Whether you like them on toast or as a jackpot-potato topping, there’s no doubt we’re a nation that loves baked beans. But how much do you know about them?
What are baked beans?
Baked beans are a stable store cupboard ingredient of beans in a rich and tasty tomato sauce. They can usually be bought in a tin from the supermarket.
What type of beans are baked beans?
With so many different types of beans available, if you've ever wondered what kind of beans are in a tin of baked beans, you're not alone.
Baked beans are made using a type of haricot beans known as navy beans. These are native to South America and weren’t actually introduced to Europe until the 16th century.
How many beans are in a can of baked beans?
On average, there are approximately 465 beans per standard 415g can of beans.
Different types of beans
Did you know there are 400 different varieties of beans? Here are just a few of them...
Black Beans - A staple in many Mexican and Brazilian dishes, these beans have a velvety-smooth texture and mild flavour.
Cannellini Beans - Also known as white Italian kidney beans, these cream-coloured beans are one of the most common types of beans and are a popular addition to soups and salads,
Kidney Beans - Recognised by their vibrant red skin and white interior, kidney beans have a mild flavour and make a great addition to any chilli recipe.
Chickpeas - There are two varieties of chickpeas: kabuli and desi. With a round shape and a firm texture, you're probably familiar with them because they're used to make hummus.
Edamame - These young soybeans re usually eaten while still inside the pod. These beans are soft and edible, unlike mature soybeans.
16 things you never knew about Heinz Baked Beans
Baked Beans were originally sold in the UK by Fortnum and Mason in 1901 as a luxury item. A large can would cost 9d (the equivalent to £2.15 by today’s prices).
The first can of British-manufactured Heinz Beanz was created in the Heinz factory in Harlesden in 1928.
The bean centre at the Heinz Kitt Green factory in Wigan (opened in 1959) uses 1,000 tonnes of dry beans per week.
Royalty have long been fans of Heinz Beanz, with The Queen accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh visiting the factory in 2009, following the Queen Mother’s visit in 1959. Heinz has now held a Royal Warrant for 63 years.
Heinz Beanz are one of the most popular foods in the UK. Every day over one a half million cans of Heinz Baked Beans are consumed in the UK. That’s more than 540 million cans a year.
The small white beans used to make Heinz Beanz are a type of haricot bean called ‘Navy’ beans. The other main ingredient is tomato puree, made with Mediterranean grown tomatoes.
Every individual bean is checked for colour and size before they are allowed into a can of Heinz Beanz.
They were originally called BAKED beans because the can is first filled with blanched beans, then the sauce, then the can is sealed with a lid, and THEN the cooking begins. The beans are cooked inside the sealed can. Yes, that’s right – INSIDE THE CAN – and not before they go into the can.
The tomato sauce is blended with a secret mix of spices to create a distinctive Heinz flavour.
The special Heinz Beanz spice mix comes to the factory in numbered - as opposed to labelled – bags to keep the recipe a secret. Only three people in the world know the exact ingredients.
50,000 tonnes of navy beans are shipped annually from North America to Liverpool docks and delivered every day to the Heinz factory in Wigan in two-tonne bags.
The factory holds 36 hours’ worth of beans at any one time, and 60 days’ worth of stock is held at Liverpool docks, just in case bad weather stops beans from travelling over the Atlantic in ships.
The original recipe for Heinz Beanz was based on Boston beans, so they used to contain pork. But because of shortages in the second World War, the pork was taken out and they were sold as vegetarian beans. They’ve remained the same ever since.
In the 1940s, the Ministry of Food classified Heinz Beanz as an “essential food” during wartime rationing.
The slogan ‘Beanz Meanz Heinz’ – created in 1967 - was unanimously voted best advertising slogan of all time by an expert panel from the UK’s advertising industry. The slogan now has a place in history, taking top slot in the Ad Slogan Hall of Fame.