Most fine food suppliers in Australia will stock a diverse selection of herbs, spices, grains, seasonings etc. But, they will also offer a wide range of grains, flours, beans and lentils. Beans remain an essential part of many Australian kitchens. These foods come in dried and canned forms. Thus, they can be easy to use in almost any kind of dish that you want to prepare. Health-conscious folks will probably not think twice about consuming beans. Beans can be among the most nutritious food products available these days. They can be a superb source of plant-based proteins. They remain rich in a variety of B vitamins. They also contain iron, folate, zinc and potassium.

Eating dried or canned beans can improve cholesterol levels and reduce blood sugar levels. It can also help you maintain a healthy gut. Both types of beans can be good sources of iron too. The body needs iron for producing red blood cells. In many cases, the sole difference between the nutritional content of canned beans and dried beans lies in its sodium content. Canned beans will typically contain higher amounts of sodium. Oftentimes, the amount of sodium will depend on the type of beans and the manufacturer.

When you need to assess which of canned or dried beans will suit your needs better, consider:

• The Time Available: Cooking dried beans will require more time and effort. Sorting, rinsing, soaking and cooking the dried beans could easily add an hour to your food preparation time. So, if you happen to be in a hurry, consider eating canned beans.

• The Taste and Flavour: When you cook dried beans at home, you will be able to control all the ingredients you put in it. For instance, you can add the right amount of seasoning to suit your tastebuds. Similarly, you can cook the beans for as long as you like too. This will ensure that the beans remain neither too soft nor too hard. In contrast, canned beans will usually be slightly mushy because of their high water content. The canned beans sold at many fine food product stores can be slightly salty too. Sure, you can reduce the saltiness of the canned beans by rinsing the beans and heating them in clear water. But, in terms of taste and texture, dried beans can be your best bet.

• The Convenience Levels: Opening a can of canned beans will always be much easier than preparing and cooking dried beans. However, cooking dried beans can be ideal if you want healthier beans that taste good too. The healthier alternative will always be to cook dried beans. But, when time becomes a constraint, there can be nothing easier than opening a can or two of canned beans. It can be worth highlighting that both types of beans contain vital nutrients that the body needs.

• The Cost: Experts opine that cooking dried beans can be more cost effective. When you cook dried beans, you will typically have more servings. In contrast, cans come in specific sizes. These cans typically appeal to individuals and small families. Hence, the servings per can will be smaller as opposed to a dish of dried beans.

For more information on fine food products, contact Takin today.