10 Canned Kidney Beans, Ranked

There are so many types of canned beans you should keep stocked in your pantry, from firm chickpeas to creamy cannellini. But there's an often-overlooked bean variety that you may not seek out very often: kidney beans. They may not appear in quite as many recipes as, say, chickpeas or black beans, but they have a unique, earthy flavor that can add protein, fiber, and even a meaty quality to some of your favorite dishes, like bean curries and bean salads. And although you can always cook dry kidney beans from scratch, it's often easier to grab a can from your local grocery store; that way, you don't have to worry about soaking them overnight, cooking them on the stove for a few hours, and seasoning them afterward.

But if you're going to opt for canned kidney beans, which variety should you seek out? I've tried 10 different cans of kidney beans to give you the info on which taste best and which you might not want to try. The best-ranked of the bunch pack a lot of flavor, both in saltiness and earthiness, I expect from this variety of bean, while also delivering a pleasant texture. I tend to prefer firmer beans, although a few softer varieties rose to the top in this ranking if that softness was sufficiently creamy. Take a closer look at these varieties before you buy kidney beans and see which ones might make the most sense for your recipe.

Now, I'll be honest. Since these are all kidney beans, the differences between them aren't that significant. If I had only tried Goya Dark Kidney Beans, I probably wouldn't have any issue with them. They scratch that kidney bean itch in a way that gets the job done. However, after comparing them to the other kidney bean options on this list, I realized that they were perhaps the least delicious variety I tried: They're quite bland. This probably shouldn't come as a surprise with plain canned beans, but they don't even seem to have much of their own natural flavor, let alone the saltiness I believe is required to make this type of bean taste good.

I also didn't appreciate how soft these beans were. They're not really soft in a nice, creamy way but rather in a way that reflects a lack of integrity. If you were to boil these beans into a stew, for instance, there's a good chance they would break apart relatively quickly. I wouldn't seek Goya out again.

I picked out two O Organics kidney bean varieties. I thought that this one, the Red Kidney Beans, would actually be light red kidney beans, although it ended up being made with the dark variety as well. They differ from the other can of O Organics thanks to the inclusion of calcium chloride, which functions as a firming agent in the recipe. Ironically, though, I found that these beans were significantly less firm than the other type from the same brand. Instead, there's a softness here — with a nice accompanying creaminess — that sets it apart from the other kidney beans on this list. However, that softness isn't terrible, since the beans still seem to have a decent amount of structure. Still, there are definitely kidney beans out there that have a much better, meatier, and more substantial texture.

Unfortunately, this can offer really bland beans. Although I could taste some saltiness here, making these beans better than the Goya ones, they were still missing that earthiness you'd expect from kidney beans. If you're simply adding kidney beans to a dish for some extra bulk and fiber, then these may not be a bad option. On the other hand, if you want them to deliver a decent dose of flavor, you'll probably be disappointed with this O Organics can.

You might assume that the organic bean options on this list are the best of the bunch, considering that many people equate organic foods with a higher level of quality. But in reality, I found that many of the organic options were less flavorful and overall less enjoyable than their non-organic counterparts. That includes Nature's Promise Organic Dark Red Kidney Beans. When opening this can, I was surprised to see that the liquid inside looked almost purple, way darker than any of the other cans. I'm not saying that's a good thing or a bad thing — just a curious observation that made me think I was getting something out of the ordinary.

However, these beans are quite ordinary, and not in a good way. This is a bland can of beans. While they pack more flavor than the worst-ranked beans, they still fall flat, adding very little to any recipe they touch. They also have a sad, flaccid softness that doesn't do this style of bean justice. Overall, these kidney beans are okay, but I wouldn't pay for the extra cost of organic for them when there are non-organic versions out there that taste better.

O Organics' Dark Red Kidney Beans, unlike their sibling beans, do not contain calcium chloride. Because they lack that firming agent, you might expect these beans to be quite soft and squishy. That's not what I discovered at all, though. Instead, these were some of the firmest beans in the entire lineup. In fact, they might even have been a bit too firm for my taste, with a hardness that made them feel dry. However,  like the blandness from the other O Organics variety, there's not much flavor here — though you'll still get enough saltiness to keep things interesting.

These beans definitely aren't bad, but they are forgettable. I could get store-brand beans (even from the same store I bought these from) while spending less money and getting more flavor to boot; it doesn't really make sense to buy this can.

You might think of Progresso as a soup brand, but did you know it makes canned beans as well? Admittedly, Progresso's Red Kidney Beans are far from my favorite in this lineup, but I actually thought they weren't bad ... depending on what you plan on using them for. These beans are extremely soft — like, the softest I tried out of all of these brands — but they have a nice creaminess that makes them feel kind of luxurious for canned beans. They're also saltier than most of the other beans listed here. That said, they lack the bold, earthy flavor I crave from kidney beans, so they're still not the tastiest.

