The Battle of the Beans : B&M Original VS. Bush's Country Style Baked Beans
By David Reinstein,LCSW, 22nd Feb 2012 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutHealthDiet & Nutrition
Two of America's Classic Canned Baked Bean Square Off in a Spoon-to-spoon Taste Off with Eleven Dedicated Bean Eaters - Ages 12 to 76.
The Beans Battle
I never got to have 'real' baked beans at home when I was a kid. My mother brought cans home of what were called "Pork and Beans" - watery, sweet and light. In contrast, on Thursdays, when the Boston Public Schools served franks and beans for their hot lunch, I experienced the richness and fullness of real baked beans. It changed my ideas and tastes about baked beans.
There are a lot of products calling themselves “Baked Beans” on store shelves, but some are not. Most of those labeled “Pork and Beans” are not the kind of baked beans I am talking about. Bush’s and B&M are probably the best known brands of what I regard as the “real thing.”
The time seemed right to structure a pseudo-scientific experiment to have people taste and compare these two well-respected and popular brands that enthusiastically compete for our baked-bean-eating needs.
B & M
B&M baked beans (made by Burnam & Morrill, Portland, ME since 1927) has been the standard for so long that they are rarely advertised nor are coupons for them easily findable. Bush's Country Style Baked beans, on the other hand (made by Bush Brothers & Company of Knoxville, TN ) were initially made as light, rather watery beans in 1978. Only recently, in 2001, did they introduce their Country Style beans, a richer formulation seemingly designed to compete for some of B&Ms long standing market share. Are they succeeding with American bean eaters? In this admittedly limited trial, we attempted to answer that question.
Nutritionally, the products are similar but not identical. Per ½ cup serving, they stack up against each other this way:
Bush's
Bush's Country Style: Calories 160, Calories from fat 10, Total Fat 1 gm/2%, Saturated fat0%, Trans Fat 0%, Cholesterol 0%,Sodium 608mg/28% , Total carbohydrates 11% , Dietary Fiber 5 gm/20%, Sugars 16 gm, Protein 6 gm, Calcium 4% and Iron 10% .
B&M Original: Calories 170, Calories from fat 15, Total fat 2 gm/3%. Saturated fat .5 gm/3%, Trans fat 0 gm, Cholesterol >5 mg/1%, Sodium 400 mg/17%, Total carbohydrates 31 gm/10%, Dietary Fiber 8 gm/32%, Sugars 10 gm, Protein 7 gm, Calcium 6% and Iron 13%.
The Taste Test
Each taster had to swear that they had no predetermined preference, agreed to have eaten either neither or both products before and, quite honestly, none seemed terribly concerned regarding dietary or nutritional considerations. Baked bean lovers do not tend toward the population of gourmands. They were more interested in finding out which they liked better and would buy to compliment hot dogs, etc. at the next time of need.
Each taster was blindfolded and served, one at a time, four small bowls of hot-enough-to-eat beans - two of each brand, randomly served by our panel of three non-tasting proctors. Each serving contained about three tablespoons full of beans. After each tasting, the bowls were cleared, the blindfolds removed, and a score sheet completed by each taster indicating only three items: 1) Taste, 2) Texture and 3) Overall Satisfaction. Each rubric was rated on a scale of 1 - 10 to be tabulated later. (The scoring sheets were coded on the back by the proctors.) A small glass of iced water was served between tasting along with a small piece of bread to allow our tasters to cleanse their palettes.
The scores were tabulated yielding the following results. The maximum score either brand would have been 11 (tasters) x 2 (tastings of each brand) x10 (best possible score for each category) x 3 (categories) or 660. A perfect score in any one of the three categories would have been 1/3 of that number, or 220. We wondered if baked beans had ever been subjected to such numerological analysis and comparisons!
The Results
The results were as follows: In first place by quite a margin were B&M Original Baked Beans with scores of: 1) Taste = 196, 2) Texture= 207 and 3) Overall Satisfaction = 211. In a fairly distant second place finish were Bush's Country Style Baked Beans with scores of 1) Taste = 132, 2) Texture = 93 and 3) Overall satisfaction = 119.
So, there you have it. In all likelihood, one of the most honestly unscientific experiments ever devised - yet consistent with how most of us judge our food - by how it tastes in our mouths. For this group of grandparents, parents and children, although it was not a 'blitz' or a 'blow out,' a clear and statistically significant preference was documented.
Bush's didn't hold much of a candle to the B&Ms. It may or may not be a coincidence that Bush's has been filling the airwaves (TV) with ads for the past year or two touting the 'secret' family recipe and the fact that their dog may actually know what it is. When a product outgrows the need to heavily (and expensively) advertise, there just may be something to be gleaned from that. If you are not a baked bean eater - none of this will matter to you. If you are and have a favorite - you might think about giving the other one a try. Who knows? You may be missing something you'll wish you hadn't! (Both Bush's and B&Ms are also available in Vegetarian recipes, but they were not included in this experiential study.)
Comments
22nd Feb 2012 (#)
Love'em,but sure wish I could have some of my mom's homemade... they even top B&M's....:0)
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23rd Feb 2012 (#)
The whole test must be repeated to include Heinz Baked Beans. Heinz Baked Beans would be the winner!. .
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23rd Feb 2012 (#)
I have eaten Heinz myself.... But, you know, there is no accounting for taste.... when it is different from out own ! :-}
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23rd Feb 2012 (#)
You made my mouth water, David. Thank you for sharing.
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24th Feb 2012 (#)
Great share, thank you.
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24th Feb 2012 (#)
Very informative effort. What ever brand I get (usually the one on sale) I always doctor them up with more salt, pepper, mustard and garlic salt like most anything else I eat come to think of it. Thanks!
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25th Feb 2012 (#)
not so crazy about beans - but I really LOVED the article. Thanks David.
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