Dec 30

Dec 30 WHICH REFRIED BEANS ARE CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE?

AMERICA'S SNACKING, PLANT-BASED FOODS, READER REQUEST

REFRIED BEANS — CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE®

Information updated December 2023

It’s a classic part of the ideal Mexican food meal >> Refried Beans.

Traditionally, Refried Beans are made using either Black Beans or Pinto Beans. The beans are soaked in water and then seasoned with spices and fried in Lard.

Refried Beans whose ingredients are closest to those we would use at home are designated as Closest To Homemade >> any ingredients we would never use at home to make Refried Beans are designated as Not In Kitchen™.

General Mills-owned Old El Paso Refried Beans contain numerous ingredients we would never use at home to make Refried Beans such as Sugar, commercial Natural Flavor, Acetic Acid, Citric Acid, Soybean Oil, Calcium Chloride and Hydrogenated Lard. (Source: General Mills Old El Paso Web site 12/22) This last ingredient — Hydrogenated Lard — is banned at Whole Foods who cites it as “Unacceptable in food'“. (Source: Amazon Whole Foods Web site 12/23)

We are paying for ingredients which do not have need to be in these cans.

Only Old El Paso Traditional Refried Beans are Closest To Homemade.

OLD EL PASO COMPARISON: You might think the only difference between Old El Paso Traditional Refried Beans and Green Chile Refried Beans is that the latter one contains Green Chiles. You would be correct, but . . . there are also three additional Not In Kitchen ingredients in the Old El Paso Green Chile Refried Beans including Citric Acid, Calcium Chloride and Natural Flavor.

CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE: Below are some Refried Pinto Beans with Lard which are Closest To Homemade with no Chemical Preservatives, Sweeteners, Flavors, Colors or Hydrogenated Oil. (Sources: Brand Web sites 12/23)

*Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list*

And following are some Closest To Homemade Refried Pinto Beans and Refried Black Beans with no Lard.

Discover more food + beverages whose ingredients are Closest To Homemade in 275+ categories. Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list.

Closest To Homemade® Master List