FOOD Canned stews (Beef or other)

TXKajun

Veteran Member
Timely topic. Last week, I went in search of 14-16 oz cans of beef stew. The DM was available everywhere in the larger cans, but not in the smaller cans. Many years ago there was a brand at several of the Dollar stores called Austex, but couldn't find that either. Ended up with a couple of cans of DM and some small cans of Southgate brand. Tried the SG and it was almost as tasty as DM.
 

Red Baron

Paleo-Conservative
_______________
Timely topic. Last week, I went in search of 14-16 oz cans of beef stew. The DM was available everywhere in the larger cans, but not in the smaller cans. Many years ago there was a brand at several of the Dollar stores called Austex, but couldn't find that either. Ended up with a couple of cans of DM and some small cans of Southgate brand. Tried the SG and it was almost as tasty as DM.

See this post regarding Aldi's canned beef stew.

 

thompson

Certa Bonum Certamen
All of our water for cooking and drinking will have to be filtered through our Big Berkey. If I can avoid using that to cook with as much as possible, the better it will be for us. We do not have a well, only a creek and a small pond, plus several rain barrels.
Make sure you have a good supply of those basket style coffee filters to pre-strain the creek and pond water through before filtering through your Berkey. The Berkey filter elements will last a lot longer if you do that and will be much easier to clean. We have city water and I still put back a bunch, just in case we have to use rain water. Can also use an old clean sheet that's been cut up to act as a pre-filter, but the coffee filters are very cheap for a good quantity of them.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Make sure you have a good supply of those basket style coffee filters to pre-strain the creek and pond water through before filtering through your Berkey. The Berkey filter elements will last a lot longer if you do that and will be much easier to clean. We have city water and I still put back a bunch, just in case we have to use rain water. Can also use an old clean sheet that's been cut up to act as a pre-filter, but the coffee filters are very cheap for a good quantity of them.

Yeah. I have a ton of those coffee filters in storage just for that purpose. We have community water, but ya never know when that might be taken away. I also plan to boil the water, after it's filtered. Let it cool, before going through the Berkey. I plan to take all the precautions I can.
 

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
I opened a can of Castleberry's beef stew for lunch today. (Available on Walmart.com to ship)

It's definitely different than what I remember of Dinty Moore. Less salty, mostly gravy, potatoes and beef. Very few carrots. The beef seems to be pieces of ground beef instead of that tough, stringy beef chunk stuff you get in a lot of canned stews. I actually added canned carrots, and had it over a bed of the riced cauliflower (for low carb).

Tasty and I'd say, a keeper.
 

FreeSpace

Veteran Member
Austex and DM are almost identical.
Might be made at the same place.
Best canned stews I have ever had.
 

ainitfunny

Saved, to glorify God.
I live alone and a small can of stew (size of a can of corn) is all I need so why pay $3 for a can when i can get the dollar store brand for a buck. i can always make some rice or boil a potato to go with it.
 

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
Just a quick review, because I think I mentioned it on this thread,

Opened a can of this stuff today. Sold at Walmart online, got it cheap just to try @ a bit over $2.00/can. Thought it could be good, like the Werling and Sons or Keystone BBQ pork, but it's nothing like it. The consistency and color of canned refried beans..only sorta sloppy, with no real recognizable pork shreds. Taste is ok....it's edible for a hot sandwich or ?? but quite bland flavored. Guess I'll use the other cans in homemade Brunswick Stew or some such..maybe even in or on scrambled eggs, rice or potatoes would be a better option. I won't be buying more.

1070e97f-a431-49e8-ae78-f423cbd0f991.d9861db8968ab1c8125b1ddf7e0c1315.jpeg
 

nehimama

Has No Life - Lives on TB
WEll, I tried the single can of Dinty Moore beef stew that I bought to test. AWFUL!!!!! The gravy and vegetables were pretty tasty and good, but the so-called BEEF! (Need a huge puking emoji). The "beef" is mashed together little blobs of hamburger-ish meat-like crap, with hardly any consistency, that cause my tongue to recoil. The same thing that turned me off years ago from Campbell's vegetable beef soup.. Their "beef" is now mashed-together cubes of disappointment that seems to have the density of your dog's Nexgard; and doesn't taste good, either.

