Something about refried beans appeals to me. Maybe it’s the cumin, or the connection to Mexican and Central American food. They go down a treat whether served with tacos, flautas, tamales, or alone as a delightful, healthful snack.
Of course, finding the finest canned refried beans might be difficult. There are several brands available, and each business has its unique formula. Which one is best for you? We’ve done the legwork for you and prepared a list of the top ten refried bean selections.
Best Selection
Amys Organic Refried Beans are our top recommendation. You may be certain in their quality since they are certified organic. They’re also vegetarian and vegan-friendly, as well as high in nutrients and taste.
Budget Selection
We suggest the 365 Daily Value Organic Refried Beans if you’re on a tight budget. Again, they are certified organic, but they are reasonably priced so that you can fill your cupboard with these wonderful, healthy beans.
Contents
- Quick Comparison: Top 10 Best Canned Refried Bean Choices
- 1. Amy’s Organic Refried Beans with Green Chiles
- 2. 365 Everyday Value, Organic Refried Beans
- 3. Old El Paso Refried Spicy Beans
- 4. Taco Bell Original Refried Beans
- 5. Old El Paso Traditional Refried Beans
- 6. Rosarita No Fat Refried Beans with Green Chile and Lime
- 7. Ortega Original Flavor Black Beans
- 8. Bearitos Organic Low-Fat Traditional Refried Beans
- 9. Ducal Refried Black Beans
- 10. Rosaria Organic Refried Beans
- Important Factors to Consider While Purchasing the Finest Canned Refried Beans
- Refried Beans: Commonly Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Quick Comparison: Top 10 Best Canned Refried Bean Choices
| Product Name | Grade |
|---|---|
| Amy’s Organic Refried Beans with Green Chiles | A+ |
| 365 Everyday Value, Organic Refried Beans | A |
| Old El Paso Refried Spicy Beans | B+ |
| Taco Bell Original Refried Beans | A- |
| Old El Paso Traditional Refried Beans | B+ |
| Rosarita No Fat Refried Beans with Green Chile and Lime | B+ |
| Ortega Original Flavor Black Beans | A |
| Bearitos Organic Low Fat Traditional Refried Beans | A- |
| Ducal Refried Black Beans | B+ |
| Rosarita Organic Refried Beans | A- |
1. Amy’s Organic Refried Beans with Green Chiles
Highlighted Characteristics
Searching for an organic alternative? These classic refried beans were great. They’re also vegetarian, so there’s no need to be concerned about meat-based products. This selection includes a 12-pack of 15.4-ounce cans of Amys classic refried beans. They’re cooked with pinto beans for that terrific taste you know and love, and the chiles provide just a hint of heat.
These refried beans are high in iron and fiber and contain no trans fat. They also provide a good source of calcium, protein, and vitamin C.
2. 365 Everyday Value, Organic Refried Beans
Highlighted Features
With these 365 Everyday Value Organic Refried Beans, Roasted Chili & Lime, you can dive into delightful Southwestern taste. This is Whole Foods’ house brand, so you can expect high-quality food at a low price. To protect your food, the can has a non-BPA interior. The beans are also ready to eat; just heat and serve. It is not necessary to cook them.
These refried beans have the taste of roasted chile and lime and are also fat-free and sugar-free, making them healthier. They’re also vegan, which is unusual for refried beans.
3. Old El Paso Refried Spicy Beans
Highlighted Elements
Do you want to spice up your Southwestern dishes? These Spicy Fat-Free Refried Beans from Old El Paso will do the job. You’ll also discover only the finest ingredients, such as cooked pinto beans, jalapeo peppers, and spice.
Each serving of these refried beans has a healthy amount of fiber and iron, as well as calcium and protein. For your piece of mind, they are also trans-fat and cholesterol-free. These refried beans are delicious on their own as a side dish, or you can add a little spice to your favorite Mexican and Southwestern recipes.
4. Taco Bell Original Refried Beans
Highlighted Characteristics
Searching for the delicious flavor of Taco Bell’s refried beans? There is no need to look any further. This is the company’s original recipe, which incorporates both pinto and pink beans for taste and texture. This 12-pack has more than enough refried beans to serve your family for a long period or to utilize in a food service sector business. The beans are ready to eat; just heat and serve. You can add them to practically any recipe or serve them as a solo side.
It should be noted that they are vegan-friendly despite not being vegan-certified. They also include a lot of fiber, protein, iron, calcium, and potassium.
5. Old El Paso Traditional Refried Beans
Highlighted Features
Classics, like this Old El Paso Traditional Refried Beans, are sometimes unbeatable. Rich pinto beans are refried with spices and herbs in this dish. It’s the ideal complement to any Mexican dinner. A 12-pack of 16-ounce cans of refried beans is included, which is more than enough for the typical household. Of course, they keep well in the pantry, making them a dependable staple for almost any need.
