15 Grocery Store Canned Tuna Brands Ranked Worst To Best
Ilia Nesolenyi/Shutterstock By Lauren DeMello/Updated: Feb. 24, 2022 11:42 am EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. All canned tunas are created equal, right? Not exactly. In fact, it’s amazing how much of a variety you can find on the market, even between tunas with comparable ingredients! Think about it, you know bad tuna when you taste it, smell it, or stick a fork in it. On the other hand, great tuna is light, fresh, meaty, and versatile. It can yield the perfect tuna casserole, a mouthwatering tuna melt, or a delectable, creamy topping for butter crackers.
Understandably, with so many brands on the market these days, it can feel overwhelming to choose the best one. If you’ve grown bored of your current tuna brand and need to part ways, fear not. We’ve done all the hard work in order to spare you from the misery of the dreaded soupy tunas, the oily tunas, tunas with scales, the bone-dry tunas, and the tunas that smell rotten. Here’s our list of the best and worst tuna brands on the market today.
- Great Value Chunk Light Tuna in Vegetable Oil
Walmart
While we love that the Walmart brand Great Value is easily accessible, and in fact a really great value most of the time, you may want to leave this can of tuna on the shelf. This tuna takes on a bit of a mushy quality and is hard to drain all the oil from. If you’re looking to make tuna salad, the addition of more fat from mayo can be overwhelmingly greasy.
While the label states that the tuna is packed, it looks more like tuna bits floating in oil. Quality is a concern as one might find bone and skin mixed into their tuna, as other online reviewers had. Additionally, the ingredient list states that the tuna’s packed in soybean oil making the product inedible for those with soy allergies. However, the price literally can’t be matched. At $0.14 per ounce, this can of tuna is the cheapest on our list and likely the cheapest you’ll find anywhere (via Walmart).
- Great Value Chunk Light Tuna in Water
Walmart
Great Value’s tuna packed in vegetable oil wasn’t a winner in our book, but Great Value tuna packed in water is a much better choice. Not so surprisingly, this canned tuna ranks highest in overall value pricing out at just $0.14 per ounce, one of the lowest-priced fishes on our list (via Walmart). Because it’s packed in water, it has a light and fresh mouthfeel. The delicate texture makes it easy to flake and scoop onto crackers. Those with soy allergies should be aware this can of tuna contains soy though and there seems to be an overall inconsistent quality where some cans had bits of bone and skin in them. While bone and skin are edible, it may be off-putting for some, especially with regards to canned tuna. The lack of flip-top convenience may also be a negative factor for those who want to take it on the run.
- Wild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna
Walmart
Wild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna ranks as our all-around best can of tuna. Without added water or oil, you’ll only be tasting pure ingredients, which smell more like fresh seawater than pungent fish. We consider this product the freshest, most mild-tasting, and moist of all the canned tuna brands. Due to its meaty, rich texture, it makes for the best tuna casseroles and salads and because it’s not packed in oil, it doesn’t have a greasy mouthfeel or quality. One-hundred percent pure tuna and sea salt are the only ingredients that make it into each can, making it a versatile choice for various cooking methods and preparations.
Not planning to cook a casserole or mix with mayo? No problem! The pull-top function of the can also makes it a great choice for a quick and easy way to pop the top and eat it on the go. Sustainable sourcing practices make this brand a little extra delicious. At $0.57 per ounce, it’s moderately priced for the value it provides including transparency of ingredients, quality ingredients, portability, taste, and texture (via Walmart).
15 Grocery Store Canned Tuna Brands Ranked Worst To Best
Ilia Nesolenyi/Shutterstock
By Lauren DeMello/Updated: Feb. 24, 2022 11:42 am EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. All canned tunas are created equal, right? Not exactly. In fact, it’s amazing how much of a variety you can find on the market, even between tunas with comparable ingredients! Think about it, you know bad tuna when you taste it, smell it, or stick a fork in it. On the other hand, great tuna is light, fresh, meaty, and versatile. It can yield the perfect tuna casserole, a mouthwatering tuna melt, or a delectable, creamy topping for butter crackers.
Understandably, with so many brands on the market these days, it can feel overwhelming to choose the best one. If you’ve grown bored of your current tuna brand and need to part ways, fear not. We’ve done all the hard work in order to spare you from the misery of the dreaded soupy tunas, the oily tunas, tunas with scales, the bone-dry tunas, and the tunas that smell rotten. Here’s our list of the best and worst tuna brands on the market today.
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
Understandably, with so many brands on the market these days, it can feel overwhelming to choose the best one. If you’ve grown bored of your current tuna brand and need to part ways, fear not. We’ve done all the hard work in order to spare you from the misery of the dreaded soupy tunas, the oily tunas, tunas with scales, the bone-dry tunas, and the tunas that smell rotten. Here’s our list of the best and worst tuna brands on the market today.
