Any canned food worth buying?

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Eredani@reddit

For the people that say "store what you eat, eat what you store" - the assumption seems to be that in an emergency we'll be eating as we normally do.

Do you plan to use water the same way during a crisis or disaster?

What about power?

Are your medical needs are the same?

No change to your security concerns?

Business as usual for your sanitation and hygiene?

Of course not.

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Those are not the same thing. When you are storing food for an emergency you should store what you eat. You may not be able to eat the same way you do now, but you are still going to eat, and you may as well eat what you like.

Do you plan on not eating? Of course not. Having familiar food, when ever and however you are able to eat it, will be much more than fueling your body, it will be a bit of normalcy during a stressful time.

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Capable-Culture917@reddit

Funny thing about emergency situations is that when in dire situations, you’ll eat whatever you have even if you don’t like it.

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Historical_Course587@reddit

Hunger may be the best spice, but variety will keep you from going insane. Instead of hoarding canned soups you hate, find a canned soup that makes for a good soup base when cooked with other preps like your staples: rice, beans, lentils, grains, corn, or whatever.

Because long before you grow to hate Campbell's anything, you will grow to hate that 50lb bag of pinto beans that you've been eating for the last hundred meals.

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RingdownStudios@reddit

Get you some Mountain House meals! Freeze-dried, last forever. Tasty. Expensive. But swiching between canned and freeze dried can help ease the monotony.

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LucyB823@reddit

Canned tuna, chicken, evaporated milk ( makes great baked egg dishes, and canned coconut milk and cream for me.

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HudyD@reddit

Canned soup's gone downhill, no doubt. I stopped bothering and just did canned chicken, tuna, and beans. Way cheaper, easier to mix into rice or ramen, and lasts forever

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Jenswild@reddit

This is why i can my own food(safely)

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JuniperJupiter4@reddit

I keep canned beans (red, pinto, black, great northern and chickpeas), vegetables (green beans, peas, carrots, corn, potatoes and artichokes), a variety of tomatoes, pumpkin, coconut milk and bread (just because it was cheap on the preppersales sub). Most of these are used as ingredients in a complete meal, rather than a meal in themselves.

I do also have dried beans, but you have to consider situations where you don't have the capability to cook for hours.

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No_Staff594@reddit

Dinty Moore beef stew babyyyy

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EbolaPrep@reddit

Try Amy’s soups. They are slightly expensive, but are delicious! You can get them on Amazon or a Sprouts if you have one near by.

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Inside-Hall-7901@reddit

So from what I’ve gathered on this sub, canned goods that aren’t dented or expanded are safe to eat years past the Best By date? Does this include meat products?

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XRlagniappe@reddit

I have found the Keystone canned meats to be the best tasting. Yes, they are more expensive but their shelf life is longer, fewer ingredients, and they just taste better. All of the other canned chicken seems to be to soggy or flavorless. I just had some Keystone canned chicken and it tasted like chicken off of the bone. I also have pork, turkey, beef, and ground beef.

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tdubs702@reddit

What about testing some freeze dried stuff that’ll last decades? That way if you like it now, you’ll like it later and not need to constantly rotate.

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ACME-Anvil@reddit

You ever have kielbasa in the can?

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TacTurtle@reddit

I like canned sweet corn with peppers - can be used in chowder, chili, corn bread, salad, even eggs or hash.

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SLC-Originals@reddit

You are right, Campbell's soup is no longer edible. They ruined it. I stopped eating all canned soup because it's gross now and full of fake food. I just make my own soup and freeze it in single servings. You can can your own soup for prepping if you want.

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TourettesGiggitygigg@reddit

Tuna fish, veggie and refried beans…..plus chef boy r dee

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combong@reddit

yezzir chef boyardee ftw

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Cute-Consequence-184@reddit

Honestly not much. I found the exact same thing the quality is bad. I cancelled all my subscribe and save.

I'm mainly buying chili that is a dry mix and needs to cook for 30 minutes and only needs some tomato products added. I usually add in meat, chili beans and sometimes Rotel if I have it. It is good alone but I usually want leftovers so I add more..

I'm also buying cream of chicken, healthy heart with the low sodium. It makes a great recipe starter.

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jandmhaj@reddit

That is the key, using the canned soup as the base for a better meal. Usually with leftovers at that point. I get the chicken and sausage gumbo and add a while bunch of stuff to it. Then ladle it over rice.