In addition to fiber and protein, these refried beans are high in iron, potassium, and calcium. This dish is not suitable for vegans.
6. Rosarita No Fat Refried Beans with Green Chile and Lime
Highlighted Elements
With this purchase, you will get a 12-pack of real Mexican refried beans. Rosaritas is a popular dish that gives a creamier spin on this Southwestern favorite. Add it to your favorite recipe or serve it on its own with a little cheese. Each serving is under 100 calories and includes no fat or trans fat. You also receive a healthy quantity of fiber, iron, potassium, and calcium, as well as protein.
It should be noted that this is vegetarian-friendly and contains no animal ingredients or byproducts. It is not, however, a low-sodium food, since it contains 580mg of sodium per serving.
7. Ortega Original Flavor Black Beans
Highlighted Characteristics
Choose Ortega Refried Beans Classic if you want some of the most delectable refried beans available. They come in a 12-pack of 16-ounce cans, allowing you to stock up and guarantee you have a pantry essential on hand for a long time. They’re also tasty and healthful.
Each can of Ortega black beans has straightforward, easy-to-understand components. This is also a low-fat, high-fiber meal. Every serving contains 10% of your daily iron and 8% of your daily potassium. Since there are no added sugars, this may be a healthy choice for diabetics. This is not a low-salt dish, though, since it contains 630mg of sodium per serving.
8. Bearitos Organic Low-Fat Traditional Refried Beans
Highlighted Features
If you want healthy, organic foods, you’ll be pleased to know that these Bearitos refried beans contain no chemicals or pesticides. They are also vegetarian, which means they do not utilize any animal ingredients or byproducts.
Moreover, these refried beans contain no hydrogenated oils and are fully non-GMO, giving you even more confidence in the quality of what you’re feeding your family. They are also high in protein, fiber, iron, and calcium.
9. Ducal Refried Black Beans
Highlighted Elements
Consider these Ducal Refried Black Beans if you’re searching for something a little unusual. The majority of refried bean recipes call for pinto beans, but black beans have a little distinct, richer taste that you and your family will like. For ease of use, these beans are packed in plastic pouches rather than cans.
These refried beans are cholesterol-free, low in fat, rich in fiber, and high in potassium, iron, and calcium. They’re also simple to prepare; just open the packet and heat them. They’re already cooked, so there’s no muss and no bother. Your purchase also includes three 14.1-ounce packets, making it simple to stock up.
10. Rosaria Organic Refried Beans
Highlighted Characteristics
Rosarita Organic Refried Beans are simple, tasty, and vegan-friendly, cooked with coconut oil rather of animal fat, and are also certified organic. Pair them with your favorite Mexican or Southwestern meals and know that you are providing your family with food that is not only tasty but also nutritious.
These refried beans have a high fiber content, are low in cholesterol, and are fat-free. They’re also high in iron and potassium. Just open the can, cook the beans, and you’re done.
Important Factors to Consider While Purchasing the Finest Canned Refried Beans
There are several refried bean alternatives on the market, as seen by our assessments. There’s something for everyone, whether you want a recognizable taste like Taco Bell’s famous refried beans, an old classic like Old El Paso, or something certified organic and vegan-friendly.
Of Nevertheless, making an educated purchase might still be difficult. How many cans do you require? What more can you do with refried beans except serve them as a side dish? These are just a handful of the inquiries you may have. In this shopping guide, we’ll take you through some of the answers.
Volume and Quantity
While purchasing refried beans, quantity and volume are two crucial factors to consider. As you can see from our evaluations, can sizes vary greatly across manufacturers. How many servings are required each meal?
If you’re just serving a handful of individuals, a single can will enough. If you have a big family, you may need two cans every meal. While making your purchase, keep in mind the number of cans in the box as well as the capacity of each can.
Purpose
What is the purpose of your purchase of refried beans? Do you want to add a couple of cans to your weekly rotation of family dinners? Do you have long-lasting canned meals in your cupboard in case of a storm or other emergency? Are you purchasing food for a restaurant or other food-service establishment?
The reason for your purchase will influence a variety of parameters, including your budget, the quantity of cans, the volume of the cans, and other aspects.
Types of Packaging
Refried beans are often sold in metal cans. This is no longer the case for all brands. Numerous manufacturers are transitioning away from cans and toward pouches. Why is this the case? There are various reasons for this, and you may discover that they influence your purchasing choice.
Polypropylene pouches, unlike metal cans, do not need a food lining, which decreases manufacturing time and cost. Pouches also take up less space in boxes, allowing producers to send more pouches at once or lower box sizes without sacrificing volume.
