Baked Beans, What are They and How do you Eat Yours?

The beans used in baked beans originate from North America. One train of thought is that the recipe originated from the North of France where bean stews were popular, the recipe travelled to America and changed and adapted with local traditions of cooking.

For most British people baked beans tick all the boxes, comfort food, convenient, cheap and readily available. Very few people dislike them and everyone has their own way of eating them. But what exactly are baked beans?

In the UK baked beans refers to tinned beans in a tomato sauce. The beans are actually stewed in tomato sauce and the beans used are usually haricot beans. The recipe for the sauce differs from brand to brand, although some sort of sugar is usually added. British Heninz Baked Beans list the ingredients as - beans, tomatoes, water, sugar, modified corn flour, spirit vinegar and natural favors. They are suitable for vegetarians and high in fiber.

There are several ways baked beans are eaten in the UK. The most common and easily prepared is beans on toast. This is eating for any meal or as snack time. Everyone has their own twist on how they prepare it.

The first item is the bread, white or brown, buttered or not - it is down to personal preference. Once the bread is toasted and the beans are warmed, the beans are poured over the toast. Some like to add worcestershire sauce to the beans during warming, others a little bit of butter to thicken the sauce or brown sauce to add flavor. Variations in eating beans on toast include, with scrambled egg and with grated cheese.

Another popular way to eat beans is as part of an English cooked breakfast. This would also include fried bread, fried egg, scrambled egg, grilled tomatoes, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, black pudding or toast.

Thirdly, baked beans are an option at the fish and chip shop. Many people will eat fish, chips and beans as a meal from the local fish and chop shop take out Or make their own version at home.

Bakes beans are also used as a topping for jacket/baked potatoes.

In America baked beans are a popular choice with barbecue food and beans with pork sausages are very popular. It is also possible to buy baked beans in a cheesy tomato sauce.

One of the most popular brands of baked beans in the UK are Heinz. Heinz began importing tinned beans in the late 1880's from the US and over time the recipe has adapted to meet popular British tastes. Today Heinz make a large selection of bean flavors, as well as the traditional type. They also come in a range of packaging and are not just limited to cans. They are available in individual portion pouches and microwaveable pouches.

Other popular brands are HP Beans, Branston and Supermarket own brand. Beans have become a staple food for students and those on a limited income. Most Supermarkets include them in their value range.

Baked Beans in the US tend to be sweeter. In some regions beans were traditionally flavored with maple syrup or molasses and cooked with salt pork in a bean pot in a brick oven for 6 - 8 hours. Alternatively some regions add yellow mustard for a tangier taste. Some of the popular brands in the US are Bush's, Van Camps, Campbell's and B&M.

US beans tend to be of a more mushy texture than British ones and usually contain brown sugar.

Most people warm canned beans on a low heat in a saucepan on the stove top. As they are already cooked they just need to be gently warmed. If cooked at a too hot a temperature or for to long they become mushy and dry out.

The health benefits of beans are debated. Often they are dismissed as healthy because they have gone through processing to be canned and have sugar added. Another train of thought is that they are high in fiber, high in protein and help lower cholesterol.