense, but these tomatoes just have the best flavor for cooking.

 

[BladeVenom]

Almost anything that is available fresh or frozen is better than canned.

 

[bradly1101]

If it has Disodium EDTA, I wouldn't eat a lot of it:

Disodium EDTA has become a topic of interest because of many pro-natural organizations claims that it causes toxicity in mammals. However, in products regulated by the FDA, levels of disodium EDTA is too low to cause direct harm when products are used as directed. The only time to be ultra aware of disodium EDTA content is in processed foods and beverages, where disodium EDTA in reaction with active and unstable ingredients like Vitamin C and sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda) forms benzenes, a potent carcinogen. Also, EDTA is becoming an environmental pollutant due to large quantities used in industrial applications, medical applications and manufacturing.

 

[Rakehellion]

Almost anything that is available fresh or frozen is better than canned.

Thanks for the insight, captain obvious.

 

[spittledip]

Almost anything that is available fresh or frozen is better than canned.

Thanks for the insight, captain obvious.

The problem is availability in some cases.

 

[feralkid]

I only make tomato sauce with canned San Marzano tomatoes. Much better than fresh only b/c they are San Marzanos. There might be some good fresh plum tomatoes that make better sauce, but I haven't found any... not that I have gone searching. I used to make with fresh.. and that only seems to make sense, but these tomatoes just have the best flavor for cooking.

You really should. You're fooling yourself (and wasting money) buying canned "San Marzano" tomatoes. 1. they're probably not. 2. They're canned so who even cares?

 

[SparkyJJO]

Finally, the king of meats, Spam comes in a can. I love the stuff. Makes a great breakfast sandwich, or use it for quick fried rice, and other things where you just want a bit of meat for flavor.

You do know that junk email was named after that for a reason, right?