Tips for Kicking the Can
It may seem simple, but trying to avoid canned foods can be a challenge, especially in the kitchen.
Here are some quick tips on how to enjoy your favorite foods without the BPA.
Beans
Some companies have already started using safety-tested, BPA-free alternatives in their canned beans. Eden Foods brand sells BPA-free canned beans (you'll see "BPA-free" on the label), which are a great replacement although slightly more expensive.
If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, try soaking dry beans overnight and cooking them yourself. You'll get affordable, BPA-free beans for the next day's recipe. You can even make a large batch and freeze them for future heat-and-eat convenience.
Fruits
The best BPA-free alternative to canned fruit is simply replacing it with dried or fresh fruit. An added bonus is that many canned fruits contain added sugar so cutting the BPA might also cut the calories! Look for fruits in season to get the freshest produce at the best prices.
Ravioli, Pasta with Meatballs and Other Canned Meals
These all-in-one meals have some of the highest levels of BPA of any canned foods due to their higher fat and sodium content, both of which appear to encourage leaching of the chemical. That means ridding your pantry of these foods offers great bang for your BPA-free buck. If you crave convenience or can't cook, try replacing canned with frozen meals. Just make sure to pop the meal out of the plastic (the tray, too, not just the film cover) before throwing it into the microwave!
Restaurant Meals
Going out to eat can be a challenge since you don't know if the meal you ordered contains canned food or not. Generally speaking, many restaurants use canned foods so it might be tough to completely avoid BPA in your restaurant meal. Your server should have this information, though so don't be afraid to ask!
Soups
Many soups are now coming in packaging called Tetra Pak cartons, which look like oversized juice boxes (you might recognize them from the soy milk section of the store). Tetra Pak cartons are BPA-free. For chunky soups, add your own vegetables, herbs or protein to a ready-made Tetra Pak-packaged soup base.
In need of chicken, beef or vegetable broth? Many broths also come in Tetra Pak cartons, or you can use bouillon cubes and water to create the same broth flavor in recipes.
Vegetables
Cracking open a can of veggies is definitely convenient, but vegetables have some of the highest levels of BPA among canned foods, according to product tests. For heat-and-serve convenience, buy frozen instead.
Canned tomatoes are a pantry staple, but you can get them without the can: some grocers now stock tomatoes in Tetra Pak cartons, those handy BPA-free, shelf-stable boxes. If your favorite store doesn't carry them, ask.
Of course, fresh vegetables are always the best option. Check out what's local and seasonal in your area—they're likely the least expensive, freshest and tastiest produce selections around.
