Stewed beef is a product with a long shelf life and universal use. That is why canned food is so often bought just in case. You can find it in almost any grocery store. How to choose the best beef stew in 2022 among a large assortment, we will understand this material.
Top 10 best brands of beef stew according to KP
To prepare the rating, we studied several dozen manufacturers of canned beef tenderloin. The main criteria we evaluated were:
- product composition,
- type of production (GOST or TU),
- package,
- value for money,
- participation in other ratings,
- consumer reviews.
1. «Grodfood»
The stew of the Belarusian trademark “Grodfood” has a safe composition, without pesticides and heavy metals. Contains only natural ingredients: beef, onion, salt, pepper and bay leaf. The consistency of the beef stew is fibrous, and the aroma is juicy and moderately spicy. The product is sold in cans, as well as in glass packaging.
2. Bars
Top grade stew from the brand “Bars” is made according to the Soviet recipe. It has a natural composition, which includes beef, fat, onions and spices. The packaging is made of metal. The bank is equipped with a special ring thanks to what it is simple to open it. It indicates the grade, composition, weight and expiration date of the product. The taste of the stew is tender, without pronounced sharpness and extraneous aftertastes.
3. Scoop
Stewed beef “Sovok” has a natural composition: beef meat, fat, onions and various spices. Nothing extra! When heated, it is small pieces of meat. When removed from the jar, they retain their shape. The packaging is made of durable steel, the label contains detailed information about the product. The lid has an opening ring.
4. CJSC “Yoshkar-Ola Meat Processing Plant”
Beef stew of the highest grade is produced according to the requirements established by the state. Consists of quality beef tenderloin, fat, onion and spices. There is a moderate amount of salt and spices in the composition of the stew, so the taste does not have extraneous notes. When heated, it breaks up into fibers, which indicates good quenching. Produced in a durable aluminum can.
5. “Vkusville”
Stewed beef of the highest grade brand “Vkusvill” consists of meat, onions and spices. The fat content in it is minimal, and the veins and impurities are completely absent. The steel can is easy to open thanks to the metal ring on the lid. Shelf life after opening the package – no more than twenty-four hours.
6. “Mikoyan”
Beef stew is made in accordance with GOST (1). The composition does not contain pesticides, heavy metals and other substances hazardous to health. Thanks to a special manufacturing technology and many years of experience of the manufacturer, the product has a balanced salt and spice taste, as well as a pleasant aroma. When heated, it is pieces of arbitrary shape, without coarse connective tissue and veins.
7. Slonim Meat Processing Plant
Slonim Meat Processing Plant is one of the oldest enterprises for the production of meat delicacies, sausages, semi-finished products and canned food. Its most important principle is the preservation of traditional recipes, stable quality and environmentally friendly raw materials.
The composition of stewed beef complies with GOST (1). Even after heat treatment, it retains its fibrous texture. The aroma of the stew is rich, meaty, has no extraneous notes.
8. “OMKK”
OMKK premium beef stew contains only safe ingredients: beef and beef fat, onions, bay, salt, pepper. Foreign impurities are completely absent in it. The stew has a natural taste, not interrupted by spices and herbs. The packaging is made of steel. “Orsha meat-packing plant” has more than 90 years of history, so you can often find fakes in stores.
9. “Kronides”
Beef stew of the highest grade from the Kronid company contains only natural and high-quality ingredients: beef tenderloin, dried onion, salt and spices. The pieces are large with a well-preserved shape.
The stew is produced in convenient retort bags made of durable food foil. This type of packaging has a number of advantages over cans: it is light, compact and easy to open due to special notches.
10. “Berezovsky meat-packing plant”
Top grade stew is packed in a tin with a key for quick opening. It consists exclusively of natural ingredients: beef, onion, bay leaf, salt and black pepper. Fat in the composition is present in a minimal amount and, if desired, can be easily removed, since it is not part of the pieces. The beef has a soft, fibrous texture and a bright, spicy flavor.
How to choose the right beef stew
Shares recommendations on how to choose beef stew brand chef Kirill Minyaev.
Give preference to products from trusted farms
To date, the most developed regions in terms of animal husbandry and the production of such products are Altai, Bashkortostan, Buryatia, and the Orenburg region.
GOST or TU
GOST more strictly regulates the requirements for product quality, but this does not mean that TU will be lower in quality. TU has more flexible production conditions, but in practice there are better products according to TU than according to GOST. But there is one minus – specifications are very dependent on the economic situation in the country, so nothing prevents the manufacturer from switching to cheaper raw materials at a certain point in time. Therefore, a safer option is to choose stew according to GOST.
Compliance with state standards is one of the most reliable criteria for choosing beef stew. They regulate the quality of products, their composition, calorie content and taste. In Our Country, beef stew is produced in accordance with GOST 32125-2013 (1).
pay attention to the title
In accordance with GOST, only “Braised beef” should be indicated in the name of the product. No “Country Beef”, “Soldier’s Breakfast” or “Appetizing Stew”. Some manufacturers produce the product not according to GOST, but in accordance with the technical specifications (TU) – in this case, it is important to carefully study the composition.
Carefully study the composition
In a jar of stewed beef, meat should be in the first place – at least 56% for the second grade and at least 58% for the first. Soy products, flour and other vegetable ingredients should be excluded from the composition. Ideal composition: beef, onion, salt, pepper, bay leaf.
The composition should not contain offal, “meat products” and other vague wording.
Check the condition of the package
The jar must be intact, without dents. The label with the composition must be present and well glued along the entire length. If it moves away, there is a possibility that it is a fake.
The expiration date is usually located on the lid. Squeezed out numbers on the bank indicate the presence of serious equipment from the manufacturer. Another important point is that the jar should not be swollen, as this may mean a loss of sterility and the beginning of product spoilage.
Tin or glass jar
The stew, familiar to us since childhood, is produced in tin cans. It is a convenient solution for transportation and storage. Such jars are often equipped with a key, thanks to which the package can be opened without the aid of an opener. Also in stores you can find glass jars. Their main advantage is the ability to view the contents before buying and evaluate the ratio of meat and fat. High-quality stew is exactly pieces of meat without admixtures of tendons and offal in a natural yellow jelly.
Compare prices
Today, the cost of a can of stew can reach up to 350 rubles and more. Canned food up to 100 rubles is usually made from beef offal.
Sources of
- GOST 32125-2013. National standard of the Federation. Canned meat. Stewed meat. Specifications. URL: https://docs.cntd.ru/document/120010348