Question regarding tuna?

Question

I am familiar with ahi tuna and it's usual method of preparation, seared on the outside and left pink on the inside. I have had it many times prepared this way and love it. But I know that in the US, tuna is also available in cans for tunafish sandwiches.

So is this the same tuna that is cooked all the way through? Or is it dried and reconstituted tuna? How is the canned tuna related to the precious ahi tuna? Is it the same fish or a different tuna variety? Because I thought if you cook tuna all the way through it dries out and most chefs & fish lovers frown upon this.

Thanks for explaining this to me!

Answer 1

Canned tuna has the variety printed on the label like, "solid white albacore". Different varieties, flaked, chunk and solid all have different prices. The the tuna may be cooked in the tin, so yes it is a totally different beast than ahi tuna. No, it has not been dried and reconstituted.

Good Cooking!!!

The Muse

Answer 2

Well, the tuna in the cans is cooked all the way through and is pretty dry but it is sealed in the cans with water.

People like to add mayonaise to it so it doesn't taste so dry.

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

It is the same tuna originally but it is the canning process which fully cooks it and therefore essentially dries it out and wastes it. This process also destroys most of the beneficial nutrients which are contained in the fish. The way you are used to eating it is the way tuna should always be eaten. Try this recipe:

Griddled Tuna on Coriander Rice with Salsa

Per person, you will require:

Fresh tuna fillet

3oz (75g) basmati rice

Generous handful of coriander, cilantro in US (roughly chopped)

3 tomatoes (deseeded and finely chopped)

2 large garlic cloves (very finely chopped)

1 spring onion, scallion in US (finely chopped)

3 inches of cucumber (peeled, deseeded and finely chopped)

1 red Birds' Eye chilli pepper (finely chopped, seeds in)

Extra virgin olive oil

Few drops of white wine vinegar

Salt/freshly ground black pepper

Vegetable or sunflower oil for griddling

Mix the tomatoes, garlic, spring onion, cucumber, chilli pepper and half of the coriander with a good splash of extra virgin olive oil, season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cover with clingfilm and place in the fridge for about an hour for the flavours to infuse, or even better, prepare this the night before!

Boil the rice as per the instructions on the packet and when ready, mix through the remaining chopped coriander and season with salt.

Oil the tuna fillets lightly with vegetable or sunflower oil (do NOT oil the pan) and cook for about a minute each side on a very hot griddle pan. The fillets should be cooked on the outside only and remain deliciously moist and pink in the centre. Place them on the bed of rice and spoon some salsa over the top. If you do not have a griddle pan, an ordinary, non-stick frying pan can be used, but the fillets should be cooked for slightly longer.

Check the link for a photograph and lots more fish recipes...

Answer 4

Canned tuna is cooked all the way through. It is not ahi tuna but it is good tuna. It is canned in oil or water. It is not dry but it is flaked. You add a little mayo to it to spread on bread or like me I use lemon pepper, dill, onion, pickles and a little mayo. I use saltine crackers instead of bread.

Canned tuna is affordable and can be used in any recipe. Tuna canned in water is healthier but they say the one canned in oil is tastier. You would have to be the judge on that.

Answer 5

In USA canned Tuna is mostly Albacore or Long Fin Tuna (Same) Packed in water or oil because it is always dry when cooked completely.You can (Paying premium price) get what ever specie you want canned Blue Fin, Yellow Fin, or Big Eye,Etc It will still be dry and have much improved flavor over run of the mill Albacore.Canned tuna is either cooked then canned and cooked again, or Canned raw and cooked in can exclusively. It is never made from dried fish Some Caner's will use" False Tuna's" like Skip Jack, Tunny,and the like, some people like them .

Answer 6

There's many varieties of tuna.  Canned tuna isn't dried but you wouldn't want to use something as delicious as ahi tuna for it.  They usually can skip jack tuna.

Answer 7

Here in the US, canned tuna has been around forever. It is real tuna, but anytime you put something in a can, no matter what, it becomes cooked because of the canning process. It is usually tuna in little pieces called chunks. Most American will make a sandwich out of it with added onions or Mayonnaise. Another popular dish is tuna, noodle casserole which has a lot of milk in it to make it creamy. You are right, that canned tuna is dry. That is why we add stuff to it to make it taste better. I love fresh ahi just the way you do and I love it raw as in sashimi even better.

Answer 8

np