Tasted And Reviewed: The Finest Canned Peas

If you grew up eating canned veggies like we did, you’ve probably had some bad-tasting peas in your day. Luckily, vegetable processing and packaging has advanced significantly in recent years, and canned peas are now nothing to scoff at!

We tasted and rated 12 different canned pea brands and kinds based on a variety of factors ranging from flavor and texture to appearance and nutrition. After we explore which five options made our top five and why, we’ll go through several canned pea recipes and address the question, “Are canned peas beneficial for you?” finally and for all.

Ranking the 5 Best Canned Peas

We thoroughly examined the following brands and kinds to identify the finest canned peas:

• Organic Sweet Peas-No Salt Added 365 Whole Foods Market
• Del Monte Sweet Peas, Fresh Cut
• Farm Choice Del Monte No Salt Added Sweet Peas
• Organic Sweet Peas at Full Circle Market
• Green Giant Sweet Peas have 50% less sodium than regular sweet peas.
• Green Valley Organics, No Salt Added Peas
• Organic Sweet Peas-No Salt Added by Good & Gather
• Extremely Young Tiny Delicious Peas La Sueur
• 50 percent less sodium in Le Sueur Very Young Tiny Sweet Peas
• Sweet Peas by Libby
• Sweet Peas Libby’s Naturals-No Salt or Sugar Added
• Organic Belfiore Green Peas, Trecampi

Before testing, all peas were drained, washed in cold water, then reheated in the microwave for approximately 1 minute on high. The nutrition information on this page were obtained from the cans’ labels and are based on a normal cup portion of drained peas.

Whilst some people may like to boil and serve the canned peas in their liquid, we chose not to. The additional liquid within the cans is a big source of extra salt and sugar, and it also has a sharper metallic taste in our experience.

Moreover, all of the peas we tested came in a BPA-free, recyclable metal cana definite plus!

1. Best Tasting Canned Peas: Libby’s Sweet Peas

Taste is undoubtedly the most crucial criterion to consider when it comes to canned vegetables. You won’t eat them if they don’t taste nice! Although canned peas cannot be compared to fresh or frozen peas, they may provide a delightful, shelf-stable solution, allowing you to enjoy green vegetables regardless of season or how much time you have for meal prep.

When we speak about taste, we evaluate both flavor and texture, since these two variables have a strong impact on one another. Fragrance also plays a role in the overall flavor experience, as we discovered that certain canned peas have a distinct, somewhat foul aroma when you first open the can. Despite our thorough rinse with cold water, none of the extra-fragrant scented peas tasted quite right.

About Libby’s Sweet Peas

This takes us to our testing of Libbys Sweet Peas, where we discovered why this brand is a classic. Texturally, the peas fared well since they had a wonderful creamy inside with a distinct skin. This enabled each individual pea to stay intact, and the bunch as a whole did not become mushy. These peas were delightfully sweet and seasoned, as well as shockingly nutty!

Sadly, this delectability comes at a cost. In comparison to many other brands, Libbys Sweet Peas had the second highest salt content and the highest sugar content of all the types we evaluated. Moreover, the nutritional content of these peas is minimal, with just 4% DV of iron, 2% DV of calcium, and 2% DV of potassium. Although they are not insignificant, they are the baseline levels for all canned peas across the boardthere are no added nutrients here.

Pros:

• Among of the 12 kinds tested, this one had the best overall taste and texture.
• There is no strange metallic taste or odour when you open the can.
• The peas keep their spherical form, and there were just a few crushed or broken peas in the whole can.
• Libbys boasts that their peas are cultivated in the United States!
• If you’re looking for recipe ideas, there’s one right on the label.

Cons:

• One half-cup portion of these peas has 300 milligrams of salt and 5 grams of sugar, which are among the highest quantities found in any of the types we examined.
• Although Libbys peas do contain trace quantities of iron, calcium, and potassium, they are insignificant in comparison to other types.

2. Best Looking Canned Peas: Trecampi Organic Belfiore Green Peas

They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but in this case, we’re completely judging peas by their looks! Because of the heat treatment and preservatives used during the canning process, canned vegetables may sometimes develop a drab, murky appearance. While appearance does not necessarily affect the taste or viability of the peas themselves (some of our testing revealed that the least appealing looking peas tasted the best! ), it does have an impact on how nice they look when tossed into that pasta primavera salad you plan on making for the neighborhood barbecue.

About Trecampi Organic Belfiore Green Peas

If appearance is most important to you, we find that the Trecampi brand delivers hands down. These canned peas are delightfully smooth, round pearls, and every pea in the can was completely intact, holding its form as it was moved from the can, mixed, and served.