And Campbell's vegetable beef soup used to be my absolute favorite. *sigh!*

It;s probably a safe bet that Armour and Hormel stews offer the same disappointment. I don't need to get started on Compleats, do I?
 
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summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
WEll, I tried the single can of Dinty Moore beef stew that I bought to test. AWFUL!!!!! The gravy and vegetables were pretty tasty and good, but the so-called BEEF! (Need a huge puking emoji). The "beef" is mashed together little blobs of hamburger-ish meat-like crap, with hardly any consistency, that cause my tongue to recoil. The same thing that turned me off years ago from Campbell's vegetable beef soup.. Their "beef" is now mashed-together cubes of stuff that seems to have the density of your dog's Nexgard; and doesn't taste good, either.

And Campbell's vegetable beef soup used to be my absolute favorite. *sigh!*

It;s probably a safe bet that Armour and Hormel stews offer the same disappointment. I don't need to get started on Compleats, do I?
There is a "clone" recipe for Campbell's Vegetable .beef soup... its fabulous. I need to dig it up and get some canned for winter.

Summerthyme
 

nehimama

Has No Life - Lives on TB
There is a "clone" recipe for Campbell's Vegetable .beef soup... its fabulous. I need to dig it up and get some canned for winter.

Summerthyme
I'd like to have that recipe, if you have a link for it. Google, here I come.....

 
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thompson

Certa Bonum Certamen
Just a quick review, because I think I mentioned it on this thread,

Opened a can of this stuff today. Sold at Walmart online, got it cheap just to try @ a bit over $2.00/can. Thought it could be good, like the Werling and Sons or Keystone BBQ pork, but it's nothing like it. The consistency and color of canned refried beans..only sorta sloppy, with no real recognizable pork shreds. Taste is ok....it's edible for a hot sandwich or ?? but quite bland flavored. Guess I'll use the other cans in homemade Brunswick Stew or some such..maybe even in or on scrambled eggs, rice or potatoes would be a better option. I won't be buying more.

1070e97f-a431-49e8-ae78-f423cbd0f991.d9861db8968ab1c8125b1ddf7e0c1315.jpeg
It's a pretty good addition to canned baked beans you're going to doctor up on the fly!
 

Jeff B.

Don’t let the Piss Ants get you down…
I like a can of dinty moore beef stew mixed with a can of hot Hormel beef chile without beans.

I ate a microwave style container of Hormel chili (with beans IIRC) years ago at a job. To say I became ill from it would be an understatement.

It was years before I had ANY canned chili.

Brrrr…. Thinking of it gives me the willies.

Jeff B.
 

Jeff B.

Don’t let the Piss Ants get you down…
I used to buy The Caledonian Kitchen Irish Stew. Beef or Lamb. It tasted good. But most are out now and it is expensive. The Scottish Grocer has it . I think it was 15.95 for a 28 oz can.

Lamb stew…. Not something I get and my Mother used to make the most awesome lamb stew.

I’ll keep an eye out.

Jeff B.
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
I'd like to have that recipe, if you have a link for it. Google, here I come.....

Yep, that's it ! The butter is a *huge* part of the flavor. I've made it with beef shins... cheap cut, but you get enough meat off for the soup.

I just discovered one of my main 3 ring "cookbooks" didn't make the move, or at least isn't on the shelf with the other two! Damn... its the one that has all my "non baking" recipes... all the favorites I've collected over the years. Many are probably somewhere on my desktop computer. But that's where I keep several copycat recipes, including this one.

Summerthyme
 

Hermantribe

Veteran Member
WEll, I tried the single can of Dinty Moore beef stew that I bought to test. AWFUL!!!!! The gravy and vegetables were pretty tasty and good, but the so-called BEEF! (Need a huge puking emoji). The "beef" is mashed together little blobs of hamburger-ish meat-like crap, with hardly any consistency, that cause my tongue to recoil. The same thing that turned me off years ago from Campbell's vegetable beef soup.. Their "beef" is now mashed-together cubes of stuff that seems to have the density of your dog's Nexgard; and doesn't taste good, either.

