MyTastr

Best canned black beans, according to chefs

Three picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from The Kitchn tasting, Erin Clarke, Amy Keating, Danny Palumbo and 2 more. Recommendations come from americastestkitchen.com, thekitchn.com, allrecipes.com and consumerreports.org and 2 other sources.

Pantry Staples · The ranking

  1. 1
    Top pick

    Bush’s Best Black Beans

    Chosen by
    • America’s Test Kitchen tasting panel (22 test cooks and editors)
    Also chosen by
    Won America’s Test Kitchen’s blind tasting, plain and in black bean soup. The Kitchn’s winner too: deep flavor and color, virtually no broken beans, and a firmer texture closer to beans cooked from scratch, good for salads and enchiladas.
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: americastestkitchen.com ↗
  2. 2

    Eden Organic Black Beans

    Chosen by
    Clarke’s top canned beans when the beans go straight into salads or fresh dishes: “They hold their shape and aren’t too mushy. Mushy is my biggest complaint related to canned beans.” Organic, in BPA-free-lined cans, with kombu in the pot.
    Where to buy · amazon.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: allrecipes.com ↗
  3. 3

    Goya Black Beans

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    Consumer Reports’ top black bean: earthy with a hint of nuttiness, mostly whole beans with a firm texture and tender interior, great for chili or chunky soup. A close second in America’s Test Kitchen’s blind test (“nutty,” “briny,” “good firm texture”), #1 of 12 for chef Monika Sudakov, and Sporked’s best salty can. Chef Andres Kaifer (Customshop, Charlotte) picks it for canned beans because you get “primarily beans and not excess liquid.”
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: consumerreports.org ↗

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Questions, answered

What is the best canned black beans, according to chefs?
MyTastr’s top pick is Bush’s Best Black Beans, chosen by America’s Test Kitchen tasting panel (22 test cooks and editors). Won America’s Test Kitchen’s blind tasting, plain and in black bean soup. The Kitchn’s winner too: deep flavor and color, virtually no broken beans, and a firmer texture closer to beans cooked from scratch, good for salads and enchiladas. Source: americastestkitchen.com ↗
What are the other top picks for canned black beans?
No. 2 is Eden Organic Black Beans, chosen by Erin Clarke (Well Plated). No. 3 is Goya Black Beans, chosen by Amy Keating (Consumer Reports). Each card above links to the original source.
How does MyTastr choose these picks?
Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot. Read how we pick.

The tasters behind this ranking

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