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Cute-Consequence-184@reddit

I did a price comparison a few years ago with buying everything from scratch to make the same amount vs using the mix or a can and then adding to it. The price was a small amount higher for the mix but the work was halved.

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Traditional-Bed-6369@reddit

Sardines sardines sardines

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Rough_Community_1439@reddit

Corn.

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OutlanderMom@reddit

I buy dehydrated fruits and veg from Harmony House, and cook with it daily. They also sell “cream of” soup bases. The only issue I’ve had is moisture getting in powdered tomatoes. So I repack that in canning jars with desiccant packs. I quit buying canned soups because of the salt and junk in them. I use Better Than Bullion for flavoring, but I have dry bullion cubes too (they make porch, chicken, vegetable and seafood flavors). And I’ve got four shelves in a closet with just about every spice known to man. Even a plain can of beans can be spiced different ways to make them tasty.

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Jessawoodland55@reddit

I regularly use canned: tomatoes, corn, beans, evaporated milk, tuna, chicken, peaches, campbells soups for sauce, and tomato sauce

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CreasingUnicorn@reddit

I like Spam, Corn Beef Hash, Rotel Tomatoes with green chilis, sardines, mackrel, pineapple, green beans, and corn.

I also have a good ammount of canned beans, i understand that dried beans are more "efficient", but being able to cook or eat them right away instead of remembering to soak them overnight is nice for my family.

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2quickdraw@reddit

Canned mackerel is highly underrated! Put that in a frying pan with a little butter and soy and a bunch of green onions and some ginger. Serve with rice. Mmm.

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CreasingUnicorn@reddit

I like the canned fish in olive oil so you dont need any butter, just cook it in the oil it comes with. Add vegetables and spices to your liking and turn it into a warm meal with rice or bread.

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Upper-Coyote6088@reddit

You can also use the liquids from cans in cooking.

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juancarlospaco@reddit

Buy an automatic dehydrator and dehydrate everything.

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PrisonerV@reddit

I'm with you. Look at non US based canned goods at an Asian market. They have a lot better ingredients and flavor. I also like their frozen dinners better.

US based foods have gone to blah and full of sodium.

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behemuthm@reddit

Serious question - what’s the point of stockpiling frozen meals unless you live in a super cold environment? Assuming power loss, you’re not keeping things frozen for long unless you’re in a cold place

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PrisonerV@reddit

I didn't suggest stockpiling them. I suggested they are better quality than US frozen meals. Buy them and consume them.

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behemuthm@reddit

Ah k yeah I’d agree there

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Gullible-Cow9166@reddit

Can your own

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SonsOfValhallaGaming@reddit

It doesn't help how many brands of canned food switched to more perishable ingredients and stopped canning with the purposes of long term preservation. The list of truly non perishable canned foods grows thin

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Dry_Barracuda2850@reddit

Buy what you eat, if you aren't eating the new soup don't it and find whatever you are eating instead.

If you are eating more rice and beans because these soups no longer taste good to you then yes replace with that. If you are now making your own soup then consider freezing it or doing recipes that can be home canned.

So what are you eating instead of these soups?

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SAMPLE_TEXT6643@reddit (OP)

I usually make a big meal on Sunday and just eat it over the course of a week like stews and casseroles. When those run out I do actually make spam with a side of rice or just go out to eat. Kinda sad but a sign of the times

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Dry_Barracuda2850@reddit

Then I would say consider how you can stock that (freezing or canning portions, stocking the base ingredients that go into it).

I think of it as keeping the ingredients for a given number of batches of a recipe (the number depending on how often I eat it vs other recipes). For example for chili I stock 2-3 batches worth of beans, tomatoes, seasoning, etc but have to buy the meat and fresh veg to make a normal batch (but if I couldn't buy that I have everything to make a good chili just not my normal chilli).

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2quickdraw@reddit

Crispy fried SPAM with rice or mashed potatoes is pretty dang good for a survival meal. Canned peas added work well.

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andrewa101@reddit

Canned tuna’s a must for me, tons of protein and easy to dress up with mayo or pasta. Spam’s great too if you fry it a bit.

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XilodonZ@reddit

Most canned soups have gone downhill. I stick with rice, beans, tuna and SPAM for rotation. Try Annie's Organics if you want decent flavor without additives.

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Radiant_Device_6706@reddit

I like the Marie Calendar soups. I can't eat any of the others.

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RaevynSkyye@reddit

Buy what you'll eat aside, why not get spices to jazz it up? I do that with Hamburger Helper meals all the time

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Available-Page-2738@reddit

The small plastic tubes of bean soups are actually very good for this sort of thing. They last a long, long, long time on the shelf.

