As a proud supporter of the Beans is How campaign, which aims to double global consumption of beans, peas, lentils and pulses by 2028, it’s an understatement to say I’m a huge fan of beans. They’re a hero vegetable that’s full of protein, complex carbs, fibre and micronutrients, and they have myriad health benefits. But that’s not all: beans are also great for planetary health, not least because they need little fertiliser or water to grow.
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Once viewed as cheap filler, beans, especially jarred ones, are now regarded as something of a delicacy. They’re more costly than canned, sure, but they’re also softer, have a signature, creamy texture and a more delicate flavour. I tested all the beans cold and straight from the jar, and rated them on flavour, texture, shape, sourcing transparency, certifications, additives and value.
The best jarred butter beans
Best overall:Bold Bean Co queen butter beans
★★★★☆
An extremely large and plump, beige-yellow Spanish heirloom bean called piekny jas. Tender skins and a notably creamy, buttery texture. Sweet, with a delicate, nuanced flavour – among the best I’ve tasted. No preservatives, B Corp-certified and one Great Taste star.
Best bargain:Mr Organic organic butter beans
★★★★☆
A large, cream-coloured Italian bean with a delicate, sweet and nutty flavour. Less cooked than most, so a little firmer, but still has a creamy-starchy texture. Incredible value for a preservative-free, Soil Association-certified organic product. B Corp-certified, too.
And the rest …
Monjardin organic butter beans
★★★★★
A well-seasoned, plump organic bean from Navarra, and a well-deserved “best splurge”. Ticks all the boxes for a beautifully nuanced, mineral-earthy flavour, soft and creamy texture – and for organic certification.
M&S Collection giant butter beans
★★★★☆
Plump, slightly golden beans with soft skins and gorgeously creamy insides. A pleasant, nutty taste with umami mushroom notes. No preservatives: just beans, water and salt. Packed in Spain with beans from various countries.
Epicure giant butter beans
★★★☆☆
A medium-sized, off-white bean with a soft skin and creamy interior. Less tightly packed than some; beautifully soft, sweet and rounded, with good integrity and shape. Packed in Spain and contains preservatives.
Holland & Barrett butter beans
★★★☆☆
A medium-sized, creamy-white, plump organic bean with a firm, smooth skin and the nice, starchy texture of a less-cooked bean. Perfectly formed with a familiar umami flavour. Just beans and water, with no added salt.
La Pedriza judión giant butter beans
★★★☆☆
A creamy, yellow, medium-sized bean. Very flavourful, with a wonderful, umami-vegetal complexity. Tender skin and silky but textural interior. Grown and packed in Spain. Contains preservatives.
Perelló judión beans
★★★☆☆
Humungous, plump, snow-white and ultra-creamy. Very tender, soft-cooked beans with a salty but subtle mineral-umami flavour. A simple ingredient list: Polish beans, water, salt and sulphites. A great plant-based centrepiece.
Belazu judión butter beans
★★★☆☆
A fat, medium-sized bean grown in La Rioja by a fourth-generation producer. Sweet, with a subtle, complex flavour and a hint of bitterness. Contains sulphites, citric and ascorbic acid.
Navarrico judión butter beans
★★★☆☆
Impressively large (these are twice the size of others in this test), shortbread-yellow beans with soft skins and soft, creamy interiors. A touch floury, but sweet, and with a solid umami flavour foundation. A simple ingredients list: beans (and sulphites), water and salt.
Source:
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