Martha Stewart: 10 Foods We Always Buy Canned

These canned goods taste just as good as their fresh counterparts.

By Riley Wofford
Published on February 29, 2024

Canned goods are a pantry staple for so many reasons: they’re convenient, inexpensive, versatile, and have a much longer shelf life than their fresh counterparts. Even better, ingredients are usually canned when they are at their best. This means that items like fruits and vegetables are canned and preserved at peak season, so when you open the can, they are just about as fresh as the day they were harvested—and just as nutritious, too.

Nutritional Value of Fresh vs. Canned Foods

Fresh ingredients are great to use when they are accessible and in season, but it’s not always the most practical option. Luckily, fresh and canned ingredients tend to stack up pretty evenly when it comes to their nutritional value, and there are some cases where canned ingredients are actually an even better option, says Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and author of Eating from Our Roots: 80+ Healthy Home-Cooked Favorites from Cultures Around the World. For example, in the case of some legumes, Fellers notes that it is often easier for some people to digest the canned versions. In addition, people with mobility or dexterity issues, or who have chewing or swallowing challenges may find canned goods to be an option that allows them to eat produce in a more manageable form.

Continue reading on marthastewart.com