These Canned Veggies Are Just As Flavorful As Fresh

Canned vegetables aren't just a killer tool for upping your store of shelf-stable foods for power outages. They are also a genuinely great way to feed yourself and your family nutritiously. Unlike the list of mostly-offbeat discontinued canned foods, some of which are head-scratching humdingers, canned veg is a perennial pantry staple. While the fresh produce in your fridge tends to wilt by the time you've closed the door, sometimes even just after putting it away, canned veggies have a long shelf life. And, if you choose the right canned vegetables, there is absolutely zero trade-off between fresh and preserved. Just ask Patrick Ochs, Corporate Executive Chef for INK Entertainment.

Ochs says that artichokes are a leading example of a vegetable that thrives with canning. The best canned produce is "just as nutritious," since it is "processed at [...] peak ripeness, preserving [...] vitamins and minerals," and artichokes fit the bill, he told Foodie exclusively. Both the taste and texture of this veggie are indistinguishable from buying whole, he states. As a bonus, canned artichokes are already cleaned and prepped, eliminating the most annoying part of dealing with raw 'chokes.

What is Ochs's favorite use for preserved artichokes? "Canned or jarred artichokes are fantastic for dishes such as salads or pasta," he observes. Grilled artichokes are one of the coolest canned ingredients to upgrade a plain burger, especially with some Dijon mustard and Pecorino cheese. And who doesn't love a classic spinach and artichoke dip for football Sundays or summer cookouts? Using canned artichokes makes cooking so, so simple.

You need not even sweat the imagination it takes to add artichokes to a meal. With a little white wine, lemon, and butter, you'll find that canned artichokes are a tender, dreamy veggie side that compliments any protein and tastes much more expensive and complex than it actually is. Taking a more nuanced approach to seasoning veggies means treating each type of veg differently, depending on its unique attributes. Artichokes sing when paired with acid, garlic, and/or creamy ingredients, so feel free to experiment!