Is canned food worth?

diogomello12

Lately I've been cooking lentils as my main source of protein and I stumbled upon some ready to eat, canned lentils. When I saw the nutrition info I noticed a big difference comparing to the lentils that I've been cooking, but I also suppose it's because the gross!/net weight of already cooked lentils to raw ones is totally different so that's why the difference in canned lentils is so big. Is it worth for me to insert this in my diet (would definitely save me some time cooking) and overall, is canned food worth if you want to hit your macros on a daily basis?

lynn_glenmont

There shouldn't be a significant difference between the nutritional value of plain canned lentils and plain lentils that you've cooked from dried. You are most likely using a bad database entry for one or the other, or misinterpreting when you should be weighing the food (dried, cooked, drained, etc.).

More generally, there shouldn't be a significant different between the macros for food you've cooked yourself and canned food, assuming there are no additional ingredients (or that the additional ingredients are the same in both cases). You should make your choice based on convenience, cost, and taste preferences.

Personally, I've never used plain canned lentils (although I've used canned lentil soup), because they cook so quickly from dried (so no significant convenience for me) and dried are both cheaper and take up less space on my kitchen shelves than canned.

MikePTY

I agree with what @lynn_glenmont said. While some canned food (fruit in syrup, for example), may be more caloric and less nutritious than their counterparts, I don't believe this is usually the case for beans, which are already normally a fairly calorie dense food, regardless of how you prepare them. My guess is it is a serving size comparison issue.

What are you seeing as the calories for your canned beans vs the calories for self prepared?

NovusDies

No one can answer if it is worth it for you to use canned products in your diet. There are tastes and preferences to consider. You make like your lentils more toothsome that the can provides or less salty. I always cook mine with onion and vegetable stock.

I have never tried canned lentils but I won't pop open a can of beans (other than baked) to just eat. I prefer to cook them myself. I will open a can of beans if it is part of a larger recipe like the vegetarian chili I make quite often.

lemurcat2

Yeah, no way will canned be different cals for the same amount as dried unless it's got something added like some kind of meat or fat, as with some soups. If the can just says lentils, it's the same. The only thing I'd watch out for with canned is sodium (there are often low sodium options), and that's only if you eat a lot of canned or have reasons to worry about it.

I don't eat canned lentils (or haven't) since they cook fast, as Lynn says, and they just appeal to me more that way, but I eat plenty of canned beans of various types and there's no difference.

LenGray

It depends, for me.

I get most of my protein from beans and lentils. I've found, in general, it's much cheaper to buy the dry varieties rather than the canned. In my area, the price of 14.5 oz of canned beans is equal to the 32 oz of dried and that's enough of a difference that my budget can't justify only buying canned. But, I always stash away a few cans in the pantry just in case I'm pinched for time.

One thing that I've found saves me a lot of cooking time with pulses is cooking them in the slow cooker. They cook while I'm at work/school and then I just assemble them when I get home. I also freeze the extra, so I can just grab a bag and throw it in the fridge for a quick ready-made protein in the evenings. I've been experimenting with spicing them ahead of time and it's added some fun variety to my meals

missysippy930

Dried beans do take longer to cook, but dried lentils cook pretty quickly. Plus you can control the sodium content. I don’t think there’s any advantage to using canned, plus you save money by cooking your own. As LenGray said package in portion sizes, and freeze, for other meals.

AnnPT77

The canned ones usually are weight inclusive of the liquid, and some canned ones are more watery/soupy than others. On the rare occasion I've used them, I usually drain them, weight them, and use the USDA-format entry ("Lentils - Cooked, boiled, with salt" - use the serving-size drop-down to get the grams option).

Or, you may be looking at a bad or inappropriate entry, as other mentioned. I usually cook my own legumes from dry, in a big batch, and freeze them in smaller portions. Well, except for red lentils, which cook ridiculously fast, so why bother with advance prep?

lemurcat2

AnnPT77 wrote: »

The canned ones usually are weight inclusive of the liquid, and some canned ones are more watery/soupy than others. On the rare occasion I've used them, I usually drain them, weight them, and use the USDA-format entry ("Lentils - Cooked, boiled, with salt" - use the serving-size drop-down to get the grams option).

I do this too, it's far easier.

kshama2001

Dried lentils are cheap and cook quickly so I wouldn't personally buy them canned. However, if you want to reduce or eliminate cooking time you can soak them. They are edible after soaking overnight but are crunchier.

It occurs to me that crunchier lentils might be hard to digest, so I'd start off with a smaller amount and see. I have no issues with 1/4 C at a time. I add them in this state to salads.

I also soak lentils to give them a head start when I cook them together with white rice, which otherwise takes less time.

k8eekins

diogomello12 wrote: »

Lately I've been cooking lentils as my main source of protein and I stumbled upon some ready to eat, canned lentils. When I saw the nutrition info I noticed a big difference comparing to the lentils that I've been cooking, but I also suppose it's because the gross!/net weight of already cooked lentils to raw ones is totally different so that's why the difference in canned lentils is so big. Is it worth for me to insert this in my diet (would definitely save me some time cooking) and overall, is canned food worth if you want to hit your macros on a daily basis?

With legumes and pulses, presently working with canned lentils (drained & thoroughly rinsed) as your main source of protein, ignore all your biases and stick to what will prevent any imposition in the right now.

What's important with what is accessible and convenient to you, is how you can accommodate your eating plan. Agree with ALL the members who've encouraged you to pre-cook your dried lentils. Will you consider the meal prep approach?

diogomello12

Thank you a lot for your replies. I will start cooking my own lentils, they're definitely worth it and the taste is totally different 🙏

sgt1372

Sometimes, I'm just lazy and it's sometimes worth it to me to just open a couple of cans of Progresso lentil soup to which I can add fresh kale, ham hocks and/or okra,for flavor and variety.

A lot easier and not necessarily less nutitious than making it from scratch.