Do you use the liquid in tinned veg?

kitschkitty

Just wondering if and when people use the liquid in their tinned veg & beans etc.

I've heard some people say it's full of flavour, but I always drain it away (excluding beans in tomato sauce) as I think it's just full of sugar & salt (and possibly other additives). Just wondering what everyone else does.

fester

I always drain it and rinse the veg in a sieve. As you say it is mainly sugar and salt.

PixieDust

Drain and rinse here

CupOfChai

Generally heat in the tin liquid then drain off, unless I'm doing marrowfat peas to go with pie. Then I do as my mum, chuck in a pan to heat and add gravy granules to the liquid while it heats up to make gravy in the peas.

I drain but don't usually rinse, but wherever I can I do buy tins that are in only water without added sugar and salt as I think the extra sugar and salt absorb into the veg so even if you drain you're still eating it. Seems strange to be picky about that just after saying I turn it into gravy and eat it, but I only have that very occasionally.

kitschkitty

What about beans? I read one recipe (it was either a chilli or soup recipe, can't remember which) that said the liquid in the tin was particularly tasty? Anyone ever tried it? I must admit I've never even tried tasting it!

CupOfChai

What sort of beans? I always used to rinse kidney beans before using but last time I didn't (couldn't be bothered getting the sieve out) and it didn't seem any different, so maybe I won't bother with that in future. Again they're in just water though, no sugar or salt

Stephen_Leak

kitschkitty wrote: »

<snip> I always drain it away (excluding beans in tomato sauce) as I think it's just full of sugar & salt (and possibly other additives). <snip>

fester wrote: »

<snip> As you say it is mainly sugar and salt.

With all due respect, I think you should read the label.

I've just checked my tins of (ASDA SP) veg', and they all contain just the veg' and water.

fester

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

With all due respect, I think you should read the label.

I've just checked my tins of (ASDA SP) veg', and they all contain just the veg' and water.

Maybe Asda have a policy about that. I've just checked a few cans and they all contain salt, some have sugar and a few have various preserving agents and or flavourings.

Popperwell

I tend to use fresh water if boiling contents unless adding contents to something else where liquid is not required or is there already.

Peabel

If I'm making chilli I always throw in the liquid as well. I saw one of those Heston Blumenthal "Perfection" programmes about chilli. He was at a cook off in the USA. They aren't allowed to add kidney beans, but the chilli that won used the liquid out of the tins and then, when the winner went on to serve it later, she added the beans.

I can't say that I can tell the difference though, I don't think my palate is that sophisticated.

I love the idea about adding the gravy powder to the tinned peas, I never heard that before. I really have to try it. The only problem being, that because I live in Western Australia, these things are imported and cost a fortune. To make tinned peas in gravy (I'm assuming marrowfats) would cost me about €6 (Australian dollars):eek:

Peabel

Peabel

Sorry, I should have said that that would be for a family of four, not just for me personally.