Canned carrots get a bad rap. They’re thought of as mushy, bland, and watery. And, after tasting a bunch of them, I can tell you that, actually, that bad reputation is well-earned. Most canned carrots are not good. But I found the three canned carrot brands you should actually be buying.
Have you ever really thought about canned carrots? I hadn’t until I had 11 cans of carrots open in front of me. But, since it’s my job to really think about these things, I took this taste test seriously and considered what makes a good can of carrots. First of all, the carrots should test like carrots—not like coin-shaped sponges. I wanted sweet canned carrots that have that signature carrot flavor. And I wanted decent texture, too. If I was tasting cooked canned carrots, then the texture should be soft but not mushy. And if I was tasting pickled canned carrots, they should be crunchy. Pickles, no matter the vegetable, should not squish.
So, whether you’re stocking your apocalypse bunker, looking for an easy side dish, or simply a fan of canned carrots (you’re out there, I know you are), these are the best canned carrots and canned pickled carrots you can buy.
- Sprouts No Salt Added Sliced Carrots
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Canned vegetables can be high in sodium, and if that concerns you, then you can feel good about buying Sprouts’ no salt canned carrots—there’s just 30mg! The carrots are fairly sweet and taste pretty fresh. The flavor is mild, making them a good, blank slate for other flavors. But they would also be good canned carrots to puree up for a little homemade baby food.
Credit: Liv Averett / Sprouts
- La Costena Carrots
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These pickled canned carrots are so good. They really wowed us all. They’re actually crunchy and zesty and savory and spicy! You could serve these alongside some tacos and people would think you picked them up from a local taqueria. I’d never considered buying canned pickled carrots before, but they’re a part of my regular pickle rotation now. Grab a can for taco night or to serve on a cheese board, or simply for snacking.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Del Monte Fresh Cut Sliced Carrots
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Del Monte makes good canned fruits and canned vegetables. After tasting a bunch of them, I feel good saying you should feel confident picking Del Monte if you’re at a loss for which canned brand to buy. And their sweet canned carrots are no exception. They really taste like carrot—sweet, rich, and vegetal. And they’re seasoned perfectly. There’s certainly salt in the can, but the carrots aren’t salty. You can drain these, heat them, and serve them as an easy weeknight side. No, they don’t taste like roasted fresh-from-the-farmers-market carrots, but they’re the best canned carrots anyway.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
Best No Salt
Best Pickled
Best of the Best
Other canned carrots we tasted: Green Giant Sliced Carrots, Kroger No Salt Added Sliced Carrots, Good & Gather Sliced Carrots, Le Sueur Tender Baby Whole Carrots, Kroger Sliced Carrots, Libby’s Sliced Carrots, Great Value Sliced Carrots, First Street Sliced Carrots
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!