13 Canned Fruits You Should Have In Your Pantry

Peaches

Canned peaches are incredibly convenient for a wide range of dishes. Whether in salads, cocktails, desserts, or anything in between, their versatility and flavor are unmatched. Grilling them is a particularly fantastic option: when warmed and marked by the grill, they can be utilized in countless ways. For starters, grilled peaches can be enjoyed as a delightful side dish on their own or drizzled with balsamic reduction. They also pair wonderfully on pizza with spicy honey, fresh basil, and ricotta cheese. For a fresher twist, consider adding them to a salad with burrata and champagne vinaigrette.

In addition, canned peaches are a great choice for desserts, especially during winter months when fresh peaches are unavailable. They are delicious atop ice cream or incorporated into pies and tarts. Sweeter breakfast dishes like pancakes and smoothies also benefit from the addition of canned peaches, making it hard to distinguish them from fresh ones. Lastly, the syrup from canned peaches is perfect for beverages. It can be easily mixed into champagne for a bellini or added to non-alcoholic drinks like iced tea, lemonade, and soda water.

Mandarin oranges

Canned mandarin oranges are just as tasty as their fresh counterparts. In fact, some might argue they are even better, as they rarely have that unexpected bitter taste. Whether or not you share this opinion, having canned mandarin oranges in your pantry is a smart choice. Even if you don’t usually enjoy mandarin oranges, you might discover new and exciting ways to incorporate them into your meals.

Due to their small size, canned mandarin orange slices make an adorable garnish for cocktails like margaritas, screwdrivers, mimosas, and more. They also bring a delightful citrus flavor to smoothies and can enhance green shakes. Additionally, mandarin oranges are fantastic in summer salads, providing a burst of flavor and a light sweetness that balances well with dark leafy greens. You could even whip up a vibrant, juicy coleslaw featuring mandarin oranges that might just win over the coleslaw skeptics in your life. Lastly, if you’re interested in recreating quirky 1950s dishes, a Jell-O salad could be the perfect choice. While it may not be a traditional salad, it’s certainly a unique retro dessert that is sure to surprise anyone you serve it to.

Pears

Delicious and succulent, canned pears are a reliable treat. Unlike fresh pears, they don’t develop brown spots, which can happen so quickly. You can enjoy them straight from the can as a snack or a side dish. Additionally, they are immersed in sweet, syrupy pear juice, which is like liquid gold for crafting delightful cocktails. A splash in a vodka soda or a glass of champagne will not disappoint—I can assure you of that.

Beyond enjoying canned pears directly from the can (or a bowl), they can be effortlessly blended into smoothies, along with the syrup and the pears themselves. Both make excellent toppings for ice cream or pancakes. If you choose this option, it’s best to use diced pears or chop the halves yourself, though it’s not necessary. Lastly, canned pears are an ideal ingredient for creating sweet breakfast toasts or fruit tarts. Placing them atop something crunchy, like a perfectly browned crust, adds a luxurious layer of texture that’s hard to resist.

Pineapple

When fully ripe, pineapples are incredibly sweet and juicy. However, selecting the perfect pineapple and determining its ripeness can be a bit challenging. Additionally, slicing a fresh pineapple can be tricky, especially if you're aiming for rings and lack a specialized coring tool. But don’t fret: canned pineapple takes away all the uncertainty, and you won’t need any advanced knife skills. Plus, canned pineapple tastes remarkably similar to fresh and can be used in all the same delicious recipes.

Grilled pineapple rings are delightful on their own, but they also enhance both savory dishes and desserts. This versatility allows canned pineapple to shine across a wide range of culinary applications. It might sound unusual, but pairing pineapple with cheese is a fantastic combination—think Hawaiian pizza or my personal favorite, pizza topped with pineapple and jalapeño. Canned pineapple is perfect for these dishes because it provides consistently uniform pieces every time. This uniformity is especially beneficial in baking, such as with a pineapple upside-down cake, where the arrangement and size of the pineapple slices are prominently featured.

Moreover, canned pineapple is an excellent way to elevate your cocktail-making skills. It serves as a stunning garnish for nearly any tropical drink and can be blended into smoothies, piña coladas, and more. If you’re looking to try something different, a smoky pineapple margarita made with mezcal is sure to impress.

