Grab a can opener, sauce pan, and a spoon. On our very first published episode of Quest for the Best, we are trying out Baked Beans.
Which beans are we trying today?
Bush’s Original
VanCamp’s Pork and Beans
Ranch Style Brand Beans
HyVee Pork & Beans
Serious Bean Company Southern Mustard Q BBQ Beans
Serious Bean Company Sweet and a Bit Sassy Dr. Pepper Baked Beans
B&M Original Baked Beans
Who is on this beautiful bean quest?
Nate, enjoyer of beans.
Alan, the bean master of the universe.
Matt, the guy who is alright with beans.
Amy, all-around bean lover.
And of course, all of our subscribers and those who just stumbled upon the show. Thanks for joining us today.
The History of the Baked Bean
The true origin of the baked bean is not really known, however the most widely-held theory is that baked beans are a Native American cuisine. Beans were baked in earthenware pots with maple syrup and sometimes with different meats, such as venison. This meal was important because it had high protein, calories, and fat content.
Baked beans as we know them today, fresh from the can, are made with navy beans, which was the same type of beans in indigenous American recipes.
Different areas of the world and of the United states vary on how they prepare their beans. However, the area that people in the states tend to associate with beans is Boston Massachusetts, or Beantown. Boston baked beans are made with molasses for a rich, caramel-sweet dish, often with pork and sometimes onion added. Boston was actually an epicenter of rum production, and the byproduct of molasses was plentiful in the area.
The combination of Boston, beans, and molasses has not always been a happy one. On January 15th, 1919, a giant tank of molasses burst open in Boston’s North End and more than two million gallons poured out like a tsunami wave, reaching speeds up to 35 miles per hour. It flooded the streets, crushed buildings, and ultimately killed 21 people and injured 150 more.
The mass production of tinned baked beans happened in 1895, by the HJ Heinz Company. These were produced in Pittsburgh. Today, Heinz Beans are made in the world's largest baked bean factory, located in Wigan England. The beans are imported from the United States and are made using Haricot beans. They are then rehydrated in the factory. Spices and tomato sauce is added and the beans are canned and sealed. At this point the beans and sauce are steamed, which is a process that takes about 2 hours to complete. More than 3 million cans are produced each day and around 1 billion cans every year. Heinz sells over 2.5 million cans in the UK every day.
The Results
**SPOILER ALERT!**
Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!
7th Place: HyVee Pork & Beans
Alan: 2/10
Amy: 1/10
Matt: 2/10
Nate: 3/10
“It’s unremarkable.” - Alan
6th Place: Serious Bean Company Sweet and a Bit Sassy Dr. Pepper Baked Beans
Alan: 1/10
Amy: 3/10
Matt: 4/10
Nate: 2/10
“This bean is a bummer.” -Nate
5th Place: B&M Original Baked Beans
Alan: 4/10
Amy: 1/10
Matt: 4/10
Nate: 4/10
4th Place: VanCamp’s Pork and Beans
Alan: 5/10
Amy: 3/10
Matt: 3/10
Nate: 3/10
3rd Place: Serious Bean Company Southern Mustard Q BBQ Beans
Alan: 9/10
Amy: 6/10
Matt: 5/10
Nate: 5/10
2nd Place: Bush’s Original
Alan: 8/10
Amy: 7/10
Matt: 5/10
Nate: 7/10
“If you’re going to have a good time with a baked bean, it’s Bush’s.” - Nate
1st Place: Ranch Style Brand Beans
Alan: 7/10
Amy: 5/10
Matt: 6/10
Nate: 10/10
There you have it. Ranch Style Brand Beans get the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Check out their website here for all your bean needs.
https://www.ranchstylebeans.com/
Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Did you try all these beans? Which one was your favorite? We would love to hear your rating as well.
Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.
And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. Additionally, paid subscribers will have access to monthly content where we put two restaurants head to head in a Quest for the Best battle. You definitely do not want to miss out.
Show Notes
https://www.lovefood.com/gallerylist/97568/the-secret-history-of-baked-beans
Baked Bean Dream