Buying Food in Cans
Posted by admin | Under Meal Economy Sunday Apr 20, 2008Canned foods are not used very often here in the Philippines, but they are used often enough to make it necessary for us to know how to purchase them.
The best and most complete guide to buying canned goods is the label on the can. The labels tell you the brand name, the contents, the address and name of the manufacturer, the weight or liquid measure of the contents, and the ingredients. Occasionally, recipes using the contents are given. The label also gives the style or form of the canned product. For example, it tells whether the pineapple is crushed, sliced, diced or cubed; if corn is whole kernel or cream style.
The large economy size in canned products is economical only if you can use the entire amount at once or in the very near future. Once out of the can, the food is subject to spoilage.
A bulging or leaking can is a sign a that the food inside is damaged. However, slight dents or stains on the label of the can will not harm the contents.
When you buy canned foods, compare brands. Some brands may have facier labels and thus higher prices than others, but the contents are the same. Others may have the same quality but there is a great difference in prices. By careful reading of labels and comparing of brands, great savings can be made.
In purchasing canned products, the way they will be used should be considered. For instance, if you will use pineapple for cookies or candy, crushed pineapple will server your purpose very well. But if you are making a salad or upside-down cake, The buy pineapple chunks or sliced pineapple. If you are on a tight budget, purchase less expensive grades. The sizes and pieces inside the can may not be uniform, but they have exactly the same food value as the most expensive brands.