Cherries

One of the greatest advantages of using canned cherries instead of fresh ones is that they come pre-pitted, making them much simpler to eat, incorporate into recipes, and enjoy in various ways. There are a few brands that offer canned cherries, but keep in mind that I'm not referring to cherry pie filling specifically. You might find preserved cherries in glass jars more readily available than their canned counterparts. Regardless, they are incredibly handy in the kitchen, and if you have a home bar, you'll definitely want to have some on hand for cocktails as well.

Numerous classic cocktails feature cherries, and they are rarely made with fresh ones. I can attest to this from my 20 years in the food service industry. Using them as a garnish for a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned is truly iconic. Canned cherries also provide a lovely finishing touch to ice cream sundaes and milkshakes, adding a touch of flair with minimal effort. If you're up for a more elaborate dessert, you can create pies and tarts using canned cherries, although in that case, canned cherry pie filling might actually be the preferable option.

Blueberries

As someone with family in Maine, I have a deep appreciation for blueberries. However, when they’re out of season, canned blueberries can be quite useful—if you can find them, that is. While there are plenty of options for blueberry pie filling in a thick, sugary sauce, plain canned blueberries are less common. Nevertheless, both varieties can be utilized in various ways in your cooking. That’s right—they’re not just for pies and tarts.

Both types of canned blueberries make a delightful topping for ice cream and sponge or vanilla cake. They also look and taste fantastic when drizzled over French toast or pancakes. Add a dollop of whipped cream, and you’ll be in bliss. If you manage to find a can of blueberries in juice, your options expand even further. They’re delicious in a mimosa or muddled into a mojito, and they’re absolutely perfect for smoothies. Canned blueberries can also be incorporated into baked goods like muffins, but be sure to drain them well—excess liquid can negatively impact your final results.

Lychee

Originating from Southeast Asia, lychee isn't as widely enjoyed in the United States as it is in other regions, but I wish it were. Its delightful sweetness, combined with a touch of acidity and subtle floral undertones, makes it irresistible to me. While fresh lychee can be hard to come by at grocery stores (some specialty shops may carry it, but not consistently), canned lychee is much easier to find. If you love the taste and want to indulge more often, opting for canned might be your best choice. However, even canned lychee can be elusive in stores, so if you spot it, I suggest buying in bulk.

My favorite way to savor lychee is in cocktails. I enjoy muddling them and incorporating the mash into margaritas, martinis (whether gin or vodka), Moscow mules, and more. A refreshing mix of tequila and soda with muddled lychee is another household favorite. Plus, since lychee is rich in vitamin C, why not transform your cocktails into a delicious immune booster?

Beyond beverages, canned lychee can be enjoyed on its own. You can also use it like any other fruit: toss it into a smoothie, bake it into a cobbler, or use it as a unique topping for ice cream.

Mango

Fresh mangoes tend to ripen and spoil quickly, at least in my kitchen. To avoid the frustration of having to throw them out, which I absolutely dislike, I prefer to buy them canned. This way, I don’t feel rushed and can enjoy them whenever a craving for this delightful fruit strikes.

Like many other canned fruits, mangoes are fantastic as a topping for ice cream or pancakes. They also blend seamlessly into smoothies and tropical beverages like mango daiquiris. Canned mangoes are a great addition to mango chicken curry, providing a touch of sweetness that balances the dish's spicy and savory flavors. Another excellent option is to make a sweet mango sago, a delicious mango coconut tapioca pudding, using canned mangoes. Not only does this save a lot of preparation time, but when combined with the other ingredients, you likely won’t even notice that the mangoes came from a can. The same applies to curry.

Jackfruit

Most canned fruits are great for sweet dishes, but jackfruit offers much more versatility. While ripe yellow jackfruit is fantastic for desserts, tasting like a blend of mango, banana, and apple, young green jackfruit is often consumed as well, and it has no sweetness at all. In fact, green jackfruit has a mild flavor that doesn’t overpower other ingredients, making it a popular meat alternative. It absorbs flavors beautifully, much like tofu, and is often shredded to resemble the texture of pulled pork or chicken.

