Top 13+ canned beans from Aldi, ranked worst to best

10. Dakota's Pride original baked beans

Along with its plain, undressed beans, Dakota's Pride also offers baked beans — an American cookout classic. Baked beans consist of white beans cooked in a sweet, smoky sauce, the flavors of which pair well with barbeque staples like burgers, coleslaw, and smoked meats. Although baked beans have a very particular flavor profile, they're a surprisingly useful pantry staple when the craving for a sweet-and-salty snack hits.

Dakota's Pride's original baked beans are made with a pretty standard recipe; the sauce that the beans float in consists primarily of brown sugar with a little bit of bacon for added savoriness and heartiness. I noticed a lack of smoky flavors in these beans, which is strange considering baked beans are always characterized by their bold smokiness. But that wasn't the most conspicuous aspect of these baked beans. The can — which is larger than a traditional can at 28 ounces — was only about ¾ full of beans. A significant portion of the can was full of just the sweet but otherwise bland sauce, which I promptly had to dump down the drain to get to the little golden morsels below.

9. Dakota's Pride dark red kidney beans

Red kidney beans are the most quintessential of beans. They're acceptable for any bean dish while maintaining a unique flavor profile. They're large, plump, and colorful, and ultimately, no pantry is complete without red kidney beans, but Dakota's Pride's version might not be your best bet.

Dark red kidney beans are known for their mild, earthy flavor and intense color. The red kidney beans from Dakota's Pride taste as mildly nutty and off-the-earth as any red kidney bean (despite the disturbing fact that they contain corn syrup), but their presentation was lacking. They were packed in a clear, viscous liquid, unlike any canned bean liquid I'd ever seen. It was unappealing, but it easily washed off, and then I pretended it never happened. The beans didn't look as vibrantly red as most dark red kidney beans I've experienced, but they were at least noticeably plump. After biting into one, I found it to be a little undercooked, which could be desirable for some applications, like if you planned to stew them in a slow-cooked chili and ensure that they retained their shape and didn't break down.

8. Dakota's Pride pinto beans

Pinto beans — everyone's favorite, so it seems. Just the sight of a pinto bean is enough to make one squeal with delight. The cute, tiny beans are associated with some of our favorite bean creations: bean dip, tacos, refried beans, and chile con carne, to name a few. I had high hopes for Aldi's pinto beans because I planned to stock up on a bunch of these extra-large cans, and fortunately, they didn't let me down — but they didn't impress me, either.

These little morsels were extra plump and not mushy whatsoever. Their texture struck a good balance: firm enough to hold their shape in stews and soups but soft enough to easily be mashed into a dip or refried beans. They weren't as flavorful as other popular pinto bean brands, but their bland taste could make an excellent vehicle for bold seasonings. The hint of classic nuttiness could lend itself well to spicy, meat-based dishes, but I wouldn't recommend dumping these pintos in a bowl and going to town — you'd be in for a boring snack.

6. Simply Nature organic dark red kidney beans

If you're a lover of simple, wholesome, preservative-free, and added sugar-free ingredients for your home cooking, then organic canned beans are a must-have in your pantry. Most of Aldi's bean offerings are Dakota's Pride brand, and while some of those beans are pure and simple, some have added corn syrup and funky preservatives that seem a little sketchy. The Simply Nature brand is Aldi's in-house organic brand (but you can also find its products at large retailers like Walmart and Amazon), and it offers a few organic canned beans for those who like to keep it simple in the kitchen.

Simply Nature's dark red kidney beans consist of only organic beans, water, and salt. The beans are extra plump and soft without being too mushy and have a vibrant, earthy flavor and bright red color that could make any dish come to life. These beans aren't salty at all and contain only 85 milligrams of salt per half cup of serving. While they could definitely use a heavier dose of salt, I don't hold it too much against them since adding salt is easy enough for anyone to do, and beans are better off being under-salted than too salty.

3. Casa Mamita fat free refried beans

As a former long-time vegan and refried bean lover, I've had my fair share of lard-free refried beans. Most of the time, they don't taste like their fat-laden counterparts, and then I'm left with a half-eaten bowl full of goopy disappointment and regret. Casa Mamita's fat-free and completely plant-based refried beans are some of the best lard-free refried beans I've ever had the pleasure of smearing on a tortilla and drenching in hot sauce.

I've ranked the can of fat-free refried beans from Casa Mamita higher than the full-fat version, not because they taste better but because they taste just as good while being free of animal products and fat, which is quite the feat. I had the opportunity to compare the two side-by-side and found the fat-free beans to be only slightly less rich than the full-fat beans. They contain just about the same ingredients as the traditional refried beans, although the fat-free beans have a little extra salt for the lack of lard, which takes them into overly-salted territory and likely won't appeal to those who prefer moderately-salted dishes. The spices are apparent but not overpowering, and the silky smooth texture of the beans coats your mouth and implores you to start cranking out some vegan tostadas.