For all those who like to look for new culinary inspiration or who are looking for new alternatives to meat, jackfruit is certainly the new discovery of the year. In its unripe form, the world's largest tree fruit can hardly be distinguished from beef or chicken meat in terms of texture and consistency . Marinated and freshly fried or cooked, the jackfruit is simply delicious. The jackfruit is currently available on the market in two forms - as a can or in a preserved form packed in a bag. But what is the difference between canned jackfruit and bagged jackfruit ?
The question is of interest because there is a clear trend towards “zero waste” : whether in the supermarket or at home: there is increasing emphasis on reducing packaging waste. On the other hand, packaging is necessary to protect food from external influences and to keep the contents fresh. For this reason, it can be of interest to look at the different forms of jackfruit packaging: If you compare the jackfruit from the can with the jackfruit from the bag, you will notice that the two forms of packaging are quite comparable when it comes to resource conservation: the OPP bag as well as the tin can consume a similar amount of energy and resources in production, but also in recycling .
Clear advantage: transport and logistics
One of the arguments in favor of packaging in a bag is the lower overall weight compared to the heavier can of white bleach. In addition to the weight of the metal, canned vegetables are placed in brine or water - which further increases the overall weight of the product. Due to the lower weight of the individual jackfruit bag, the transport of the products is much more resource-efficient, which slightly improves the ecological balance of the bag . Even at home, the bag takes up less space than a can. Overall, less waste is produced.Practical side effect: opening
It's obvious: the bag is easier to open than the can - a can opener is not necessary. The jackfruit can also be easily stored in the bag in the refrigerator for 2-3 days after opening.Unfortunately, things are different with cans: cans can release tin into the food after being opened. In larger quantities, this puts a strain on the kidneys. Many cans are coated on the inside, but a can opener or fork could damage the paint. In addition, not every can has a protective varnish - many manufacturers still leave out the varnish, especially when it comes to canned fruit. As long as the can is closed, the missing or damaged paint is not a problem. However, after opening, the can should be emptied as quickly as possible.
Genuine taste and crisp texture
With the jackfruit bag, the taste and texture remain constant over the period from bottling to consumption. Since the jackfruit is not soaked in brine, it does not soak up the liquid but has a rather dry consistency . This means that the marinade can be better absorbed into the pulp during preparation - the seasoning becomes even more intense. A disadvantage, however, is the color: since the jackfruit is packaged in a bag without any additives, a natural oxidation process leads to a slight brown color . However, this does not mean any loss of quality and is usually no longer noticeable after marinating or frying.
To preserve the canned jackfruit, additives such as water, salt and citric acid are often added. These acidulants can distort the taste of the jackfruit. By the way: The shelf life of bagged jackfruit is similar to that of canned jackfruit, as both foods are sterilized during production.
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