A few years back I tried some of the canned pork from CostCo and was less than enthused. Was up there this weekend and saw a new brand there and figured it might be worth investigating.
I really have a love/hate relationship with canned meats. I love their utility, value, and logistical help. I just hate the way they smell. I have said it before and it’s true: all canned meat, when you open the container, smells like cat food.
Nonetheless, man does not live on canned chicken and canned beef alone. So I picked up a sleeve of these cans and will try them sometime during the week. Probably in a stir fry or some similar dish.
Of course, you can always can your own meat and save a few bucks but I rather like the compact package of a can like this. If I were going to store a fairly large quantity of canned meat, home canning would be my first choice since this stuff winds up running about $4.64/#. But for a grab-and-go sort of situation, it would certainly be more transportable than a large glass jar.
Some rice, a can of this stuff, a jar of some type of sauce (Kung Pao, perhaps), some vegetables (canned or freeze dried), and a little sesame oil and you’ve really got something going on.
Anyway, when I crack one of these open I’ll report back and let you know whats what.
I’ve tried this brand and enjoyed it. Like you say, once you heat it up, it’s pretty good. It’s like NC style BBQ or carnitas in consistency. Last meal we made was substituting it for the tuna in a Tuna Helper meal and it was very good.
Thanks, I just ordered some for stores along with some jerky.
https://steadfastprovisions.com/
have not tried them yet as they are out of stock, apparently its made in batches and is ready when its ready…
Upcoming Review Appreciated.
I’ve been sticking with the SPAM Turkey, and canned hams for pork, after the Costco Chicken and beef, to fill the meat cards on the Apocalypse Menu.
I’ve also noticed chicken and pulled pork in retort pouches lately, just like tuna.
Winner.
Somebody apparently told them what MREs have been doing for 40 years.
I actually met the guy that runs the company that does that retort packaging. They’re an MRE company but they have a whole division that does nothing but retort packaging for other vendors. Its really a fascinating business model theyve got.
I’m just happy I can pack lightweight retort-packed meat in a car/3-day go bag without being stuck with only tuna, or resorting to entrees from Meals Rejected by Everyone.
I made a car pack up once with cans.
The TL;DR version is called Bag Of Hernias.
Retort packs are basically <½ the weight, between leaving out the metal can and the water filler, which also means a smaller and more compact pack.
The plastic retort pouch type of packaging or plastic cups with pull tops may be slowly supplanting the trad tin cans containers just from cost to manufacture factors as well as package shrinkage inflation methods. Much of the consumer market is now renter class proles who buy single serve, heat and eat products and are not at all like the grandma’s pantry type of folks with rows upon rows of canned goods. Retorts do save on pack weight when in the bush playing Wolverines so there is that quality. Canned meats as a category really should be stocked sufficiently for they are needed for the fats and protein fuel to supplement that other peasant gruel in storage. As correctly mentioned, have ample sauces or seasoning to dope up your food to taste preferences. Every infantry grunt worth their salt always packed in some tobasco or such no matter how sporty the combat zone was they got dropped into.
Stay well fed and frosty.
Cool. Thanks for the shout out for canned protein. These and the foil envelopes are compact durable meals that pack easily.
Add BBQ Sauce. We just home canned 54 lbs of beef. Gotta love All American pressure caners!
I have used the Costco Pulled Pork w/BBQ sauce added and it is pretty good on a bun and some pickles! The “good by” date is 2025 too, so it’ll do just fine.
I doubt that there is anything that can be done with the smell from factory canned meats but if you doing your own canning, adding lemon juice or food grade citric acid will take care of the smell.
I haven’t tried deal with the factory canned meat smell by adding tomato sauce, vinegar or other acid to it. Might help.
For myself…most canned foods are simply about being a safe way to store food long term. When we last tried commercial canned pork my wife was than enthused, but I/we don’t need enthused, just edible. I canned some myself and know it’s going to be really good in some enchiladas.