But soup? Real soup is basically a slow-simmer kind of thing. If you have to choke down whatever to keep going, I recommend making your own and dehydrating it.

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2quickdraw@reddit

There's actually a few combinations right out of the cans that my family loves.

One is the Glory brand red beans and rice, and we eat it with Southwestern canned corn. Just pour equal amounts of each into their own side of a bowl and heat and heat. Both are spicy and good.

We also enjoy canned peas with instant mashed potatoes for a quick meal and sometimes add canned beef with gravy alongside the potatoes.

Refried beans are a staple for us as well.

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allahyokdinyalan@reddit

Stocking beans, lentils or any selection of legumes alongside rice, wheat or any selection of grains with enough water and heating to go around can last you MONTHS. A huge majority of the humans eat these daily with different combinations of spices/sauces all around the world. A lot of spices can last years too.

It’s also a great idea to buy onions, carrots, garlic, potatoes, turnips and beets and celery in bulk every once in a while and eat them regularly (which you probably already do/ should do). Replace whenever you feel like you need more to go around. They can last months and even more than a year if stored in a dry and cold place.

For any disaster scenario, assuming you have water and heating, having the following can sustain a person for months: 25 kg legumes 25 kg grains Spice selection (especially dried chillies if you like them) 2 kg Salt 10L Cooking oil Multivitamin tablets (make sure they have ALL vitamin Bs and Vit C)

If you have a family, do your calculation accordingly.

If you desperately need canned stuff or meat, buy canned meat or dried meat products that can last years. You can look up historical dried meat recipes, they are often very fatty and very protein rich, albeit very hard.

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2quickdraw@reddit

I just bought six packs of number 10 cans of carrots and onions, along with black beans and Great Northern beans from the LDS store online. The prices are good and the quality is nice! What I was getting from grocery stores and Azure Standard were NOT good. Their freeze dried strawberries are really good as well.

I figured the onions and carrots will go great with any of my lentils, split peas, beans, barley, or rice.

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inerlite@reddit

Split peas make a mid ham much better. They last in the pantry for a long time.

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allahyokdinyalan@reddit

I prefer chickpeas

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Ok-Buffalo-7398@reddit

I tried stockpiling spam... I keep eating it too fast. Im one of the few autists that actually love it. Fried spam and tomato sammies are delicious

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2quickdraw@reddit

Exactly, it has to be sliced thinly and fried til crispy, and served with seasoned rice or mashed potatoes, or with eggs and toast. It needs to be more of a condiment that punches up other meal ingredients.

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SAMPLE_TEXT6643@reddit (OP)

I love me some spam too and I usually make it with a side of rice

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Ok-Buffalo-7398@reddit

I've made stir fry with hot n spicy spam. It's a winner

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Competitive-Tale-272@reddit

Yes!

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miminstlouis@reddit

Agree, progresso used to be delicious, like homemade. Flavor is absolutely not like it used to be an they are more watery than before...

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AdditionalFix5007@reddit

I think both of Progresso’s lentil soups are amazing, there is a regular and a Mediterranean. Both very filling as well. Maybe you could try some flavors you haven’t yet?

I also like to get the dehydrated/powder soups like Bear Creek. Their tortilla soup is really good. I always add things to make it more hearty. From a storage stand point you could put in canned chicken, canned beans, canned corn.

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Sherri42@reddit

I like Bear Creek's potato soup and add a can or two of diced potatoes.

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thestreep@reddit

Their chicken noodle is really good, I add lots of carrots.

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TheRealBunkerJohn@reddit

Stuff that you eat.

I tried stockpiling mandarin oranges (canned) horrible idea since they taste BAD only a year after the best-by date.

I don't stock too much canned goods. Spam, chilli, butter- that's basically it.

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Dadd_io@reddit

Hahahaha I did the same thing with those canned oranges from Costco ... finally tried one can and promptly donated 3 cases of them.

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TheRealBunkerJohn@reddit

YUP. lessons learned. The green beans were fine. The oranges...blech.

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bellj1210@reddit

also high acid you should avoid canned. So oranges would be in that boat.

I honestly keep a few cans of fruit cocktail and whatever else i find for dirt cheap- and normally it gets turned into a compote for pancakes every week weeks- since it otherwise just sits. So i have very little in canned fruits.

