Your Canned Chicken Requires One Easy Step To Reach Peak Flavor Potential

So many of us have at least one canned food, either standing proud in full view or lurking at the back of the pantry. I hoard tinned tomatoes and beans over the summer, but soup, fruit, and meat — including canned chicken — are also popular choices. Although the latter is a staple in many households, canned chicken has a bit of a bad rep online thanks to the liquid inside the can. Some say it gives the meat an unpleasant, metallic taste, but there's a fix. Thoroughly rinsing every piece of chicken under cold water for a few minutes all but eliminates that residue, allowing the flavor of the meat to shine through.

Once your canned chicken has been washed, there's no limit to what you can do with it. Add it to a green salad for an on-the-go lunch, or pile it high on whole-wheat bread with tomatoes, pickles, and mustard for a tasty sandwich snack. Just like fresh chicken, the tinned kind can take a whole lot of seasoning, whether it's mixed with barbecue sauce or rolled in a blend of dry herbs or spices to amp up the flavor — and that's just serving it cold. Although it's safe to eat straight from the can (after it's been rinsed!), warming tinned chicken can make it taste amazing. Plus, it's a delicious addition to a savory pie. If you think that's a flavor boost, you ain't seen nothing yet. Wait until you pop your canned chicken in the air fryer!

There are lots of reasons why home cooks stock up on canned chicken. It costs less than fresh chicken and — as is often pointed out on social media –  provides a ready source of protein for those on very low incomes. As well as being accessible, canned chicken is also convenient for anyone whose age or disability makes it hard to cook a fresh chicken. They can simply crack open a can and enjoy, because all the hard work is done. Plus, it's a tasty alternative to canned tuna for members of the military on deployment.

Cheap, convenient, and versatile as canned chicken is, it can come with a significant drawback: its salt levels can be eyewatering, depending on how it's packaged. Many are canned in water, but some come in a broth that can be loaded with sodium or other preservatives that aren't great for our health. For example, a 4.5-ounce can of white and dark chicken can contain around 270 milligrams of salt, or 12% of the USDA's recommended daily value. We know a salt spray can be a foodie's secret ingredient, but washing the meat will help to get rid of some of that sodium. Alternatively, shop around for cans of chicken that are marked with reduced or low sodium — though they will likely need a spell under the faucet too!