Canned tuna is perfectly safe to eat directly out of the can, with no further preparation necessary; however, rinsing the tuna before eating it can remove excess sodium, and in the case of tuna that is packed in oil, rinsing it can remove some of the excess calories.
Canned foods in particular usually contain high levels of sodium. One way to reduce your salt intake with canned food, like tuna for example, is washing. Studies show that rinsing reduces the amount of sodium in canned tuna by 80%.
Abstract. The sodium content of water-rinsed canned green beans, tuna, and cottage cheese was analyzed. A 3-minute rinse of tuna and cottage cheese resulted in sodium reductions of 80% and 63%, respectively, with no significant effect on iron content. Calcium was reduced by approximately 50%.
4. Can cooking fish get rid of the mercury? No, there is no method of cooking or cleaning fish that will reduce the amount of mercury. Pregnant women should enjoy cooked fish and not eat raw fish as raw fish may have bacteria that can harm your baby.
Draining and rinsing of canned vegetables can reduce the sodium content from 9 23%. Analytical values for the three vegetables tested were lower than that declared on the label. Of all the nutrients tested, vitamin C decreased from 5-28% with draining and rinsing.
If you're counting calories and maximizing omega-3 fatty acids, then tuna in water might make a great choice. On the other hand, if moisture, flavor, and vitamin D levels are your focus, then olive oil-packed tuna might be better. Whatever tuna you choose, it's important not to go overboard for this mild-flavored fish.
Not all tuna cans say this - but those that do are often prepared in a way that the liquid is from the meat. If you drain, you'll be left with a very dry meat. Mixing it will allow the meat to reabsorb all of the moisture. Quite a bit of flavor is in this liquid, as is many nutrients.
Oil vs Water
Tuna packed in water will contain fewer calories and less fat but also allows for the loss of omega 3 fatty acids to occur. Water-packed also dilutes the natural juices and flavors contained within the fish and can lead to a more rounded and less refined taste.
How to Rinse and Drain Canned Beans. Unless the recipe tells you to keep the canned beans in their liquid, you should drain your can and give the beans a good rinse before using. This will improve the flavor and texture of your finished dish.
Tuna certainly can be eaten straight out of the can, however, it's important to bear in mind that there are some potential health risks associated with doing this. There is the possibility that the tuna could contain bacteria that can cause food poisoning if not properly handled.
A potato ricer makes an excellent tool to drain canned tuna. Just empty the can into the ricer, close the handle, and squeeze out the water or oil.
Canned tuna is the only seafood in some people's diets. So that's why mercury contamination is such a concern in this particular fish. Mercury is a known neurotoxin. Too much of it is harmful to children, whose bodies and brains are still growing.
Canned light tuna is in the “Best Choices” category and it is fine to eat 2 to 3 servings per week. We recommend that you eat a variety of fish.
If it's just the tuna meat you're after and you plan to dump the liquid out anyway, water-packed may be a better option. But if you are looking for canned tuna that is a bit softer and more flavorful, one packed in oil like olive oil may be a better bet.
Here's the good news: For a classic mayo-dressed tuna salad, it really doesn't matter what kind of tuna you use, since the quality differences are entirely covered up by the mayo and seasonings. Oil-packed gives you a slight texture advantage, but even water-packed works.
Researchers found that rinsing canned tuna for three minutes removes up to 80 percent of the sodium. So instead of getting 210 milligrams of sodium from 3 ounces of regular canned-in-water tuna, for example, you'll only get around 40 milligrams, amounting to 105 milligrams of salt.
When you drink plenty of water, your body can flush the excess sodium in your body. It is important to drink plenty of water if you have too much sodium in your blood because your kidneys will flush out the excess sodium and help to lower your blood pressure over the long term.
Hydration is extremely important. Consuming sufficient water can help your body remove excess sodium from your body.
Canned light tuna is the better, lower-mercury choice, according to the FDA and EPA. Canned white and yellowfin tuna are higher in mercury, but still okay to eat.
If you're concerned about limiting the amount of mercury you consume, and if you've eaten no other fish during the week, Consumer Reports says up to 12 ounces a week of Bumble Bee Chunk Light, Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light, Safe Catch Wild Elite, and StarKist Chunk Light tunas are the safer choices among the products ...
Canned white, or albacore (0.32 parts per million of mercury). Children under six can eat up to one 3-ounce portion a month; children from 6-12, two 4.5-ounce portions a month. Adults, including pregnant women, can safely eat this kind of tuna up to three times a month (women, 6-ounce portions; men, 8-ounce portions).