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thestreep@reddit

The fruit cocktail I had was very off-tasting just 4 months past the date. It was a national brand, too. So for fruit I have bottled pears and bottled peaches. They have been fine so far.

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Drawsblanket@reddit

So no canned tomato’s

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firedrakes@reddit

glass yes. but bottle no........

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8avian6@reddit

Canned milk is good to have on hand. Just mix it with enough water to fill the empty can then you have real milk

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xmodemlol@reddit

My favorite is maesri canned curry. Thai style. Good way to use extra meat the next day if you have some leftover. Have to order it but it’s much better than pre made curries at a grocery store.

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booksandrats@reddit

I like Staag chili, Graves molasses baked beans with pork, and Annies black bean soup. And I agree that Chunky soup has gotten funky the last few years.

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throwawayt44c@reddit

I know spam is solid but I need to put the Tocino flavored spam on your radar... Best GD spam I've ever eaten! I also like corned beef added to a rice dish.

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Anonymo123@reddit

I will add a few cans of chili with every trip to the store. It tastes good, high calorie, good protein and i can mix it with a bunch of stuff like pasta\noodles, rice or whatever to make it go further.

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Dacklar@reddit

Only buy what you'll eat. Youll have to sample other brands and flavor to find one you like.

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saltyoursalad@reddit

Or you could donate them now before they expire.

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Upper-Coyote6088@reddit

Running into this now, finding some canned goods that ‘expired’ within the last ~6 months.

I know my parents could use some of the stuff, but I don’t think food drives would take them.

What’s left I usually post on CL or FB, if I’m pretty sure I won’t use it within the 1+ year the canned food is ‘good’ beyond the “BEST BY” date.

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LizDances@reddit

This is the way. Our (assuming United States) food pantries are overwhelmed right now with the influx of families that have not yet received their SNAP food bucks for this month. If you have unexpired food that you don't want, today is someone's Tuesday in your local community.

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joelnicity@reddit

But if you have stuff you don’t like, that could go to family or neighbors if the time ever comes

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newPrivacyPolicy@reddit

It usually goes to the postal workers food drive!

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Pylyp23@reddit

This is what I do. I’m in OPs boat where soups don’t taste as good as when I was a starving, stoned college kid so no I use them as a base and add seasoning and chunks of leftover steak and veggies to make half homemade stuff. A lot more palatable but I still have the same amount stockpiled and know I’ll eat it. If TEOTWAWKI hits then I’m sure the stuff will taste as good as anything I make now.

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Achnback@reddit

You bring up SPAM, big time prepper fave. Wife and I absolutely hate that stuff and as a result don't purchase. We have canned chicken and other canned veg & chicken broth. Make your own soup to your liking? We also stock Campbell's chunky and progresso, as of yet still enjoy our cheap lunches.

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Many-Health-1673@reddit

Keystone canned shredded beef, chicken, turkey and pork.

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Dapper_dreams87@reddit

Maybe stick to ingredients vs. meals? Canned beans, green beans, corn, carrots, peas… even canned potatoes. Canned fruit as well and of course canned tomato products. If you have a good spice selection you should be good

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suzaii@reddit

I agree with this! Buy the canned goods with only one ingredient, and make what you want out of it.

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voiderest@reddit

If the quality went down to the point I wouldn't eat it at least semi regularly I wouldn't buy it any more. Maybe some other brand is still good or there is something else you would eat.

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sabotthehawk@reddit

Just find something else you like. Stocking rice and beans and wheat only works if you eat those regularly and know how to cook with them.

So try new brands, try asian or European brands. Try whatever, justake sure to grab a few new things on each trip and try them. If you find one you like fit it into your diet and stock up to start rotation.

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SAMPLE_TEXT6643@reddit (OP)

Oh I regularly make rice and SPAM. I know how to make beans and make them taste decent but aren't my favorite thing. Need to try some lentils because they sound good I just keep forgetting to grab a bag at the store

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Spiley_spile@reddit

I liked to make sure Ive got canned vegetables, stuffed grape leaves (dolma), mushrooms, potatos, and leafy greens that I like, as well as a variety of canned fruits. I use cream of mushroom soups and chicken soups as a base to add veggies, rice, and/or beans into.

I enjoy canned quail eggs (in water, not brine). Rinse them and then add them to boiling water + chicken ramen noodles.

I once made an excellent curry with powdered spices, canned pinto beans, canned tomato paste, canned coconut cream, and one of those Spam Singles. (That's all I can recall off the top of my head) It was best after sitting in the fridge for 24 hours to let the flavors all mix.

