According to that article, “the main benefits of heating canned soup are its enhanced flavors and its ability to keep you warm in the winter.” “There’s nothing unhealthy about eating cold canned soup. ”.
Last week, social media personality Alix Earle, she of pork roll bagel fame, released a 14-second TikTok that turned some heads.
The idea of boosting the soup’s flavors is something to think about, even if it’s safe. But it seems that Earle is not the only one who enjoys canned soup that is cold or at room temperature. Many comments on her TikTok video said that they also eat soup straight out of the can, and some people mentioned that canned ravioli and SpaghettiOs are also delicious straight out of the can. With the growing number of purportedly delicious cold canned foods, we’re starting to wonder how many pantry staples are actually room temperature gems.
In the video, Earle was seen holding a Progresso Chicken can and exclaiming, “I have an extreme hot take.” “I’ve been opening soup cans lately and eating them cold.” Is that okay to do?”.
The botulism take is actually something I’ve heard before. To “kill” any bacteria that might have grown inside, a family member of mine always pours canned soup into a pot and brings it to a rolling boil. I never really thought it was necessary, but I wasn’t sure Luckily, Progresso has officially weighed in on the matter. The soup company released a press release stating that, if you prefer, you can consume their soup at room temperature.
It makes sense that you would want to reheat your canned soup in the stovetop or microwave before enjoying a bowl, but it turns out that this is just another canned food myth that we have accepted. It turns out that in order to render commercially canned foods shelf-stable and fit for consumption right out of the can, the FDA mandates that they be heated or processed to a degree that aids in the destruction of dangerous bacteria. Therefore, why is it advised that we reheat canned soups before eating them? Obviously, this is to bring out the flavors and help us feel warmer from the inside out.
You might be wondering if it’s safe to eat cold soup straight from the can, even if you don’t agree with the content creators’ obsession with it. This is especially because some commenters have raised concerns about food poisoning and botulism. However, Progresso’s Brand Experience Manager Shannon Heine approved of eating the canned soups cold or at any temperature in a statement provided to Mashed. “We can definitely support this extreme hot take— even if it means no kitchen time required— because our soups provide high-quality meals without the extra prep work or cooking time needed,” she stated.
Having said that, you can snack on any soup you choose from the can as well as any other canned food in your pantry. When searching for canned goods to eat cold, users of a 2020 Reddit thread recommended ravioli, seasoned black beans, Spaghettios, and pork and beans as other good options. But, as these can potentially cause illness, you should steer clear of cans that are dented, bulging, leaking, or that smell bad when you open them when looking for your Alix Earle-inspired snack. Additionally, if you’re sick, you might want to make homemade chicken noodle soup instead of consuming canned soup, cold or otherwise.
Prepare to learn whether it’s acceptable to consume cold soup directly from the can. The internet’s go-to Gen-Z best friend, Alix Earle, posted a TikTok video on which the influencer disclosed that she likes to open a can of soup right away without first heating it up. “I just opened this up and started eating this when I got home from going out last night,” she said in a TikTok while holding an open can of cold Progresso soup. She continued, “And I think its really good,” even though her horde of admirers weren’t exactly in agreement with the “extreme hot take.” One admirer even went so far as to refer to Earle as a psychopath, and another claimed that the mere thought of cold soup made them queasy.
