While the debate between fresh versus canned is over, there’s another thing that divides the people’s opinion. It’s about having canned tuna with or without oil.
Tuna must be a very popular species because people patronize it, fresh or canned. Buying fresh tuna has its downside due to its shelf life which is very short. Canned tuna, on the other hand, provides that little spark that allows us to keep them for a longer period of time. Tuna is usually canned with oil, edible for the people, water, or in brine to keep it moist and to retain its flavors. People find it very versatile in terms of usage for the cook and eaters to play with. Canned tuna is usually used for sandwiches, of which, almost everyone would like to have one. It can also be used for salads and other meals, which allows the shredded pieces of canned tuna to add texture and flavor. Like other regular canned goods and seafoods, canned tuna undergoes some process of cooking before packed in cans to prevent spoilage.
One sad thing about tuna is that it is getting near the extinction line. The fish that everyone loves to have is decreasing in numbers. This causes some canned tuna to contain lesser tuna meat and more water or oil. This is where the people start to debate. Tunas retain their flavor and keep the juices in place through the oil or water it goes with inside the can. There are those people who think that tuna in oil means more fat, and that tuna in water is healthier. Canning is not always that bad. You can still get the Omega-3 fatty acids that you are looking for in a tuna, despite its canned state. It just boils down to how true your canned tuna brand is.
In choosing your canned tuna, I really think you should go for the one packed with water instead of the oil. One explanation is that the oil being added into your canned tuna during the process can absorb the natural fish oils which you are looking for, and when you drain it, you can say goodbye to the Omega-3 fatty acids. Water-packed canned tuna can be a little healthier mainly because water and oil do not mix. It leaves the natural fish oils intact while you drain out the water. That way, you can keep your healthy oils in place, while having some good tuna bites.
We are always used to having juicy meats, that is why we try to give our canned tuna a little lubrication with the use of more unhealthy products such as mayonnaise and the like. Mayonnaise is full of fats, and using it to give your tuna some flavor won’t be helping you lose some weight. What you can do is buy some canned tuna with water or canned tuna in olive oil and you can just do some tough draining after. To make a healthy meal, add in some herbs, spices, or veggies that can really give your regular canned tuna some extra flavor.
While the demand for both fresh and canned tuna is rising, it may not be a very good news for the tuna industry. Because of its current state, our appetite for tuna must compensate. Tuna is healthy but consuming more than the average limit can be an unhealthy practice.