I Tried 8 Popular Canned Tuna Brands and This Is the One I’m Buying From Now On

One of my favorite lunches growing up was tuna salad on crackers, but only my mom’s version. Her tuna salad had the perfect balance of mayonnaise and sweet pickle relish. She’d serve it on soda crackers with chips and we’d sit at the table and enjoy the meal together. I didn’t know much about tuna at the time. In fact, I knew nothing at all, just that I liked it and that my mom did too.

The options for canned tuna back then were pretty limited and I know my mom usually bought the same brand every time. These days there are a variety of options out there beyond the albacore I grew up with. I still love tuna salad, but which brand best honors that food memory? I tested eight brands and found a favorite.

How I Tested the Canned Tuna

I selected brands of tuna that could be found in large, national chain grocery stores and to keep the playing field fair, chose only “light” or “skipjack” varieties. All of the tuna varieties were packed in water and flavored only with salt.

I popped open the cans and transferred the contents to clear bowls so that my taste testers wouldn’t know which tuna they were trying. The tuna varieties were sampled straight from the bowl and testers were asked to make note of texture and flavor. Here are the results.

The Best Canned Tuna, Ranked

8. Bumble Bee Chunk Light Tuna

If you’re looking for tuna that looks and tastes like tuna, this isn’t it. Testers didn’t care for the especially wet texture that left the tuna limp and lifeless. Instead of hunks of tuna, testers noted this version came “pre-shredded,” which made things unappetizing. As for flavor, it just wasn’t there, but one tester noted, “this tastes like the can.” Bottom line, pass on this version.

7. Starkist Chunk Light Tuna

“Nope!” said one tester right after taking a bite. The soft texture was “off-putting” and several testers complained this one had a “fishy” taste. Because of this, it ranked pretty low on our list.

6. Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light Tuna

Just like Bumble Bee, testers noticed the shredded texture right away. Testers didn’t care for that or the “mushy” texture. They didn’t mind the mild flavor, but had nothing remarkable to say about it either. It’s an “OK” tuna, but doesn’t hold a candle to the top-ranked ones on this list.

5. Trader Joe’s Chunk Light Skipjack Tuna

Finally! A can with a few hunks of tuna! Testers appreciated the “meatiness,” but it just wasn’t enough, with most of the tuna represented as loose bits and pieces. It was also extremely salty, which might make it challenging to pair with other ingredients. Besides being a bit on the salty side, testers did say they liked the flavor, claiming they’d try it again.

4. Pole Line Skipjack Tuna

“A stunning can of tuna,” proclaimed one tester, commenting mostly on the big pieces of meaty tuna he saw in the bowl. All of the testers approved of the texture of this canned tuna, but it fell flat with flavor. This might possibly be because this was a “no salt added” variety, so we took that into account. The flavor was mild, and thankfully not fishy, so testers agreed it would be a good option for using in a recipe where you're adding more flavor in (looking at your, tuna noodle casserole).

3. Good & Gather Chunk Light Tuna

This canned tuna from Target's house brand was delightfully firm with good flavor. Testers liked the large, solid pieces of fish and liked that it tasted “like tuna, but without the weird fishiness.” This is a great economical choice too, at less than $2.50 for one 5-ounce can.

2. 365 Skipjack Wild Tuna

The tuna from the 365 brand of Whole Foods Market got the most accolades for its appearance thanks to the plentiful amount of firm, solid pieces. Testers said the flavor was mild, but delicious, and even went back for seconds and thirds during sampling. We agreed this is a great, versatile can of tuna that can work as easily as a topper for a salad as it would be mixed with mayo and other ingredients for a tuna salad.

1. Wild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna

“Delicious!” shouted one of my testers. Other testers quickly confirmed that after tasting, this canned tuna was their favorite. It offered great texture and firmness, but also was the best-tasting. This is a top-notch tuna and similar to 365, would be a great choice for any recipe that calls for canned tuna, especially my beloved tuna salad!

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