A food expert has explained when budget tinned beans are a better buy than their more expensive counterparts. Kathryn Bruton, who shares affordable recipes with more than 17,000 followers on TikTok, said she mostly saves money on beans and believes others should too.
Cheap tinned beans are great value
In a video filmed in a supermarket aisle, Bruton pointed to cheaper tinned beans priced at around 45p each, describing them as "absolutely delicious" and "mega store cupboard fillers." She noted that one tin can provide at least two meals for a single person, or one if they are particularly hungry.
Bruton said she always keeps these cheaper options in her cupboard, highlighting their versatility across many different types of meals.
When pricey jars are worth it
She also addressed the more expensive beans, which come in resealable glass jars rather than tins and cost £3.25 each, compared with between 45p and around £1.35 for tinned equivalents. Bruton said the quality of the jarred beans is great, but the main advantage is the packaging.
"For me, it takes the pressure off me, getting through the whole jar all in one sitting or over the course of two days," she said. She explained that she opens a jar, keeps it in the fridge, and works through it during the week when cooking for herself.
Viewers share their own tips
Commenters offered their own advice. One suggested buying dried beans instead, saying they are even cheaper and taste the same once hydrated. Another recommended reusing washed mayonnaise jars to store beans and other food, avoiding plastic containers.
One user said they would never pay over £3 for a jar of beans when a 45p tin does the job, while another noted that all the beans contain three to five ingredients and should simply be beans and water. Further comments described tinned pulses as one of the most underrated foods for health, with another user saying they live on them and add them to everything.
