What’s on the menu?


Canned food has come a long way since its invention in the 1800s. Back then your choice was limited: beef, mutton, carrots, parsnips or soup. Nowadays there’s a whole world of options to choose from. From burgers to rattlesnakes, here are the surprising tinned treats stocked on shelves around the globe.



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Chicken sandwich

This pocket-sized pick-me-up garnered press attention in 2010 after a man fraudulently invested millions into Candwich. Still found on shelves 10 years later, it’s marketed as convenient and great tasting. Honey BBQ Chicken not your thing? There are other flavors such as Peanut Butter and Grape Jelly too.



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Pork brains

Usually eaten stirred into scrambled eggs, pork brains have been a Southern dish for generations. Though it looks unappealing, it’s nutritious and packed with protein. It was sold by Armour (who make potted meat) and Kelly’s (famous for its chili with beans), but now you can only buy it from a brand called Rose.



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Smoked rattlesnake

Rattlesnake is most commonly found in the US and mainly in the west. Although its bite is venomous, its flesh makes for a tasty meal, especially when smoked. Don’t fancy catching your own? Buy it canned and ready to eat. It’s said to taste like chicken or fish and is great with rice.



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Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

Whole chicken

A meal fit for Christmas? Or Thanksgiving? Maybe even Easter? Whole chicken in a can – though more common in decades gone by – can still be found in the US and UK. It comes packed in broth and is ready to eat, served hot or cold.



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Silkworm pupae

In Korean, Chinese and Vietnamese cuisines, eating silkworm pupae is perfectly normal. The snack is considered good for the environment because the insect has finished making silk so would otherwise go to waste. Steamed or fried, they’re said to be crunchy on the outside and juicy within.



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Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

Bear pâté

Finland has a tradition of bear hunting so it’s not uncommon to see bear pâté, or karhu pâté as it’s known, on shelves. The Riipisen pâté is made with a mix of bear and pork meat, and serving suggestions include spreading on bread, as a tapas dish or in meatloaf.



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Bear soup

Another Finnish food, bärsuppe (bear soup) is a regular on restaurant menus. The tough meat is often stewed in soup to make it more tender, and it’s available to buy in a tin.



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Grass jelly

Grass jello cubes, which have a herbal flavor, are often used in East Asian desserts and drinks. They might be served with evaporated milk, on top of shaved ice or with fresh fruit, or in juices or sweet tea-like beverages. In the US you can find it in bubble tea shops or in Asian supermarkets mixed with sugar water or cold milk.



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Tamales

Everyone loves tamales, but how do you feel about tamales from a tin? Made with corn dough and filled with chili beef, they can be cooked on the hob or in the microwave. People say when the canned tamales are baked into a casserole with enchilada sauce, chopped onions, jalapeños and cheese, they’re not too bad.



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Haggis

Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish made from sheep’s liver, lungs and heart, plus oatmeal, onion, suet and seasoning. You won’t meet many Scots who haven’t tried haggis. Popular in restaurants and at celebrations (especially Burns Night at the end of January), it also comes in a can for busy people who don’t have time to cook.



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Reindeer pâté

This luxurious pâté is made from select cuts of Swedish reindeer, cognac and spices. Produced by British brand Edible and sold for $20, it caused a stir when it landed on shelves around Christmas in 2011. However, served on top of toast with a glass of brandy, it’s said to make a great festive snack.



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Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

All-day breakfast

A lazy person’s dream, this all-day breakfast tin is a meal in one, containing baked beans, sausages, mushrooms, pork and egg nuggets, and bacon. Heated in a microwave, it’s ready in under three minutes – and the reviews are great.



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Boiled peanuts

If you’re from the northern US states, Canada or the UK, you may be unfamiliar with boiled peanuts, the official snack of South Carolina. Roadside stands have been selling them for generations, boiled in salty water in their shells until the insides are soft and moreish. They tend to go off quickly, so you’ll also find them preserved in tins.



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Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

Nacho cheese

Snackers can prepare nachos, cheese fries and chili cheese dogs in record time with this canned creation. But what’s shocking about these tins of cheese is their huge size – we’re hoping they’re headed for a commercial kitchen and not a home.

Next check out the world’s most unusual chip flavors



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Cheddar cheese spread


You’ve seen cheese in a tube, a tub and now in a tin too. For cheese that doesn’t go off, canned Cheddar spread is a no-brainer. These tins were made by American brand Kraft and manufactured in Australia.



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Bread

To go with your canned bacon and cheese, you’re going to need some bread. Burnham & Morrill’s steamed raisin bread is a New England tradition many people will remember growing up with. More like cake than bread, it’s sweet and moist. It’s great sliced into thick discs and enjoyed with cream cheese or baked beans and frankfurters.



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Quail eggs

At this point nothing should surprise you, least of all eggs in a tin. Canned, hard-boiled quail eggs can be found in Asian supermarkets and replace eggs in any recipe that calls for them. We reckon they’d be great for making mini Scotch eggs, sliced in salads or on top of soup.

Now discover the food fads from the year you were born



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Escargots


Snails (escargots in French) have a limited fan base at the best of times. But there’s still a market for canned escargots in countries all over the world. If you’re feeling adventurous, purchase a tin. We recommended baking them in the oven in a garlicky, buttery, white wine sauce.



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Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

Fish balls

Popular in Iceland and Scandinavia in the 1980s, fish balls are a retro food made from puréed white fish. They usually come from a tin and are served with potatoes, cream sauce and veg.



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White fungus bird’s nest drink



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Christmas dinner

The perfect solution for gamers too busy to cook their own festive dinner, the Christmas Tinner is a three-course meal featuring mince pies, turkey and all the trimmings, produced by UK store GAME. Believed by some to be a hoax, the company claims it was released twice, most recently in 2019.



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Lasagna

No need to order takeout or spend hours in the kitchen for your favorite Italian dish. Chef Boyardee has created a version you can pour from a tin. It may not have the distinct layers and crispy crust you love, but it guarantees all the meat and cheese goodness you crave.

Now check out these amazing canned food recipes



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Canned insects

In many countries around the world, bugs and insects are considered everyday food. Thailand Unique sells Southeast Asia’s largest selection which includes bacon and cheese-flavored grasshoppers, barbecue bamboo worms, salted ants, and chocolate-covered superworms and silkworms. Give them a try, you might be pleasantly surprised.



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