The Battle of the Beans : B&M Original VS. Bush's Country Style Baked Beans

I never got to have 'real' baked beans at home when I was a kid. My mother brought cans home of what were called "Pork and Beans" - watery, sweet and light. In contrast, on Thursdays, when the Boston Public Schools served franks and beans for their hot lunch, I experienced the richness and fullness of real baked beans. It changed my ideas and tastes about baked beans.

B&M baked beans (made by Burnam & Morrill, Portland, ME since 1927) has been the standard for so long that they are rarely advertised nor are coupons for them easily findable. Bush's Country Style Baked beans, on the other hand (made by Bush Brothers & Company of Knoxville, TN ) were initially made as light, rather watery beans in 1978. Only recently, in 2001, did they introduce their Country Style beans, a richer formulation seemingly designed to compete for some of B&Ms long standing market share. Are they succeeding with American bean eaters? In this admittedly limited trial, we attempted to answer that question.

Nutritionally, the products are similar but not identical. Per ½ cup serving, they stack up against each other this way:

Bush's Country Style: Calories 160, Calories from fat 10, Total Fat 1 gm/2%, Saturated fat0%, Trans Fat 0%, Cholesterol 0%,Sodium 608mg/28% , Total carbohydrates 11% , Dietary Fiber 5 gm/20%, Sugars 16 gm, Protein 6 gm, Calcium 4% and Iron 10% .

B&M Original: Calories 170, Calories from fat 15, Total fat 2 gm/3%. Saturated fat .5 gm/3%, Trans fat 0 gm, Cholesterol >5 mg/1%, Sodium 400 mg/17%, Total carbohydrates 31 gm/10%, Dietary Fiber 8 gm/32%, Sugars 10 gm, Protein 7 gm, Calcium 6% and Iron 13%.

Each taster had to swear that they had no predetermined preference, agreed to have eaten either neither or both products before and, quite honestly, none seemed terribly concerned regarding dietary or nutritional considerations. Baked bean lovers do not tend toward the population of gourmands. They were more interested in finding out which they liked better and would buy to compliment hot dogs, etc. at the next time of need.

The champion in the traditional pot-shaped glass jar.

Credit: bmbeans.com

Copyright: bmbeans.com