21 StarKist Tuna Products, Ranked Worst To Best

If you're trying to get your fill of protein without spending a ton of money, tuna may just be one of your go-tos. Not only is it one of the easiest ways to get seafood into your diet, but it's also a super-versatile ingredient. From tuna rice bowls to tuna noodle casseroles to tuna salad, the options are pretty much endless when you pick up a can or pouch of tuna. And although there are several different tuna brands lining store shelves, one of the most popular brands is StarKist.

Of course, you can find plenty of standard, plain StarKist products at your local grocery store, but did you know that the brand also carries a huge line of flavored tuna products? Some of these products showcase tuna at its best, with all of the seasonings already taken care of for you. Others are not quite as good. So, which ones should you pick out the next time you do your weekly grocery shop? We've ranked StarKist products from worst to best so you know what to buy.

This may or may not be an unpopular opinion, but we have to say it: Ranch is one of the all-time worst condiments. Therefore, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Tuna Creations Ranch pouch is far from our favorite of the StarKist lineup. Blessedly, you can taste the garlic in this product, but that's really all it has going for it. Otherwise, it just tastes of the creamy salad dressing you use when you don't actually want to taste any vegetables.

We're going to be honest — we probably wouldn't even put this stuff in a salad, let alone eat it on its own or with crackers.

We know what we said before about storing tuna in water, and we stand by that — it's just not as good as tuna stored in oil. But if you want to nix the oil for health reasons and are looking for a solid, unflavored alternative, then you might want to turn to StarKist's Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water. Because it's not in chunks, you get a much better texture from this product, and it allows you to taste the tuna more. It's definitely not our favorite, but it's a step up from the first canned option we covered.

There are definitely better StarKist options out there to choose from, but we totally understand trying to find a healthier choice. We just wish this one were more delicious.

The StarKist ranch flavor was already a disappointment, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Tuna Creations Bacon Ranch pouch doesn't rank much higher. All the problems of the ranch-flavored varieties are still there: That overwhelming creaminess still takes its toll even with the addition of the bacon. However, we will admit that the bacon flavoring at least adds something that's the slightest bit interesting. It has a mild smokiness to it that makes this product bearable.

We certainly wouldn't choose the Tuna Creations Bacon Ranch over most of the other products in this lineup, but we wouldn't necessarily turn it down if it were offered to us.

Not everyone likes their tuna to come in a pouch, and similarly, not everyone wants their tuna to come pre-seasoned. If you're working with a recipe that calls for plain tuna or you just want to experiment with flavors yourself, you'll probably want to opt for the Solid White Albacore Tuna in Oil from StarKist. This option is considerably moister than the pouches (in a good way!), and the oil adds a richness that we love.

That being said, if you're looking for plain canned tuna in oil, there are probably better brands to buy from. However, if you're looking for a solid budget-friendly option, then this canned tuna in oil may just be the best way to go.

Of all the flavored tuna pouches we've seen in our lives, there is perhaps none more intriguing than the Tuna Creations BOLD Red Curry with Coconut pouch from StarKist. At first glance, this doesn't sound like it would be good, as the fishiness seems like it would detract from the flavor of the curry. But we have to admit that this combo isn't too bad. The red chiles, garlic, and lemongrass offer plenty of flavor with every bite, and the addition of coconut milk gives the recipe a creaminess that's actually quite pleasant.

This is another one of those products that can be difficult to combine with other ingredients, so make sure you don't treat this pouch like your average plain can of tuna.

If you're like us, it's hard to dislike garlic anything. And when you add savory herbs into the mix, it all comes together perfectly. That's why we're fans of StarKist's Tuna Creations Herb and Garlic pouches. 

We're eternally grateful that they didn't skimp on the garlic in this recipe — you can smell it as soon as you open the pouch. It's not so strong that it'll overpower the other flavors in your tuna dish, but it may just mean that you can take a shortcut and avoid mincing that fresh garlic if you're feeling lazy. The herbs add a nice touch here, giving the tuna even more flavor and even a slight floral quality.

Looking for a tuna addition to an Asian cuisine-inspired meal? Then you may want to check out the Tuna Creations Ginger Sesame pouch from StarKist. It all starts with a dose of soy sauce, which gives this tuna the saltiness it needs to handle the other ingredients. The sesame seeds add richness and fullness to the equation that's both unexpected and really delicious. Add in that spicy ginger, and it's clear why this flavor is such a success. Garlic and citrus flavors round it all out, giving all of us the complex flavor we're looking for. This pouch is ideal in that it can be eaten on its own or combined with other ingredients for a savory meal.

This is another one of StarKist's higher-quality canned tunas, and there's a reason it's ranked so high on this list. The StarKist E.V.O.O. Solid Yellowfin Tuna with Roasted Garlic in Extra Virgin Olive Oil is super, super garlicky, and that's just how we like it. Using this tuna in a recipe will pretty much negate the need for garlic altogether (though we certainly won't blame you if you want to add more). Although this stuff is good on its own, we think it's especially tasty when it's tossed with some pasta for an easy mid-day meal. Give it a try if you can never get enough garlic in your life.

Korean food lovers have to get their hands on this next StarKist product. We won't lie — we were hesitant about trying the Tuna Creations BOLD Spicy Korean Style with Gochujang. After all, the spicy, sort of sweet gochujang is so delicious, we thought it might pair strangely with the tuna. Alas, we were wrong.

This tuna pouch contains gochujang along with onion and garlic to give the tuna a bit of an extra kick. We absolutely love making rice bowls with this stuff because it adds a layer of interesting flavor it would otherwise be hard to achieve. Of course, feel free to add even more gochujang to the recipe if that's what you're craving!

Thai chili is probably one of the most beloved flavors of all time, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that we're absolutely obsessed with StarKist's Tuna Creations BOLD Thai Chili pouches. The first thing you notice is the heat — it's not as mild as you may have assumed. The next thing that hits you is a subtle sweetness. Now, we know we already said that we don't love a super-sweet sauce combined with tuna, but we'll make an exception here. You actually don't pick up a ton of sweetness in this product — it seems well-integrated with the spice. Give it a try for yourself if you want to see what this Thai chili-flavored tuna is like.