Pouches provide various extra advantages to customers. For starters, they are lighter and less harmful. You aren’t likely to drop one on your foot and cut or hurt yourself.
They are, however, simpler to store and are often resealable. That is, if you only need half a container, just unzip the pouch, extract the quantity you need, reseal the bag, and place it in the refrigerator. There will be no more struggling with the can opener or dealing with plastic wrap over the can.
Forms of Preparation
When purchasing refried beans, preparation is critical. Refried beans, in most situations, just need to be reheated before serving. This is the quickest and most convenient choice.
Certain items, however, may be condensed, which means you must dump the can into a saucepan, add the specified quantity of water, and then boil them. In most situations, cooking them for approximately five minutes yields a healthy, delightful complement to your dinner.
Texture
If you’ve only had one or two types of refried beans, you may think they’re all the same in terms of texture, and you’d be right. The majority of beans have a creamy texture. Other textures, depending on your tastes, may be more attractive.
Creamy texture suggests the beans are smooth and free of lumps or fragments of raw bean. This is useful if you like a uniform texture or if you’re adding refried beans to another dish and don’t want the textures to conflict.
Chunky: Some producers generate a chunky texture by combining creamed beans with partly chopped beans. This is a more rustic dish that works great if you want to offer refried beans as a side dish that is more than simply creamed beans.
Non-Pinto: Some producers utilize black beans and other types instead of or in addition to pinto beans. The kind and mix of beans used will have an impact on the final texture of the product. Some brands of refried beans are thinner than others.
Determine the texture and consistency of your food, then experiment with various brands until you find it.
Temperature Range
Some refried bean brands, as you can see from our evaluations, are rather basic. Some add other tastes such as lime, lemon, and even chilies. Take note of the heat level of the product you choose.
When you see green chiles on a package, it typically means the producer included jalapenos in the recipe. Other chiles, like as serrano, poblano, hatch, and even red chilies, might be utilized.
Choose your preferred degree of heat and then browse around. Peppers may bring additional tastes to the table in addition to spiciness. Roasted poblanos, for example, provide a hint of heat along with a rich, earthy, roasted taste.
If you are sensitive to heat, consider a brand that does not utilize any form of chile in the mix. Before making a purchase, check the ingredient list.
Is it regular, organic, vegetarian, or vegan?
While comparing refried bean selections, youll see that there are quite a few distinct varieties available. You may purchase any old can you want, but if you want to be an educated buyer, you need keep a few things in mind.
Normal: Ordinary refried beans are just your everyday refried beans. They may or may not include additives such as preservatives that you do not want, or the beans may have been treated with pesticides while growing on the farm.
In addition, most normal recipes process animal proteins and byproducts. Animal fat is often used to provide taste and depth, while animal-sourced enzymes aid in texture and gelling.
Organic: Organic refried beans are manufactured using FDA-certified organic vegetables. It indicates they are the best beans on the market, and no pesticides or fungicides were applied on or near them during growing.
It’s important to seek for FDA-certified organic labels. Anything less is unlikely. Moreover, terms like “all-natural” or similar wording have no meaning since their usage is not controlled by the FDA or any other agency.
Vegetarian You may believe that refried beans are always vegetarian. Aren’t they beans? Animal byproducts and products are often utilized. If you’re a vegetarian, search for beans that are either certified vegetarian or labeled as such.
This assures that no animal fat was utilized in the preparation of the dish. Some businesses are even resorting to healthier fats like coconut oil.
Vegan Just because a refried bean dish is vegetarian does not always imply that it is vegan. Vegetarian recipes exclude animal items, but not byproducts like enzymes derived from animal hair and fur.
They are most often seen in commercial bread goods, although they do sometimes appear in bean products. If you are a vegan, make sure you choose a vegan-certified product or read the ingredient list to ensure there are no hidden animal byproducts.
Refried Bean Variations
The most frequent component in refried beans is the modest pinto bean. There are, however, various solutions available, including the following:
- Black Beans: Black beans offer a different take on refried beans, bringing a deep earthiness to any dish you make. Not only do these make great additions to your Mexican or Southwestern recipes, but they can be used to form black bean burger patties more easily than by processing cooked black beans.
- Red Kidney Beans: Rarer than pinto beans or black beans, red kidney beans offer a slightly different flavor and texture that many people find helps their dishes stand out from the crowd.
- Mixes: Some recipes use a combination of different beans. For instance, Taco Bell uses pinto beans and pink beans in their refried bean recipe. A combination of different beans offers a unique flavor found nowhere else but also affects texture and consistency.