And Campbell's vegetable beef soup used to be my absolute favorite. *sigh!*

It;s probably a safe bet that Armour and Hormel stews offer the same disappointment. I don't need to get started on Compleats, do I?
My husband loves DM. I think it's inedible bleccch
 

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
After 30+ years of making all soups and stews from scratch, I hope I never have to go back to canned.

Thing is, if you ever NEED canned, it's best to have it and not need to rely on the stores. That's why I keep canned around, both home canned and commercial. Canned soup/stew is more or less for a dire day, but canned ingredients for soup and stew is something else again, and I use them quite often.
 

Laurane

Canadian Loonie
Whatever kind if canned stew I am eating, also is served with curry powder, hot, over mashed potatoes rice or on toast. I will do same with canned beans on toast. I do add fresh fried mushrooms.
The BEST stew came from LDS Cannery but is no longer made. Also Cannery mashed potatoes is the only kind my son in law will eat and he takes a foil pack up North to work
 

mrrk1562

Veteran Member
While not a beef stew .I just tried some chester hill brand roast beef in gravy from dollar general ..it did taste pretty good to me .but I added Instant mashed potatoes .and some frozen mixed vegetables........I be adding more of this canned roast beef
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Just a quick review, because I think I mentioned it on this thread,

Opened a can of this stuff today. Sold at Walmart online, got it cheap just to try @ a bit over $2.00/can. Thought it could be good, like the Werling and Sons or Keystone BBQ pork, but it's nothing like it. The consistency and color of canned refried beans..only sorta sloppy, with no real recognizable pork shreds. Taste is ok....it's edible for a hot sandwich or ?? but quite bland flavored. Guess I'll use the other cans in homemade Brunswick Stew or some such..maybe even in or on scrambled eggs, rice or potatoes would be a better option. I won't be buying more.

1070e97f-a431-49e8-ae78-f423cbd0f991.d9861db8968ab1c8125b1ddf7e0c1315.jpeg

And your review is why I canned a bunch of ground beef last year and I bought my favorite sloppy joe mix to add to the ground beef. We tried canning pork, however , we didn’t like how it turned out.

ETA it’s Dei Fratelli, absolutely love this sloppy joe mix, Aldi brand is a hard second.
 

AlaskaSue

North to the Future
I will add my two cents, and that’s about all it’s worth! My family of 8 took one vacay drive from Ok to Ca. About 3 days on the road as I recall. Frugal Mommy had us stop for dinner (and to sleep in the car…6 kids in the back of the car for 3 nights… but that’s another post, lol). We had Dinty Moore and we were all quite happy to have it, so so hungry!

FF about 30 years…my late husband and I were avid backpackers and had our favorite over-nite hikes. Told Dad about one and he actually took my four younger siblings up to overnight. They buried a cache of canned foods and one year later my husband and I followed their directions and found it. The Dinty Moore was still great - even after an entire year in the ground. YMMV of course ;)

Now that im thinking about it, I want to can up some stew this fall; would sure love to pull a moose tag!
 

ainitfunny

Saved, to glorify God.
i get two meals otta a frying pan full of cut off the bone fried chicken with skin (a thigh, couple legs, and a wing) dark meat, add a yellow zucchini type veggie, some broccoli florets, sliced mushrooms, red bell pepper for color, chopped green onion, and a couple hand fulls of raw rice thrown in with about 3 -4 cups water. cook covered on low till rice is done and veggies steamed watch you dont burn the rice towards the end.

you can switch out the veggies to match what you have.

you can also switch out the rice with medium egg noodles, just throw it in dry. it takes about 25-35 min to steam it and cook the veggies and noodles or rice

I lke my veggies SOFT.
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
i get two meals otta a frying pan full of cut off the bone fried chicken with skin (a thigh, couple legs, and a wing) dark meat, add a yellow zucchini type veggie, some broccoli florets, sliced mushrooms, red bell pepper for color, chopped green onion, and a couple hand fulls of raw rice thrown in with about 3 -4 cups water. cook covered on low till rice is done and veggies steamed watch you dont burn the rice towards the end.

you can switch out the veggies to match what you have.

you can also switch out the rice with medium egg noodles, just throw it in dry. it takes about 25-35 min to steam it and cook the veggies and noodles or rice

I lke my veggies SOFT.
I do something similar a couple times a week, starting as soon as the first new potatoes are ready. I use kielbasa or Italian sausage (sweet or hot depending on taste), a couple sweet onions, a sweet pepper or two (preferably colored, or at least one of them ripe). Then whatever else is ready and sounds good.

