10 Canned Green Beans, Ranked Worst To Best - Tasting Table

"To help you avoid a game of green bean roulette, I recently tried 10 kinds of canned green beans so you don't have to. There are more options out there than one might think. From Del Monte to Libby's to store brands, plenty of players throw their beans in the ring and in multiple styles too, including French-style, Italian-style, whole green beans, and more. I picked up a hearty sampling and ranked them all based primarily on tenderness and texture, flavor, and ingredient add-ins."

"If you checked your cupboard right now, we bet you'd find a lone can of green beans hiding in the wings, waiting to be called upon. Canned green beans are an underrated kitchen staple. And not only around the holidays when green bean casseroles are king, and when they get sauteed and dressed up in garlic. Green beans are a good-to-have item all year long; you have to know which cans to buy to get the most out of the stringy vegetable."

"The brand is quite dominant, and as such, it delivers several different kinds of green beans, including this curious can. It contains whole green beans, but the kicker is that they come pre-doused in a teriyaki flavor that promises to be sweet and savory. Now, normally, I'm all for ease in the kitchen, and a side that can easily go from can to plate in a few minutes is enticing. But unfortunately, the execution is not there."

Canned green beans are a versatile pantry staple suitable year-round beyond holiday casseroles and simple sautés. Multiple brands and styles exist, including French-style, Italian-style, and whole beans, each differing in tenderness, texture, flavor, and added ingredients. Ten canned varieties were evaluated and ranked primarily on tenderness and texture, flavor, and ingredient add-ins. Some flavored varieties add unexpected seasonings that can overpower the bean's taste. For example, a teriyaki-labeled whole-green-bean product lists water, cane sugar, sea salt, and natural flavor but presents a strong ginger note and bitter aftertaste, indicating poor execution of the intended flavor profile.

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