Bush's no longer producing canned greens

[theHandpuppet]

Okay, scoff if you want -- but I was REALLY disappointed to find out that Bush's canned greens are no longer available. Their kale and turnip greens were to my mind the only canned greens worth a can opener.

Now the only options are "seasoned greens" -- the primary so-called seasoning being SUGAR. Check the cans for yourself. With the "Southern style" greens in particular, the second ingredient besides the greens themselves is SUGAR! Blech!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've tried all the different canned "seasoned" greens and they are beneath wretch-inducing.

Aren't there any canned greens anymore that aren't filled with sugar? I grow some of my own kale and turnips and also freeze some that I cook myself, but I always supplemented my own stock with Bush's canned greens. I grew up eating lots of greens but we NEVER put sugar in our greens. Onions, some kind of pork and a bit of garlic was the usual seasoning, or if fried, bacon and walnuts. No sweeteners.

Does anyone know where I can find sugarless canned greens?

[grasswire]

1. how about frozen greens?

Do they exist in grocery stores?

Off topic, but I've always wondered why the canned baked beans are all super-sweet. Doesn't anyone make savory beans with just a drip of molasses for flavor?

[theHandpuppet]

2. I'm looking for canned because they don't require electricity for storage

I keep lots of canned goods in my cellar pantry because it provides me with a store of emergency goods that don't require electricity to preserve. I do freeze some of my own, home-grown kale though. Kale is so hearty that it winters over here in northern WV. Folks who hate greens have probably never had fresh greens cooked properly (i.e., not cooked into mush). I like mixing turnip and kale greens along with diced turnips. Diced parsnips are a great addition too if you like a bit more of a kick.

I agree with you about the baked beans. Everything these days is ruined with the addition with loads of sugar and/or corn syrup. You can barely taste the actual food these days for all the sugar! B&M used to make some good baked beans but I haven't had any in quite some time so I couldn't guarantee they are using the same recipe. It came/comes in brown glass jars.

Frankly, I think many people these days have no idea what real food tastes like!

[Denninmi]

3. Sounds like time to invest in a pressure canner.

You could probably just can your own without too much trouble. You're already growing them.

And I completely agree, "real" food is hard to find anymore. I raised some Cornish Cross chickens this year for the first time, and it was quite a revelation about how much better they taste than ones from the grocery store.

[grasswire]

5. I did google canned collard greens...

...and saw that a Florida newspaper had a taste test of them and a brand called "Glory" won the test. Also, I saw that Walmart carries a house brand of canned collard greens. The label is "Great Value" and it's a 14 oz can. No list of ingredients, tho.

[theHandpuppet]

6. I tried the "Glory" brand.

Hideous and full of sugar. But again, the poll was taken in the South where adding gobs of sugar to just about everything is considered the way to improve taste.

[shireen]

13. how do you freeze kale?

I'd like to do it for green smoothies.

[Warpy]

9. They sell frozen collards here

but fresh ones are available year round and most people prefer them fresh.

The only thing I ever used canned greens for and it was canned spinach was spinach pie. It worked.

[kestrel91316]

4. Can your own. Buy a pressure canner, and learn how to use it.

It's not rocket science, you just need to be fastidious about following directions.

http://www.pickyourown.org/canninggreens.htm

And remember, you are not using a pressure COOKER for this. You are using a pressure CANNER.

[theHandpuppet]

7. I've been wanting to do just that for years now

I was always afraid I'd poison everyone by making a mistake. I guess I'll just have to learn.

Thanks also for the note about the pressure canner. I didn't know it was different from a pressure cooker!

[kestrel91316]

8. Pressure cookers are small - just stovetop pots for cooking a meal in.

Pressure canners are ginormous because you have to be able to load them up with all those jars, and if they are quarts that takes a lot of room. They are TALL.

[Warpy]

10. There are several sizes available and the ones that take pint jars

aren't a whole lot bigger than regular cookpots.

[kestrel91316]

11. Yeah, but any pressure canner that can't take quarts doesn't deserve the name.

:evilgrin:

[Warpy]

12. That's why I got one that will take quarts

but someone with a tiny kitchen might feel a bit differently.