Although not the brilliant green of fresh peas (which no canned peas can reach), these peas had a good deep green color all their own rather than the washed out shade of canned food that many of the other types had. As an added bonus, these peas came in second place in terms of flavor! Although they may not be the best tasting, they certainly have a good flavor and look good doing it.

But, the beautiful appearance and flavor of these peas imply that the nutritional profile is not as good as it might be, since these peas are also fairly rich in salt.

Pros:

• From color and form to size and texture, these peas look excellent right out of the can!
• Because of their size and shape, they are great for eating on their own or incorporating into a dish.
• These are the second best tasting peas we tried, in addition to looking terrific.
• Trecampi Organic Belfiore Green Peas also have the lowest sugar level (just 2 grams per serving) and the greatest fiber content (5 grams per serving)!
• These peas are also certified organic and non-GMO!

Cons:

• Unfortunately, these peas are also heavy in salt. The highest, in fact, at 320 milligrams per serving!
• Despite the fact that we discovered these peas at Whole Foods and Amazon, they are an imported product and so may not be as readily accessible as other brands and kinds.

3. Best Organic Canned Peas: Full Circle Market Organic Sweet Peas

Ok. What’s the big deal about organic food? What exactly does it mean?

According to the USDA, an organic product satisfies specific standards for how that item is cultivated and processed, beginning with the soil and continuing through any extra substances thrown in along the route. This is critical! Organic farming not only protects customers from potentially dangerous chemicals in their meals, but it also promotes long-term sustainability and quality. That being said, if you have a choice between non-organic peas and no peas at all, go with the non-organic! In conclusion, veggies are healthy.

Although it is true that organic items are often more costly than non-organic ones, this is not always the case. While looking for canned peas, we were pleasantly surprised by the variety of organic alternatives offered alongside the standard brands in the canned vegetable department. What could be better? In many situations, the pricing were similar!

About Full Circle Market Organic Sweet Peas

Several of the organic alternatives disappointed us in terms of flavor and color, but we discovered that the Full Circle Market brand was by far the finest form of organic canned peas we tried. The taste is sweet and green, and the peas are well-textured.

However, these peas, like many others, have a large quantity of added sugar and salt. Moreover, these peas seemed to be more prone to squishing than other, more robust types. But, part of the bargain with organic food is that since it is grown without the use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides, the product is destined to be less than flawless. With this in mind, we tolerate your flaws, you somewhat mushy peas!

Pros:

• Certified organic means you won’t be exposed to dangerous chemicals or supporting unethical agricultural methods.
• These peas are non-GMO, as is usually the case with organic goods.
• Organic Sweet Peas from Full Circle Market have a pleasant and vegetal taste that is not unduly processed.
• These peas provide an extra iron boost, with 6% of your DV in just one half-cup serving!

Cons:

• The Full Circle Market Organic Sweet Peas were less optimal in form and fell apart more easily than other types.
• With 300 milligrams of sodium and 5 grams of sugar per half-cup serving, the salt and sugar concentrations are both very high.

4. Best Low-Sodium Canned Peas: Good & Gather No-Salt-Added Sweet Peas

Let’s be honest: salt is wonderful. It not only improves the flavor of practically everything it is put to, but it also functions as a natural preservative. As a result, it stands to reason that a lot of canned food, including peas, has a lot of it. As you may have seen from our previous top pea selections, one half-cup portion of normal canned peas may contain more than 300 milligrams of salt, which translates to about 15% of the recommended daily value!

Fortunately, several manufacturers offer reduced sodium or no salt added versions of their peas. The difficulty is that not all of them are edible.

About Good & Gather No-Salt-Added Sweet Peas

We chose this Good & Gather brand (from Target) reduced or low-sodium canned pea type as the winner after tasting seven reduced or low-sodium variations.

These peas have a low salt content of 15 milligrams per half-cup serving and a low sugar content of 3 grams. Some low-sodium peas, or low-sodium dishes in general, may attempt to compensate for the lack of salt by adding sugar or other enhancers, but this is not the case here. Moreover, these peas are certified organic!

Although you’ll like that these peas have a clear, clean, sweet pea flavor, you may be shocked at how simple they taste without all of the extra things in the can. After all, the label’s sole components are peas and water! This allows you to season and modify the peas to your preference.

Pros:

• The salt content is almost non-existent, with just 15 milligrams per serving!
• These peas also have a low sugar level, with just 3 grams.
• Good & Gather Organic No-Salt-Added Sweet Peas are non-GMO and certified organic.
• Prepared from peas cultivated in the United States!

Cons:

• Although the flavor is wonderful, it is fairly simple. That is, you will almost certainly need to season these peas with salt or other spices.
• Unfortunately, these peas are not the most attractive. Although their form is appealing, their hue seems to be more golden than that of other types.

