When I first heard of canned beef I really did not know what to think. There was a fat layer on the top when I opened the can and a lot of liquid, but the texture and smell of the meat were normal for beef. I ended up enjoying it and adding it to some of my recipes as an easy and money-saving alternative to cooking with fresh beef. You don’t have to jump on the canned-beef train, but I do want to show you why canned beef isn’t all that bad, and how you can use it in your kitchen.

Why does canned beef sound scary? Most likely it is because you just aren’t familiar with it. I bet you eat other sorts of canned beef without even realizing it:

• Spaghetti-O’s with meatballs
• Beef Ravioli
• Beef and vegetable soup
• Chili Mac

Now that we’ve got that covered, it doesn’t seem as scary- does it? With those meals, you pour the can into a pot, warm it up, and eat it. Canned beef is almost the same. Because the meat is already cooked, you just need to open the can, dispose of the fat layer, and drain the meat from the liquid. After that, you are good to go! Save time cooking some of your favorite dishes by starting with the pre-cooked meat.

Here are some Spend Smart. Eat Smart. recipes that call for ground beef:

• Skillet Lasagna
• 10 Minute Chili
• Tamale Pie
• Sloppy Joes
• Four Layer Supper

Here are other suggestions to add it to dishes:

• Beef Tacos
• Casserole Dishes
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Soups

You can find canned beef in some of your local food pantries, Walmart, Fareway, and online at Amazon.

What are you waiting for? Go try it out!

Hello! I am Brianna Montross, currently a graduate student and dietetic intern at Iowa State University. Some of my favorite things to do are write poetry, run, and find new ways to incorporate veggies in my cooking.