Store brand beans over name brand, even with the same price tag

My grocery store in Portland had both on sale for $1.29 a can, and I grabbed the store brand for chili since I figured nobody would taste the difference. Honestly they held up fine in a big pot, so why does everyone act like the national label is worth hunting for? Anyone else blind-tested this and stuck with the cheap option?

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wendygrant28d ago

Store brands are hit or miss in my experience, and beans are probably the one place where the difference actually shows up. The name brand beans tend to hold their shape better after simmering for an hour, while the cheap ones turn to mush if you look at them wrong. That matters for chili texture, even if the taste is close. If you are just making a quick pot and eating it right away, sure, save the buck. But for anyone who cooks slow or batches meals, that texture difference is real. I will pay the extra for the brand that does not fall apart on me.