5. Best All-Around Canned Peas: Green Valley Organics No-Salt-Added Peas

As you can see, there are several elements to consider while determining the finest canned peas! Several of these features regrettably compete with one another, in the sense that the best-tasting peas are also the least nutritious, and organic peas may not look as flawless as non-organic varieties.

While shopping for canned peas, you may base your decision on the qualities that are most important to you, such as flavor, appearance, organic, or low-sodium. But what if you’re simply searching for a nice brand of canned sweet peas in general?

About Green Valley Organics No-Salt-Added Peas

In our hunt for a can of peas that combines the best of both worlds, we came across Green Valley Organics. These not only check the boxes for organic and reduced sodium, but they also taste and look pretty darn nice!

These peas have a green and grassy flavor that is less nutty than some of the other brands that scored better on our taste rankings. The color and look were likewise decent, but not outstanding. Since this brand adheres to organic sourcing and processing, you can be certain that the peas in your can were cultivated responsibly and with care.

These peas, like other low-sodium types, may be a touch bland tasting, and will most likely take a few modifications from you to get them as good as youd want. Moreover, although they have good form and integrity, these peas aren’t the most visually appealing, particularly if you’re trying for them to be the star of a meal.

Pros:

• No-Salt-Added Green Valley Organics Peas are made out of simply peas and water, with no additional salt, sugar, or other substances!
• This brand’s peas, as well as all of its goods, are certified organic and non-GMO.
• These peas have just 15 mg of salt per serving!

Cons:

• Many people may see these peas as bland, implying that they will need additional spicing to be completely appreciated.
• Sadly, they were not the most visually appealing canned peas we tasted, so they may be better blended into a recipe rather than consumed on their own as a meal.

How to Cook Canned Peas

Canned peas are already completely cooked since the activity of heating and closing the cans is what keeps them fresh and shelf stable. As a result, they may potentially be eaten cold! In our opinion, though, cold peas are not the best way to enjoy them on their own, so if you want to use canned peas as a standalone meal or as a key component in anything, we strongly advise heating them first.

Here are a few recipes that use canned peas:

• To make a fast and simple confetti salad, combine drained and washed canned peas with other canned beans (also drained and rinsed) or vegetables such kidney beans, pinto beans, cannellini beans, chickpeas, and canned corn. Mix the mixture in a simple vinaigrette composed of olive oil and lemon juice, and season to taste with salt and crushed black pepper.
• Rinse the peas well and softly sauté them in olive oil over medium heat. Toss the peas with butter and garlic powder just before serving. The key combo for making canned peas taste nice is butter and garlic!
• To make a fast pasta salad, combine drained and washed canned peas, cooked pasta, shredded carrots, sliced black olives, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. If desired, season with crushed red chili flakes or a few dashes of spicy sauce.

Are Canned Peas Good for You?

Canned veggies often have a poor name, as though they aren’t particularly healthy and that fresh or frozen vegetables should always be preferred. That is not the case!

It is true that canning vegetables reduces nutritional value since several antioxidants present in brilliantly colored, fresh vegetables are lost by heat exposure. But, even after the canning process, peas retain a variety of additional useful components.

Most canned peas include a high fiber content, a few grams of protein, and a variety of vitamins and minerals such as calcium, potassium, vitamin A, and iron! Certain brands provide a greater nutritional boost than others, which is most likely related to the way they are processed rather than the peas themselves.

Are Canned Peas Good for Pets?

So we’ve proved that canned peas are excellent for you, but what about our four-legged friends? Every now and then, you can come across a brand of pet food that includes a few vegetables, such as peas, but are they simply ordinary old peas? Can dogs consume canned peas? Can cats eat sweet peas from any can found in the supermarket?

Although peas are safe for dogs to consume and may provide them with essential vitamins and minerals, you should be cautious about the canned peas you serve them. It is not recommended to incorporate any canned peas into your pet’s food since many of them include high amounts of salt, which may be harmful to an animal’s health. If you want to sneak some vegetables into your best friend’s meal, use peas with no added salt.

 

Ranking the Best Canned Peas: Final Thoughts

We discovered some startling results after evaluating 12 different canned pea varietals. Surprisingly, we discovered that the large brands that have dominated the canned vegetable industry for years (think Del Monte and Green Giant) were not the winners in the majority of our categories. Smaller kinds, such as Green Valley Organics and Trecampi, truly stole the show.

The taste, texture, and nutritional profiles of our top canned pea types demonstrated to us that canned sweet peas may be excellent and are somewhat underappreciated as an exceptionally flexible ingredient that can be used in any recipe for a fast supper or side dish!