Food - Drink
Should You Rinse Canned Vegetables?
By CLARICE KNELLY
Canned vegetables are a simple and convenient way to get your daily dose of vitamins and minerals, even in a time crunch. However, the extra step of rinsing some canned foods before use is advised for certain items, which may leave you wondering whether or not it’s necessary for canned vegetables.
You should rinse your canned vegetables to remove extra salt, since many brands load up their brine with salt to properly preserve the vegetables. By removing excess salt, you not only avoid making your food too salty, but you don't consume too much sodium, which can increase your risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
Even low- or reduced-sodium canned vegetables only contain about 25% less sodium than a typical can, so they should be rinsed, as well. The only way to ensure you're not eating any more sodium than needed is to make sure you give all your canned veggies a thorough rinse under water in a strainer before cooking.