A recent trend has seen a surge in the sales of canned food as supermarkets report an increase in popularity. Many people are turning to canned goods to save money and have quick, convenient meals on hand to fit their busy lifestyles. From crispy tinned potato snacks to viral Hawaiian Spam musubi, tinned food has been making waves on social media and beyond. Even Michelin-starred restaurants have joined the trend by serving wine in cans.
The rise in canned food consumption can be attributed to various factors, including rising food prices and changing shopping habits due to the coronavirus pandemic. With supermarket shelves often sparse, shoppers are opting for reliable pantry staples like tinned tomatoes, pineapples, and sweetcorn.
Journalist Sophie Morris decided to put the concept of living off canned food to the test by attempting to eat nothing but tinned goods for a whole week. Despite initial reservations, she found the experience surprisingly palatable. Starting her day with tinned fruit and yogurt, Sophie likened it to having “dessert for breakfast,” though she noted missing out on the fibre found in fresh fruit skins.
Throughout the week, Sophie experimented with various canned meals, including a new release of Heinz carbonara pasta. While she enjoyed some dishes, she found that she struggled to feel completely satisfied and full after her meals. However, she did find success with a tinned salmon fishcake recipe, which provided a cost-effective alternative to using fresh fish.
To satisfy her sweet tooth, Sophie turned to a recipe from the book “Tin Can Cook” and baked a delicious cake using canned fruit cocktail. She rounded off her week-long experiment by making a pumpkin pie using tinned pumpkin and evaporated milk. Overall, Sophie was able to create “generous banquets” from canned goods but admitted missing the freshness and crunch of fresh produce.
While she didn’t include fine dining options like wine or Spam in her menu, Sophie found that she wasn’t bored with her canned food diet. She concluded that while she could continue for another week with nostalgic eats like spaghetti hoops, she missed the filling leafy greens and fresh fruit that she craved during the experiment.