I love canned brown bread with butter spread on top (Basically moist, molasses cake. There is an option with raisins and one without.) A good reason to buy canned butter.

Then there are various canned meats aside from spam. Chicken, fish, beef, oysters, eel, turkey, sausages, etc.

Im a fan of keeping cans of condensed evaporated milk. (As well as powdered milk.) I dont do a lot of baking. I mainly mix milk with water and instant coffee or powdered lattes or protein powders.

It all just depends on what you like, and what you can afford. Some of the things I listed above I have lots of duplicates (corn lol), other things are a rare treat that I might only have 1 or 2 cans of at present.

I hope this helped to generate some ideas for you!

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ArcaneLuxian@reddit

Fruit and veg are always something I pick up. Especially veg since a pressure canner is so expensive.

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1986silverback@reddit

Try Wendy's can chili.

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More_Mind6869@reddit

Make soups and stews at home and can it or freeze it. Rotate as necessary.

At least you'll know it's edible.

I can't eat those soups anymore either.

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matchstick64@reddit

I've been buying any of the canned Greek beans, eggplant, and dolmas. Trader Joe's even has a version of it. We aren't big eaters, so one can will feed me and my husband. I often take them camping so we don't have to cook. My favorite brand is Zevio.

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IdaDuck@reddit

Sardines and tuna. Chicken too.

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lego_lady123@reddit

My family likes the bag, dehydrated soups for easy meal and I think they’ll would last longer than canned soup. So I have quite a lot. I get the ones at Aldi like $3 makes a big pot.

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sgtPresto@reddit

Soups are extremely high in sodium which will help elevate your blood pressure as if the event wouldnt

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EscenaFinal@reddit

I agree with what everyone is saying regarding buying what you eat… but it’s really difficult if you are someone who is health conscious and doesn’t like to eat ultra processed foods with many questionable ingredients.

I’m trying my best here and dreading having to eat some of my shelf stable foods when the expiration date nears… like I’ll eat the food if SHTF without a care but half of the stuff is just sucking it up for me cause I’m not gonna waste food.

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fridayimatwork@reddit

Canned tomatos: diced, crushed, rotel are in my regular rotation as soup and stew base. Baked beans and vegetables. Canned mandarin oranges. Can chicken.

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LensPro@reddit

Wolf brand chili is still good!

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Dadd_io@reddit

I'm actually thinking about adding more Augason Farms and Mountain House and reducing the rotation. If I'm not going to eat it, the long-term food is a better value long-term (and less hassle to rotate).

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phoonie98@reddit

Canned chicken

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Buffrider-52@reddit

Give Wendy’s canned chili a try.

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Ryan_e3p@reddit

SPAM is fantastic. Can be eaten as-is, grilled, fried, and added to a ton of different dishes.

Soups I don't really go for. They're mostly water anyways.

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Pando5280@reddit

I do mostly dehydrated stuff these days. Veggie soup mix, mushrooms, chives & onions, various powder bullions and quality Ramen noodles and pasta. Also rice because you can find it cheap and its an easy way to stretch meals. Wish I liked beans more but I use refried in cans or pouches to offset traditional ones. There's some good organic canned options (soups and spaghetti-os are my go tos) but they typically expire sooner due to less preservatives so I try to rotate through those pretty regularly.

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GusGutfeld@reddit

Sardines, Mackerel, tuna, shredded bbq pork, spaghettios w/meatballs, canned pears?

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Electrical-Title-698@reddit

My favorites are jalapeno flavored refried beans, Mary kitchens corned beef hash, Hormel chili with beans, and hot and spicy spam

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HalcyonKnights@reddit

Refried Beans, Green beans, and Canned meats are the main canned things I both stock and use regularly. Corn would be a nice energy-dense option but I'll have to find recipes I enjoy first.

I also like doing my own jar pressure canning as a form of meal prep, canning my own soup&stew starters and chili, mostly. Those make great easy meals, and I can make enough varieties that I dont get tired of any one recipe. Ideally I can wait until the ingredients are on sale and keep costs low, but sometimes cravings override frugality.

Im planning to give pickling a try for things like pickled onions (and/or actual pickles), but I'll have to see if keep those on the shelf or if it'll just be an experiment to learn the basic processes.

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Reasonable_Action29@reddit

Corned beef hash? Last longer time and with all the fat in it has a good portion of daily need.

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very_squirrel@reddit

hot sauce helps :/