15. Century Tuna
Century Tuna
14. Bumble Bee Lemon Sesame & Ginger
13. Great Value Chunk Light Tuna in Vegetable Oil
Walmart
While we love that the Walmart brand Great Value is easily accessible, and in fact a really great value most of the time, you may want to leave this can of tuna on the shelf. This tuna takes on a bit of a mushy quality and is hard to drain all the oil from. If you’re looking to make tuna salad, the addition of more fat from mayo can be overwhelmingly greasy.
While the label states that the tuna is packed, it looks more like tuna bits floating in oil. Quality is a concern as one might find bone and skin mixed into their tuna, as other online reviewers had. Additionally, the ingredient list states that the tuna’s packed in soybean oil making the product inedible for those with soy allergies. However, the price literally can’t be matched. At $0.14 per ounce, this can of tuna is the cheapest on our list and likely the cheapest you’ll find anywhere (via Walmart).
While the label states that the tuna is packed, it looks more like tuna bits floating in oil. Quality is a concern as one might find bone and skin mixed into their tuna, as other online reviewers had. Additionally, the ingredient list states that the tuna’s packed in soybean oil making the product inedible for those with soy allergies. However, the price literally can’t be matched. At $0.14 per ounce, this can of tuna is the cheapest on our list and likely the cheapest you’ll find anywhere (via Walmart).
12. Chicken of the Sea Infusions, Lemon & Thyme
11. Safe Catch White Albacore Tuna
Safe Catch
10. Trader Joe’s Albacore Tuna in olive oil
Trader Joe’s
In fact, the taste was very lackluster and the texture was broken and mushy. Unless you use a large amount of mayonnaise, it’s very hard to make the tuna stick together. Additionally, because the pieces were so small, many tuna bits drained out along with the oil. Despite the subpar taste and texture, one thing we appreciated was the simple ingredients they use. Although their olive oil wasn’t “extra,” it still had a pleasant taste, and the slight hint of salt enhanced the overall flavor.
9. Kirkland Albacore Solid White Tuna
Costco
For things like tuna salad or tuna casserole, this is a good option where the meatiness and texture of the tuna enhance the dish. And you won’t get an overly fishy smell or taste with this brand either, which is another reason we love it so much.
8. Freshé
7. Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light
Chicken of the Sea
6. Whole Foods 365 Albacore Wild Tuna
One of the best positives about this product was the minimal and recognizable ingredient list including just tuna and water. The quality and mild taste make it highly versatile for any tuna recipe you’re looking to create. Once drained, it appears to be slightly dryer in texture than other brands, so additional oil or moisture will likely be needed in order to yield a moist, tender-tasting tuna. However, the inherent texture is more firm and can hold up under the weight of heavier added ingredients like cheese and mayonnaise. One thing we didn’t love was the fact that it was difficult to open and required a can opener, making this product less portable and convenient than others.
5. StarKist Tuna Creations Honey BBQ
4. Genova Premium Yellowfin Tuna
3. Great Value Chunk Light Tuna in Water
Great Value’s tuna packed in vegetable oil wasn’t a winner in our book, but Great Value tuna packed in water is a much better choice. Not so surprisingly, this canned tuna ranks highest in overall value pricing out at just $0.14 per ounce, one of the lowest-priced fishes on our list (via Walmart). Because it’s packed in water, it has a light and fresh mouthfeel. The delicate texture makes it easy to flake and scoop onto crackers. Those with soy allergies should be aware this can of tuna contains soy though and there seems to be an overall inconsistent quality where some cans had bits of bone and skin in them. While bone and skin are edible, it may be off-putting for some, especially with regards to canned tuna. The lack of flip-top convenience may also be a negative factor for those who want to take it on the run.
2. Raincoast Trading Wild Albacore Tuna
1. Wild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna
Wild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna ranks as our all-around best can of tuna. Without added water or oil, you’ll only be tasting pure ingredients, which smell more like fresh seawater than pungent fish. We consider this product the freshest, most mild-tasting, and moist of all the canned tuna brands. Due to its meaty, rich texture, it makes for the best tuna casseroles and salads and because it’s not packed in oil, it doesn’t have a greasy mouthfeel or quality. One-hundred percent pure tuna and sea salt are the only ingredients that make it into each can, making it a versatile choice for various cooking methods and preparations.
Not planning to cook a casserole or mix with mayo? No problem! The pull-top function of the can also makes it a great choice for a quick and easy way to pop the top and eat it on the go. Sustainable sourcing practices make this brand a little extra delicious. At $0.57 per ounce, it’s moderately priced for the value it provides including transparency of ingredients, quality ingredients, portability, taste, and texture (via Walmart).
Not planning to cook a casserole or mix with mayo? No problem! The pull-top function of the can also makes it a great choice for a quick and easy way to pop the top and eat it on the go. Sustainable sourcing practices make this brand a little extra delicious. At $0.57 per ounce, it’s moderately priced for the value it provides including transparency of ingredients, quality ingredients, portability, taste, and texture (via Walmart).
