Dried, tinned or jarred beans: jarred options scored best in taste tests.

Chefs and nutritionists are promoting more bean consumption for health and environmental reasons, and a kitchen test of chickpeas, butter beans and kidney beans found jarred beans scored highest for taste while costing more than tinned or dried options.

Beans are being promoted by chefs, retailers and nutritionists for health, environmental and cost reasons. At the end of 2025, several celebrity chefs backed a campaign to double bean consumption in Britain by 2028 and many supermarkets pledged more sales and advertising. Beans are rich in fibre, protein and several vitamins and minerals, and a fibre-rich diet is reported to reduce risks of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and colon cancer. The article tested dried, tinned and jarred chickpeas, butter beans and kidney beans to compare convenience, cost and flavour. Key findings: - A late-2025 campaign led by prominent chefs and supported by major supermarkets aims to increase bean consumption by 2028. - Beans are high in fibre and protein; the article cites an estimate that half a tin gives about 10 g of protein and a quarter to a third of daily recommended fibre, and that a fibre-rich diet is linked to a 16–24% lower risk of certain diseases. - Nutritionally there is reported to be little difference between tinned, jarred and cooked dried beans; tinned beans may contain more salt, which can be reduced by draining and rinsing, and common additives such as calcium chloride or ascorbic acid are described as safe. - Dried beans are the cheapest but need soaking and long cooking; tinned beans are the most common and often cost under a pound; jarred beans are positioned as premium, more costly options and have become a growing category in some stores. - In the author’s kitchen tests of chickpeas, butter beans and kidney beans, jarred beans were consistently rated best for taste and texture, with tinned and dried options varying by dish. Summary: The article reports that jarred beans delivered the best taste and texture in the tests but were notably more expensive, while dried beans are the most economical and tinned beans are a widely available, convenient middle ground. There is growing industry and chef-led interest in boosting bean consumption for health and environmental reasons. Undetermined at this time.