British Baked Beans (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between British baked beans and American baked beans? ›

American baked beans (also called Boston baked beans) are made with molasses and pork salt (or bacon), and they're slow-cooked in the oven. English-style baked beans (Heinz baked beans being the most famous) are more savory and made with a tomato sauce base.

They are small white haricot or “navy” beans baked or stewed or steamed in a sauce. They are so popular because of its sweet, beany, tangy, bacony, tomatoey flavors. And, there are many flavors there. The UK version is not as sweet as the US version, and is popular for breakfast served over toast.

The first baked beans to be grown in the UK have now progressed to the tinning phase, an important step towards sustainable, UK-sourced food options.

Baked beans played a crucial role in helping the British population cope with meat shortages by providing an alternative source of protein. The widespread availability of canning factories made it easier to produce and distribute baked beans as convenient and emergency-ready food.

Beans and toast is a breakfast tradition in the UK (it's both adored and loathed) that has stood the test of time. The story goes that in 1927 an executive at Heinz decided to create a national dish in order to sell more canned beans and an iconic dish was born.

Baked beans on toast is often served for breakfast as a part of a fry up (the British term for a Cooked English Breakfast). For lunch, they are more commonly served with a jacket potato (the British term for a baked potato). And they're even served at dinner, too!

Despite their American origin, baked beans are not as popular there. In fact, nowhere likes them as much as the UK – British people eat more baked beans than the rest of the world put together. Baked beans get their name because the raw haricot beans are baked in tomato sauce while inside the can.

Baked beans have been around in Britain for over a century, and among the many brands available here, Branston beans is indeed one of the most famous of all.

US baked beans are cooked for American tastes: molasses and pork fat, giving a thick, sweet sauce. UK ones contain no meat products, and the sauce is based on tomatoes, celery, and worcester sauce (which adds umami) so are more savory. Are beans on toast a British thing, or a UK thing?

Today, baked beans are widely sold and consumed throughout the country. Grocery stores stock them in pallets to make restocking easier since people buy them at a blistering pace. Interestingly, baked beans weren't just popular among common folks, but they were also favored by the Royal Family.

Why are Heinz beans so popular in UK? ›

The original Heinz baked beans recipe included chunks of pork, making it a more-or-less complete meal-in-a-can. However, when World War II struck and pork became rationed to support the war effort, Heinz removed the pork chunks from the recipe. Thus, the iconic canned beans that every Briton knows and loves were born.

A common traditional English breakfast typically includes back bacon or sausages (usually pork), eggs (fried, poached or scrambled), fried or grilled tomatoes, fried mushrooms, bread, both or either fried bread and toast, black pudding, and baked beans.

We call thembeans. We grow many types of beans in Britain and call then by names such a runner beans, green beans, broad beans etc. However, the most common way of eating beans in Britain is what are called baked beans.

Baked beans are a source of protein and are high in fibre, so are not a bad choice, especially on wholegrain toast or a jacket potato. But they do contain salt and sugar. Too much salt over time can contribute to high blood pressure, while sugar adds energy (calories) without any other nutritional value.

Regular Baked Beans. Traditional baked bean recipes use brown sugar to sweeten the tomato-based sauce, while Boston baked beans rely on molasses to add a honeyed richness to the dish.

The predominant brand of baked beans stocked across the pond is Heinz, an American-founded label that first put baked beans in a can in 1895 (via Heinz), but the version sold in Britain as Heinz Beanz has been tweaked over time to accommodate British tastes.