- Other Vegetables: Some refried bean recipes include not just beans, spices, and herbs, but other veggies, too. Some of the more commonly used options include carrots and peppers, but others can be used, as well. These can change the texture and flavor, but also bring additional vitamins and minerals to your dishes.
Elements That Are Often Used
The components used in refried bean recipes differ to some degree, although many include a variety of regularly used choices. Knowing these might help you discover a dish that meets your nutritional requirements or avoid products to which you may be allergic. The following are the most regularly utilized ingredients:
- Pinto beans (or another variety of bean)
- Onion
- Garlic
- Cumin
- Chili powder
- Fat – lard from animal fat is frequently used
- Tomato paste
- Salt
- Sugar
- Chiles
- Acetic acid
How to Cook Refried Beans
Have trouble putting your refried beans to use? Tired of serving them as a side dish? Although refried beans are often served as an accompaniment to meals in Mexican restaurants, they may also be utilized as the main course.
This comprises not just Mexican recipes but also Southwestern and Tex-Mex cuisine. We’ll go through just a handful of the ways you may include refried beans into your weekly meal plan below.
- Tostadas – Lay your tostada on a plate and then layer refried beans over it. Top it with your choice of meat and veg, cheese, avocado, cilantro, pico de gallo, or whatever you prefer.
- Burritos – Want to make your burritos extra flavorful and filling? Lay the tortilla out and spread refried beans over the area where you’ll add your toppings. Layer on the rest of your ingredients, wrap, and dig in!
- Mexican Pizza – If you’re looking for a new way to combine two of your favorite foods, look no further. Use pre-made pizza dough and replace the pizza sauce with refried beans. Top it with your favorite Mexican or Tex-Mex ingredients and bake until it’s heated through. Delicious!
- Chili – Who doesn’t love a great bowl of chili? Break out of the norm by using refried beans as the base, and then adding in black beans, navy beans, and kidney beans. Top with sour cream and shredded cheese.
- Tacos (Hard or Soft) – Make your hard or soft tacos more filling and flavorful by adding refried beans before the filling. Just a couple of tablespoons can dramatically change your meal for the better.
- Layered Taco Dip – Who says tacos have to come in a shell or on a tortilla? Use refried beans and turn those ingredients into a delectable dip. Use alternating layers of refried beans and salsa, guac, sour cream, cheese, cheese, and veg.
Refried Beans: Commonly Asked Questions
To help you better understand your options for refried beans, we’ll go through some of the most commonly asked questions about this essential dish.
Are refried beans nutritious?
Refried beans may be quite nutritious. They are rich in fiber, protein, and iron, as do all beans. They are also high in other nutrients.
The majority of beans are low in fat and cholesterol. But, you must pay close attention to the manufacturer’s formula. For example, fat is added to refried beans, and the kind of fat affects the food’s healthiness.
Refried beans cooked in vegetable oil are healthier than those cooked in lard. Those using coconut oil may be even healthier than those containing vegetable oil.
There’s also the issue of salt content to consider. Although salt is a necessary component for life, most Americans drink much too much of it. Excessive salt consumption has been associated to a variety of unfavorable health outcomes, including hypertension (high blood pressure).
Many refried bean recipes are rich in salt, so restrict your consumption if you are on a low-sodium diet or attempting to minimize your salt intake.
Is it possible to be allergic to refried beans?
Certainly, you might have a bean allergy or sensitivity. Also, you may be allergic or sensitive to one of the components in the recipe. If you have any dietary allergies or sensitivities, read the label completely.
Can I season my refried beans with other ingredients?
You certainly can! Refried beans are similar to a blank slate. You may add almost anything you wish, and some of the more typical possibilities are as follows:
- Additional garlic or onion
- A hotter variety of pepper
- Salsa
- Pico de gallo
- Cheese
- Additional herbs like thyme, sage, or rosemary
Can you microwave refried beans?
Indeed, you can simply microwave refried beans. Open the can, pour the beans into a microwave-safe dish, and cook for two minutes. Check the temperature of the beans and cook them for another minute or two if necessary.
Conclusion
Refried beans may serve as the basis for a fantastic Tex-Mex or Mexican dish. They may also be used as a stand-alone side. You might also try them as a snack, with your favorite savory breakfast items, and in other ways!
Whether you like your refried beans creamy, spicy, mild, or chunky, there is a flavor for you. We’ve researched some of the finest canned refried beans to stock your pantry, and whether you’re a carnivore, a vegetarian, a vegan, or just someone looking to provide the greatest food for your family, you’ll find plenty of options.
Refried beans are not only delicious, but they may also be highly healthful. They include a lot of fiber, iron, protein, and other minerals. If you are sensitive to salt, though, it is preferable to use a low-sodium version.