How 2 Simple Ingredients Make Any Canned Vegetable Taste 10x Better

Canned vegetables are undeniably convenient and affordable, plus they have a long shelf life that means they can sit in your pantry until you need them. But we can also acknowledge that canned vegetables taste different from their fresh counterparts, as the canning process gives them a flavor and texture that could often benefit from a little improvement. That improvement doesn't necessarily require a long list of seasonings, though — just a little butter and a pinch of bouillon powder can make a surprisingly big difference to many canned vegetables. Together, they can add both richness and some savory depth to whatever you've pulled out from the back of the cupboard.

Butter is key here — it brings the fat, which helps carry flavor over the palate. And bouillon powder packs a punch of a seriously concentrated savory taste. It's often made from a combination of salt, dried vegetables, herbs, and other flavorings, which means it brings some much needed umami to otherwise bland-leaning vegetables. It's a similar concept to adding broth or stock to a soup; just that small amount of those concentrated seasonings can bring real depth to simple vegetables that could otherwise fall flat.

The process is simple — to one standard can of vegetables, add around a tablespoon of butter and then sprinkle in a pinch of the bouillon powder. You can use vegetable, chicken, or beef bouillon, depending on the flavor you want and who you're cooking for. It's a technique that will work with all kinds of canned vegetables from green beans, peas, and carrots to corn, mushrooms, and even potatoes. Drain the vegetables first, and consider rinsing them to get rid of the salty canning liquid. Then saute them in a skillet to develop some color, a technique that Julia Child recommended for elevating canned vegetables.

Beyond this basic combination of butter and bouillon, play around with other seasonings such as a pinch of onion or garlic powder, a crack of black pepper or even a squeeze of lemon towards the end. The now flavor-packed vegetables can be used in all kinds of ways, whether you want some peas stirred through a buttery mash, crispy mushrooms on toast to start your day, or a tastier simple, hearty soup made with canned veggies.