Finding and using jackfruit at the right stage can be tricky, but that's not a problem: frozen and canned options are readily available and easy to use. I particularly enjoy Trader Joe's canned jackfruit; it's affordable and works wonderfully in a variety of plant-based recipes. One of my favorite ways to prepare it is by slathering it with BBQ sauce and serving it on a burger bun, similar to a pulled pork sandwich. I also love seasoning it with Mexican spices for tacos or burritos. Although I haven't tried it yet, I imagine it would be delicious in stir fry as well. Truly, canned jackfruit is an excellent meat substitute for nearly any vegetarian or vegan dish.

Pumpkin

During the autumn months, pumpkin-flavored treats appear in abundance. You can find nearly everything infused with pumpkin, but this trend dwindles for the rest of the year. Fortunately, there's a simple way to incorporate pumpkin flavor into various dishes whenever you desire: just keep a can of pumpkin puree in your pantry.

While classic dishes like pumpkin pie are excellent uses for canned pumpkin, there are many other creative ways to include it in your meals. For instance, you can create your own pumpkin latte by adding a spoonful of canned puree. You can also enhance a grilled cheese sandwich by spreading a layer of pumpkin puree beneath the cheese for extra creaminess. It also blends wonderfully into milkshakes or smoothies.

I must admit, I'm not particularly fond of pumpkin-flavored foods. Nevertheless, I always have canned pumpkin on hand. Why? Because pumpkin is beneficial for dogs. It acts as a superfood for them and has soothing properties for their stomachs. I give it to my dog whenever she has an upset stomach, and I'm consistently impressed by how quickly she feels better. Plus, she enjoys it, making it a delightful treat for her.

Olives

When you think of canned fruit, olives might not be the first item that comes to mind, yet they are indeed classified as a fruit. They grow on a flowering tree and contain seeds, which qualifies them botanically as fruits. Regardless of your perception of olives, these small fruits are incredibly useful to have on hand. You can easily find both black and green olives in cans, available sliced or whole. If you explore glass jars, you'll discover an endless variety of olives to choose from.

Olives pair exceptionally well with Italian cuisine. They add a delightful salty and savory flavor to pizza and taste amazing in salads, antipasto platters, pasta dishes, and meat recipes. Even if you don't focus on Italian flavors, olives are a fantastic canned ingredient that can elevate chicken dishes in no time. Canned olives are also perfect for making tapenade, which can be spread on bread or used as a simple addition to sandwiches or wraps. They are also an essential component of muffuletta sandwiches. Lastly, if you enjoy classic gin or vodka martinis, having canned green olives readily available is a smart choice.

Tomatoes

Similar to olives, tomatoes are frequently regarded as vegetables, despite being classified as fruits. Due to their botanical status, feel free to include tomatoes in your collection of canned fruits to have on hand in your pantry. I probably don’t need to remind you, but tomatoes are incredibly versatile. They play a key role in cuisines worldwide, serve as an excellent foundation for stews and sauces, and fit seamlessly into countless recipes.

Canned tomatoes are particularly effective at enhancing nearly any savory dish. From Hispanic to Asian, Indian to Southwestern cuisines, and everything in between, canned tomatoes contribute both substance and vibrant flavor. And we can’t overlook Italian cuisine — it wouldn’t be the same without tomatoes. Marinara sauce is the quintessential pasta sauce and pizza base, and you can easily whip up a batch using canned tomatoes. I do it regularly, and it’s always a crowd-pleaser. Using canned tomatoes simplifies the process as well, since you won’t need to peel the skins.

Fruit salad

Canned fruit salad, commonly referred to as fruit cocktail, usually features a blend of peaches, pears, pineapple, cherries, and grapes, though there are many variations available. Regardless of the mix, it makes for a delightful snack or side dish straight from the can. There's no need to alter it; simply pop the lid and enjoy every bite. In my household, once the can is opened, fruit cocktail rarely lasts long before it’s devoured. However, it’s also delicious in smoothies, tarts, and pancakes—whether mixed into the batter or used as a topping. Another tasty idea is to drizzle it over a bowl of vanilla ice cream. Essentially, anything that pairs well with a fruit medley is an excellent match for canned fruit cocktail.

The sweet syrup found in canned fruit cocktail can also be transformed into ice cubes for fruit punch or cocktails. While subtle, these fruit cocktail ice cubes enhance the flavor and add a fruity touch. They work wonderfully in margaritas, iced mimosas (with any juice), tropical beverages, or even a simple vodka soda. If you're short on time, feel free to pour the syrup directly into your drinks instead of freezing it.