I saute them all together (toss in the more fragile veggies like broccoli in the last 10 minutes) in half butter, half decent olive oil (or coconut oil). Toss in a handful of Parmessn cheese, and season as you like- I sometimes add a little Worcester sauce (sp?), or soy sauce.

Sometimes I'll top it all with cheddar cheese after it's nicely done and melt it... mmmmm!

Summerthyme
 

Laurane

Canadian Loonie
I do something similar a couple times a week, starting as soon as the first new potatoes are ready. I use kielbasa or Italian sausage (sweet or hot depending on taste), a couple sweet onions, a sweet pepper or two (preferably colored, or at least one of them ripe). Then whatever else is ready and sounds good.

I saute them all together (toss in the more fragile veggies like broccoli in the last 10 minutes) in half butter, half decent olive oil (or coconut oil). Toss in a handful of Parmessn cheese, and season as you like- I sometimes add a little Worcester sauce (sp?), or soy sauce.

Sometimes I'll top it all with cheddar cheese after it's nicely done and melt it... mmmmm!

Summerthyme
There is hardly any food that doesn’t taste better with melted cheese on top
 

Red Baron

Paleo-Conservative
_______________
I do something similar a couple times a week, starting as soon as the first new potatoes are ready. I use kielbasa or Italian sausage (sweet or hot depending on taste), a couple sweet onions, a sweet pepper or two (preferably colored, or at least one of them ripe). Then whatever else is ready and sounds good.

I saute them all together (toss in the more fragile veggies like broccoli in the last 10 minutes) in half butter, half decent olive oil (or coconut oil). Toss in a handful of Parmessn cheese, and season as you like- I sometimes add a little Worcester sauce (sp?), or soy sauce.

Sometimes I'll top it all with cheddar cheese after it's nicely done and melt it... mmmmm!

Summerthyme

Some coarsely shredded green cabbage would go good with that.

I think that is what the Brits call "bubble and squeak"?
 

bbbuddy

DEPLORABLE ME
All of our water for cooking and drinking will have to be filtered through our Big Berkey. If I can avoid using that to cook with as much as possible, the better it will be for us. We do not have a well, only a creek and a small pond, plus several rain barrels.
There's a Sawyer water filter that can be set up to use 5 gallon buckets. Filters 1 million gallons. Cheap.
With a creek, there's no need to skimp on water.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
There's a Sawyer water filter that can be set up to use 5 gallon buckets. Filters 1 million gallons. Cheap.
With a creek, there's no need to skimp on water.

Yes. We have those, too. As for the creek, we would have to pull a wagon with containers down the road to haul the water back up the hill. We live on top of a ridge with the creek encircling the ridge down below. The small pond is down in a ravine down behind our house. That would call for hauling water uphill, too. All of this is doable, but at our age and health problems, our rain barrels are the better option.
 

bracketquant

Veteran Member
Thing is, if you ever NEED canned, it's best to have it and not need to rely on the stores. That's why I keep canned around, both home canned and commercial. Canned soup/stew is more or less for a dire day, but canned ingredients for soup and stew is something else again, and I use them quite often.

If I ever needed canned, everyone else in this city would need canned. And plenty wouldn't think twice about breaking in and stealing it.

I refuse to think about dire days. I stock up for 6 months, no further. In early fall, its making about 20+ gallons of soup/stew to be frozen, and used by late spring. In late spring it's stocking up on dry goods like rice/beans/pasta to be used before winter.
 

FaithfulSkeptic

Carrying the mantle of doubt
I used to eat Dainty Moore in my younger days, but it's pretty much guaranteed indigestion now. Even back then I'd put it in the fridge for a day, then pick the orange fat crust off the top before eating it.
 
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