# How do you make tinned beans taste like you meant it? Canonical: https://zestasy.com/food/make-tinned-beans-taste-good/ Section: Food · Updated: 2026-10-13 · Publisher: Zestasy Treat tinned beans as cooked beans waiting for flavour: warm them gently in plenty of olive oil that has already had garlic, herbs or chilli in it, crush a few to make the liquid creamy, season properly, then finish with lemon or vinegar, fresh herbs and a thread of raw oil. A little honest attention makes them taste like a plan. A tin of beans is one of the great conveniences of modern life: cooked and ready whenever you are. They don't need apologising for. They just need the same attention we would give beans cooked from dry, which is mostly about what happens in the pan in the last few minutes. ## To rinse or not to rinse? It depends on the dish. - **Rinse** when you want the beans to stay distinct and the flavour clean: salads, crispy chickpeas, anything dressed. Drain, rinse under cold water, let them drip dry. - **Keep some of the liquid** when you want a creamy, saucy result: beans on toast, a quick stew, pasta e fagioli. The liquid is thick and starchy and helps make a silky sauce. Taste it first; some brands are saltier than others, so adjust your seasoning to match. There is no rule. We often drain, keep the liquid in a cup, and add it back by the splash. ## Warm them in flavoured oil This is where the flavour comes from. Before the beans go in, give the oil something to carry: - Garlic, sliced and warmed gently until pale gold. - A sprig of rosemary or sage, fried until crisp. - Chilli flakes, a pinch of fennel seed, a bay leaf. - A spoon of tomato paste fried until it darkens. - Sliced onion or a soffritto, if you have time (/food/what-is-a-soffritto/). Then add the beans and let them sit in that oil over low heat, stirring now and then, until they are hot through and glossy. Be generous with the oil: beans drink it up. ## Mash some for body Once warm, crush a spoonful or two of the beans against the side of the pan with the back of a spoon. Stir. The mashed beans thicken the liquid into something creamy, and the whole pan suddenly looks like a dish rather than a tin that has been heated up. Add a splash of the reserved liquid or water if it gets too thick. ## Season properly Taste, and salt. Beans can take more than you expect. Black pepper too. ## Finish with acid and freshness Warm, creamy, garlicky beans are rich; they need waking up at the end. - A squeeze of lemon, or a dash of red wine or sherry vinegar. - A big handful of chopped parsley, basil or dill. - Grated lemon zest. - A thread of raw olive oil over the top (/food/finishing-with-olive-oil/). - Grated Parmesan or crumbled feta. ## Three ways we eat them - **On toast:** white beans in garlic and rosemary oil, half crushed, on grilled bread rubbed with garlic, with lemon and lots of oil. - **With greens:** cannellini and wilted chard or kale, chilli and Parmesan, plus bread for the juices. - **Bean salad:** rinsed chickpeas or borlotti dressed while warm in vinegar and oil, with red onion, herbs and something crunchy. ## FAQ ### Which beans are most versatile? Cannellini and other white beans are creamy and take almost any flavour. Chickpeas hold their shape and crisp up well. Borlotti are rich and earthy, and black beans love chilli and lime. ### Why do our tinned beans taste a bit "tinny"? Rinsing helps, as do the flavoured oil, a proper seasoning and an acidic finish. Once they've had those, the tin is hard to detect. ### Can we crisp tinned chickpeas? Yes, but dry them very well first and give them space in a hot pan or oven. /food/crispy-chickpeas/ goes through it. ### Are jarred beans different from tinned? We find jarred beans can be plumper and creamier, and they often cost a little more. Both are worth having; use whichever you like. ## Related - [What should you keep in the pantry for quick weeknight dinners?](https://zestasy.com/food/weeknight-pantry/) - [What can you cook when the fridge is nearly empty?](https://zestasy.com/food/what-to-cook-when-the-fridge-is-empty/) - [How do you get chickpeas properly crispy?](https://zestasy.com/food/crispy-chickpeas/) - [How do you make a vegetarian dinner feel like a proper meal?](https://zestasy.com/food/vegetarian-dinner-feel-like-a-meal/) - [How do you make lentils interesting?](https://zestasy.com/food/make-lentils-interesting/) - [All Food answers](https://zestasy.com/food/)