Roadfooders, what is your favorite canned chili?

quote:

Originally posted by PapaJoe8

The idea for this came from the "best canned chili" thread. Maybe there is not a "best" but just a favorite? Chili tasts vary greatly across the country from Cincy to Texas to LA. OK, I know nothing beats a good homemade pot of chili but.... what is your favorite canned chili?
Joe

Mary Kitchen no beans

Mary Kitchen, that's one I havent tried. I have not seen it at stores here in north Texas.

I kinda like the Tru Value brand sold at Wally World for a buck. It's kindof greasy and not much meat but...... It's got a good flavor I think. Anyone else tried it?
Joe

 
 Steak n Shake
 
Ray's

I have nothing to back this up, but a taste test and a comparison of the ring top cans and I wonder if Dixie and Worthmore are not the same things... Down here in Lexington, KY at the local Meijers Dixie is about .20 cheaper than Worthmore. Both good, not great, but good. Seems only logical that Dixie would connect with a local cannery, Worthmore over on Ludlow Avenue,  to produce their recipe.
 
What happened to the Cincinnati Chili thread???
 
 

I've been buying a lot of Hormel Chunky Chili with beans this year.

From Worthmore's web site:
"Contract canning is also available."

jimcor


I have nothing to back this up, but a taste test and a comparison of the ring top cans and I wonder if Dixie and Worthmore are not the same things... Down here in Lexington, KY at the local Meijers Dixie is about .20 cheaper than Worthmore. Both good, not great, but good. Seems only logical that Dixie would connect with a local cannery, Worthmore over on Ludlow Avenue,  to produce their recipe.
   

Easy way to tell if that is the case ... get a can of each and note the Establishment Number on the label or embossed into/printed on a lid.

For instance, Chilli Man (which is no longer my favourite since they were bought by Faribault Foods) carries an establishment number of 18816. Listed on the lid as "EST 18816 NOV2010" with the November 2010 being the use-by date.

If I find Chilli Man on the shelf with and establishment number of 1432 I snap it up - no matter the expiry date or price as it is among the last of the production from Milnot's Litchfield, IL plant and is SUPERIOR canned chilli.

Milnot also used to contract can ALDI's "Rangemaster Chili". I dunno who is doing it currently but it is worse than Hormel and only slightly better than Armour or Wolf Brand.

Oh, yeah - my favourite canned chilli currently is Ray's ... wherever owner Jay Nichole is having it canned. It is made to his recipe and is consistent from batch to batch - also right tasty.

www.rayschilli.com

My favourite restaurant chilli (that is available in more places than just my home town) is Steak & Shake - although their canned version will gag a maggot out of a garbage can. Dunno why that is. In the restaurant it's great. At home from a can it sucks.

Stagg Chili's "Steakhouse Chili" sold at Costco is the only canned my family likes..It's very good...we usually make our own!

I just tried a can of Skyline for the heck of it and it was some of the nastiest stuff i've ever had. You live and you learn.

  I haven't eaten canned chili for about 20 years so I really can not comment on this thread. I have been making my own for at least that long. Yes, it takes a lot longer but it is worth it.

JMHO

David O.

tkitna


I just tried a can of Skyline for the heck of it and it was some of the nastiest stuff i've ever had. You live and you learn.

If you put it over angel hair pasta and load on shredded sharp cheddar it ain't too bad a taste - but if you want some good chili from a can get Worthmore's or Dixie Chili.  Both are available via the internet if your stores do not stock the brands.

Also add in some sauteed onions.

On the occasions I eat canned Chili, I always wonder where the meat came from....it's never a positive thought!

I guess Tabasco Brand chili would be semi-canned. It comes in jars and you add your own meat, beer (or other liquid) and beans if you want them. Simmer about 30 minutes. It is really good. Comes in original and hot (my favorite)

chewingthefat


On the occasions I eat canned Chili, I always wonder where the meat came from....it's never a positive thought!

Kind of like eating hotdogs.

NYPIzzaNut

chewingthefat


On the occasions I eat canned Chili, I always wonder where the meat came from....it's never a positive thought!

Kind of like eating hotdogs.

