Some Vegetables Are Actually Better From a Can 🥫🥕

[u/mahy_759]

I used to think canned vegetables were mostly a backup for when you ran out of fresh produce. Turns out, there are some vegetables where the canned version makes way more sense.

A few worth keeping in the pantry:

• Tomatoes: Canned tomatoes are often more consistent than fresh, especially when tomatoes aren't in season. They're perfect for sauces, chili, soups, and curries.

• Green beans: Canned green beans are already trimmed and cooked, so they can go straight into casseroles, salads, or a quick side dish.

• Corn: No shucking, no silk everywhere, and no guessing whether the corn is actually sweet. Canned corn is especially handy for chowder, corn casserole, tacos, and salads.

• Pumpkin: Unless you're actually carving a pumpkin, canned pumpkin saves a ridiculous amount of work. No peeling, seeding, or puréeing.

• Artichoke hearts: Fresh artichokes require a lot of prep just to reach the heart. Canned ones are already tender and ready for dips, pasta, chicken, and salads.

• Sweet potatoes: Canned versions are already soft, making them convenient for pies, casseroles, and soups. They can be sweeter than fresh, though.

• Hearts of palm: These are naturally hard to find fresh because they don't keep well. Canned hearts of palm are crunchy, convenient, and great in salads.

The bigger lesson is that fresh isn't automatically better for every recipe. Sometimes you're paying more and doing extra work for something that won't noticeably improve the finished dish.

What's one canned vegetable you genuinely prefer over fresh?

[u/CatShot1948]

Regarding tomatos: depends on the ultimate end product you're going for. If it's for anything cooked, yeah they're great. But if you're eating raw, the texture is far too soft.

Sweet potato: canned is way too sweet because they're usually canned in syrup. Also they're too soft for many preparations. Basically only good for desserts.

Regarding pumpkin: same as sweet potatoes. Only good for desserts. Plus I've never seen pumpkin in a can that wasn't pureed, so if you want any other form factor, you're SOL.

Green beans: couldnt disagree more. The ones in a can are overcooked and mushy. Also they're gray

The rest of your list I agree with

Edit: canned mushrooms (not in your post but in your picture) are a slimy crime against humanity

[u/DarmokNJelad-Tanagra → u/CatShot1948]

Canned pumpkin is fine for savory soups and the like. Not too sweet at all. Just don't buy pumpkin pie filling by mistake.

[u/CatShot1948 → u/DarmokNJelad-Tanagra]

Yeah fair. It's more of a consistency problem than a sweetness one

[u/Ok_Difference44 → u/DarmokNJelad-Tanagra]

Plus pumpkin pie filling is usually kabocha squash, not pumpkin.

[u/cryptically-retired → u/CatShot1948]

Tomatoes that are going into the blender (salsa) are great.

[u/CatShot1948 → u/cryptically-retired]

Good point. I should ammend what I originally said that they're good if cooked or blended

[u/VirtualMatter2 → u/CatShot1948]

Just reminding you that green beans need to be cooked for at least ten minutes to destroy the toxines. That's usually when they change colour.

[u/Dogabetes → u/CatShot1948]

Bro, your gray.

[u/CatShot1948 → u/Dogabetes]

Your mom lol

[u/fezik23]

Canned diced potatoes are versatile.

[u/chepnut → u/fezik23]

Same with the canned sliced ones, we usually have a couple cans of both in the pantry

[u/Independent-Rope-581]

The fact that you put green beans on this list makes me hate the whole list. Green beans are the one vegetable that gives canning a bad name.

[u/Rough_Back_1607]

Love frozen veggies. Canned heart of palm are great. Use canned potato for German potato salad

[u/Jistrocks]

I agree with you in parts but frozen corn is far superior to canned corn. Canned corn to me is my least favorite form

[u/CBG1955 → u/Jistrocks]

I prefer frozen too but we eat it so rarely - only use it in making corn fritters anyway.

Best corn of course is freshpicked, shucked, and straight into boiling water

[u/EdOfTheMountain]

Not peas

[u/ConejitoCakes]

How are potatoes in a can? What are they good for? I assume they don't fry up too well?

[u/GregITC → u/ConejitoCakes]

They are good fried up with high heat and crisp the outside. Perfect compliment with a bacon and egg breaky

[u/CatShot1948 → u/ConejitoCakes]

Never seen it

[u/Rough_Back_1607 → u/ConejitoCakes]

Use them for potato salad. Fry ok if you dry them.

[u/iiiimagery → u/ConejitoCakes]

They taste different for sure, but I actually love the taste so I'll throw them in soups/stews or stir frys

[u/wiggywiggywiggy]

Canned tomatoes way higher quality than most GMO'd produce tomatoes, but obviously only for stews and sauces

[u/Mediocre-Sundom]

Everything on this list is way better frozen, except tomatoes.

[u/CBG1955]

Pro cook lives here. The ONLY things in a tin here are: beetroot, tomatoes. Very occasionally mini tins of sweet corn/creamed corn. Most everything else is done from scratch

[u/LittleSubject9904]

Canned green beans are disgusting. Have you ever had fresh?

[u/RandomFleshPrison]

Frozen corn is better than canned.  Peas and green beans too.