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As a proud supporter of the Beans is How campaign, which aims to double global consumption of beans, peas, lentils and pulses by 2028, it’s an understatement to say I’m a huge fan of beans. They’re a hero vegetable that’s full of protein, complex carbs, fibre and micronutrients, and they have myriad health benefits. But that’s not all: beans are also great for planetary health, not least because they need little fertiliser or water to grow.
Once viewed as cheap filler, beans, especially jarred ones, are now regarded as something of a delicacy. They’re more costly than canned, sure, but they’re also softer, have a signature, creamy texture and a more delicate flavour. I tested all the beans cold and straight from the jar, and rated them on flavour, texture, shape, sourcing transparency, certifications, additives and value.
The best jarred butter beans
Best overall:
Bold Bean Co queen butter beans
★★★★☆
An extremely large and plump, beige-yellow Spanish heirloom bean called piekny jas. Tender skins and a notably creamy, buttery texture. Sweet, with a delicate, nuanced flavour – among the best I’ve tasted. No preservatives, B Corp-certified and one Great Taste star.
Best bargain:
Mr Organic organic butter beans
★★★★☆
A large, cream-coloured Italian bean with a delicate, sweet and nutty flavour. Less cooked than most, so a little firmer, but still has a creamy-starchy texture. Incredible value for a preservative-free, Soil Association-certified organic product. B Corp-certified, too.
And the rest …
Monjardin organic butter beans
★★★★★
A well-seasoned, plump organic bean from Navarra, and a well-deserved “best splurge”. Ticks all the boxes for a beautifully nuanced, mineral-earthy flavour, soft and creamy texture – and for organic certification.
M&S Collection giant butter beans
★★★★☆
Plump, slightly golden beans with soft skins and gorgeously creamy insides. A pleasant, nutty taste with umami mushroom notes. No preservatives: just beans, water and salt. Packed in Spain with beans from various countries.
Epicure giant butter beans
★★★☆☆
A medium-sized, off-white bean with a soft skin and creamy interior. Less tightly packed than some; beautifully soft, sweet and rounded, with good integrity and shape. Packed in Spain and contains preservatives.
Holland & Barrett butter beans
★★★☆☆
A medium-sized, creamy-white, plump organic bean with a firm, smooth skin and the nice, starchy texture of a less-cooked bean. Perfectly formed with a familiar umami flavour. Just beans and water, with no added salt.
La Pedriza judión giant butter beans
★★★☆☆
A creamy, yellow, medium-sized bean. Very flavourful, with a wonderful, umami-vegetal complexity. Tender skin and silky but textural interior. Grown and packed in Spain. Contains preservatives.
Perelló judión beans
★★★☆☆
Humungous, plump, snow-white and ultra-creamy. Very tender, soft-cooked beans with a salty but subtle mineral-umami flavour. A simple ingredient list: Polish beans, water, salt and sulphites. A great plant-based centrepiece.
Belazu judión butter beans
★★★☆☆
A fat, medium-sized bean grown in La Rioja by a fourth-generation producer. Sweet, with a subtle, complex flavour and a hint of bitterness. Contains sulphites, citric and ascorbic acid.
Navarrico judión butter beans
★★★☆☆
Impressively large (these are twice the size of others in this test), shortbread-yellow beans with soft skins and soft, creamy interiors. A touch floury, but sweet, and with a solid umami flavour foundation. A simple ingredients list: beans (and sulphites), water and salt.