I think these beans could be tasty in some applications, like if you're making a blended bean spread or adding them to a good chili recipe. In these sorts of contexts, their softness and saltiness can shine (as long as you don't boil them for too long, since they will probably break down pretty easily). However, I wouldn't choose this brand of beans for a recipe where it's more important that they stay intact, i.e., in a salad recipe.

Now that we're halfway through the list, we're starting to get into some of the better kidney beans of the lineup. S&W's Kidney Beans aren't the most delicious you'll ever try, but compared to the competition, they're one of the tastier varieties I sought out. There's a nice firmness in these beans, with a structural integrity that makes me think they could withstand a lot. I wouldn't worry about stirring them into a soup or a chili that's going to be on the stove for a while, for instance.

This is also the first brand I'm covering in this ranking that actually features the earthy flavor I'm looking for in kidney beans. It's not as pronounced as it is in some of the other brands listed here, but there's enough of that complexity that it'll keep you coming back for another bite. Of course, you'll find a decent amount of salt in this can as well. For generic, straightforward applications where kidney beans aren't the star of the show, S&W gets the job done.

B&M Red Kidney Baked Beans are something entirely different than any other type of canned kidney beans in this ranking. That's because they're baked beans, with a sweetish sauce that provides a whole new level of flavor. I can't remember ever having baked kidney beans before, but overall, I think these are pretty good. On the texture front, they're firmer than I would have guessed, which gives the beans a nice mouthfeel but also seems out of place for baked beans.

Flavor is where these kidney beans really shine, though. The beans themselves are pretty salty, while the surprisingly thin sauce adds just the right amount of sweetness to the mix; it creates a delicious flavor contrast. Underneath those sweet and salty notes, I tasted that signature kidney bean earth tone I'm looking for.

So, why don't these beans rank higher on the list? Although they're tasty, they seem like sort of a niche product. This usually isn't what I'm looking for when I'm trying to buy a can of kidney beans. If you generally like the flavor of baked beans, then these are worth a try. But if you're looking for a solid, standard can, it's probably not the best fit for you.

If you really love the natural flavor of kidney beans, then Goode Foods' Dark Red Kidney Beans might be one of your best options on this list. I found the flavor of these vastly more pronounced than most beans I tried. Not only did I pick up on the kidney bean earthiness, but I also noticed a complex, natural spiciness that took things to the next level. There's also an unexpected bitterness that adds even more interest to the overall flavor. It really feels like the flavor of the beans themselves is being highlighted rather than leaning on saltiness alone. That being said, I didn't pick up on as much salt as I'd have liked, which is why Goode Foods doesn't rank higher on the list.

On the texture front, these beans are relatively nice and firm, and I think they'd hold their shape in most contexts, even after being cooked for a while. They don't have as much structure as some of the other options listed here, but overall, I think this is one of the better brands on the list.

You might not expect basic store brands to offer some of the best-quality beans in the grocery store, but in my opinion, they absolutely do. Despite being offered at an exceptionally low price, I really do feel like Stop and Shop's Light Red Kidney Beans are some of the most delicious out there. They don't have any unexpected ingredient that makes them shine, nor am I placing them this high in the ranking because of their competitive price. Rather, they just taste great. Stop and Shop's kidney beans are the saltiest of all I tried, which really helps highlight the taste of the beans (which is also more perceptible and pronounced here than in most other brands).

These beans are an especially good option if you're looking for a softer bean. I think they hold their structure well, but they also have that rich creaminess that makes them taste sort of decadent. Admittedly, I don't like this texture as much as a properly firm kidney bean, but I think it could make more sense in some applications — making a kidney bean-based dip, for example. Overall, this affordable store-bought option is absolutely worth trying.

Now we've arrived at the very best kidney beans of them all: Signature Select's Dark Red Kidney Beans. The first thing I noticed about these beans was their color: They're a lot bolder and more vibrant than the others I tried, with a bright, shiny appearance that immediately looks appealing. Looks don't always translate to flavor, but in this case, they actually do. The flavor of these beans is quite pronounced, with all of the earthy complexity I'm looking for. They're also quite salty, which helps highlight their natural flavor even more.

But where these beans really shine is their texture. They're among the firmest beans in the lineup, but none of them feel too hard. Additionally, despite that firmness, they still have the requisite creamy texture that makes beans appealing. I think you could use these types of beans in basically any recipe that calls for kidney beans and get a solid result. And although I didn't take value into account when ranking these beans, you can buy them for a relatively affordable price point, considering that it's a store brand, making them seem like an even better option.

I selected all of the canned kidney bean brands I could find at a few of my local grocery stores. The criteria I used for this ranking include both flavor, where I looked for flavorful and salty beans, and texture, in which I prioritized either firmness or a structured, creamy softness in the beans. I tried all of these beans at room temperature one after another on their own, without any other added ingredients.