LOL...or baloney, head cheese, and a few others

Howdy Doodat

jimcor


I have nothing to back this up, but a taste test and a comparison of the ring top cans and I wonder if Dixie and Worthmore are not the same things... Down here in Lexington, KY at the local Meijers Dixie is about .20 cheaper than Worthmore. Both good, not great, but good. Seems only logical that Dixie would connect with a local cannery, Worthmore over on Ludlow Avenue,  to produce their recipe.
 

Easy way to tell if that is the case ... get a can of each and note the Establishment Number on the label or embossed into/printed on a lid. 

 
Well I did just that and sure enuff Dixie Chili is canned by Worthmore, Est 254. Are the recipes the same? I can't taste the difference, but make mine Dixie Chili...it's less expensive and I like the label. Chili is good too. 

HOME MADE OR NONE

jimcor

 
Well I did just that and sure enuff Dixie Chili is canned by Worthmore, Est 254. Are the recipes the same? I can't taste the difference, but make mine Dixie Chili...it's less expensive and I like the label. Chili is good too. 

WOW! They've been around for a while with an Establishment number that low. When a plant is retired/razed/majorly remodeled its number is retired and never reissued or reactivated. I'd be willing to risk hard cash on the proposition that there aren't many three digit establishment numbers still active. 

close to canned - 1 can of Rotel chili fixins", 1 lb. ground meat,
15 oz. tomato sauce, beans optional (use Ranch style drained).  

jimcor

Howdy Doodat

jimcor


I have nothing to back this up, but a taste test and a comparison of the ring top cans and I wonder if Dixie and Worthmore are not the same things... Down here in Lexington, KY at the local Meijers Dixie is about .20 cheaper than Worthmore. Both good, not great, but good. Seems only logical that Dixie would connect with a local cannery, Worthmore over on Ludlow Avenue,  to produce their recipe.
 

Easy way to tell if that is the case ... get a can of each and note the Establishment Number on the label or embossed into/printed on a lid. 

 
Well I did just that and sure enuff Dixie Chili is canned by Worthmore, Est 254. Are the recipes the same? I can't taste the difference, but make mine Dixie Chili...it's less expensive and I like the label. Chili is good too. 

The recipes are different even though their tastes are similar.

The first four ingredients on each are the same:

Beef, water, onions, tomato paste

But then they vary significantly.

Their nutrition facts also vary some.

I tried the new Hormel Chili Masters in a jar.  To me it has a much better flavor than most canned chili.  I do miss Castleberry's though.

I usually make homemade chili, but if I'm in a hurry and need a quick chili fix, we usually eat Stagg or Great Valu from Waly World. Sometimes I buy Ray's, but I can only find it at Super Valu and I don't go there very often. I used to like the roll of Fields chili, but I found a big chunk of vein in it once and I stopped buying it. 
 
While at Kroger's the other day, I spotted Skyline chili. I decided to go for it. OMG, I could not handle it.  I could not stand that spice taste, allspice or whatever it was. Skyline is definately not for me.

mbrookes


I guess Tabasco Brand chili would be semi-canned. It comes in jars and you add your own meat, beer (or other liquid) and beans if you want them. Simmer about 30 minutes. It is really good. Comes in original and hot (my favorite)

www.rayschilli.com

I've made this, and I concur; it is pretty decent. It's not necessarily faster; how much faster could it be? Chili is pretty quick already. But it is easier and more convenient. And as mbrookes says, it tastes pretty good.

chewingthefat

NYPIzzaNut

chewingthefat


On the occasions I eat canned Chili, I always wonder where the meat came from....it's never a positive thought!

Kind of like eating hotdogs.

LOL...or baloney, head cheese, and a few others

C'mon guys; they use "select cuts of meat." It has to be good!

It reminds me of a story I was told, buy a friend who travels Europe a lot for business. He was in Turkey, and at a deli he got a "meat pie". He asked the counter person what kind of meat; the counter guy said, "Meat." "OK, but what? Cow? Sheep?" The counter guy shrugged and said, "What difference? Meat."

Did Castleberry's stop making chili? I have a can of Austex chili and it is distributed by Castleberry's. Austex has been around for a real long time. Hmmm?
Joe

1. Steak n Shake indiviual portions
2. Tony Packo Chili

Both pale to homemade, but its quick and easy.
bkk