Researching an upcoming trip to Maine, I came across a unique food item. Bread in a can. These cans of bread are apparently sold on the shelf next to the Boston baked beans. It’s an East Coast thing.
My husband affirmed the fact that people on the East Coast do indeed eat bread in a can. It is meant to be eaten alongside Boston baked beans and hot dogs. He ate this bread growing up. He brought me back a can of the bread as a souvenir from his trip so I could give it a try.
The directions on the can say to open both ends of the can. This needs to be done so the bread can be given a little push out of the can. I did so and the bread popped out easily. I put it on a serving platter and set it on the table for dinner.
I must say, I was a little disgusted looking at this bread on the platter. It doesn’t look appetizing. It has the exact look of canned cranberry jelly that pops out of a can at Thanksgiving with the lines of the can marked into it’s sides. I also did not like how the bread rolls around.
The bread sliced easily. It has no crust. It was very sweet because it contains molasses. I would call it more of a sweet bread then a dinner bread. Almost more like a muffin really. Apparently, if the original flavor isn’t sweet enough, one can purchase the version with raisins.
While it tasted fine, I really do not see the point in purchasing this bread. I would be embarrassed to set it out for company as it doesn’t look appealing. It would be a good pantry staple for emergencies, however, I would prefer a fresh loaf of bread (homemade or store bought).
The bread in a can does bring up some questions for me. How does B&M get the bread in the can? How is it cooked? I looked into this and found that the bread is steamed in the can. https://www.mashed.com/270569/the-surprising-origin-of-canned-bread/ Martha Stewart even has a recipe to make homemade bread in a can. https://www.simplemost.com/make-boston-brown-bread-in-a-can-at-home/
It’s interesting how different regions have their own specific food items. I do not know of any stores in So Cal that sell bread in a can. I wonder what other unique food I am missing out on. If any of my readers have food specific to their region of the map, drop me a line and let me know what I am missing out on.
As always, Happy Eating!
Another Day with Julie 
I toast ours on a grill with butter when we have it then again born and raised in New England and am always in Maine. Are you going to Acadia?
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Yes Eunice, Acadia is on the schedule. I have a bit of the bread left, perhaps I will try grilling a piece. 🙂
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Have fun up here and yes with a crock of hot baked beans the toasted and warm bread on a cold Saturday night always filled up us. You must try to see sunrise from Cadilac mountain when you are up there.
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We are planning for the sunrise, however, I’m not looking forward to getting up that early. 🙂
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If you sleep up there not that bad, then go for breakfast and take a nap lol I drove from 9 or 10 pm(from NH) to get there at 3:30 am on a 4th of July a few years back only did it once.
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I have never had that kind of bread… but it could be ideal when camping perhaps?
Pennsylvania is known for its cheesesteak sandwiches. Arizona is known for its fry bread and anything that has prickly pear juice.
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Yes Nancy, camping would be perfect for this bread. Bring along a can of beans and you’re all set. I can’t say that I have had prickly pear juice. How would you describe it’s flavor?
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First off… It’s hard to pick, lol! We used tongs to pick the fruit.
The juice is similar to a raspberry flavor but it does taste different. I use to make prickly pear margaritas. I have had prickly pear gelato which was very good. But the whole harvest and procedure of making it …is way too labor intensive. But I can at least say we did it!
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That sounds delicious. I must agree with you that the process does not sound fun. Being pricked by a prickly pear must be very painful. Can you get prickly pear gelato or other items in local restaurants?
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I only had the gelato in one place. But they make Prickly pear jelly and prickly pear is added to lots of sauces etc. There’s cocktails made out of it and people just drink it as juice. There’s even beer made from it. So it is found at restaurants.
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Prickly pear jelly sounds good. I guess I will have to give this a try when given the opportunity. Thanks for sharing Nancy and have a great weekend.
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I never knew and well, I don’t think this is for me! Thanks for being the tester and reviewer!
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Ha Ha Ha! You’re welcome. I am not sure this canned bread is for everyone, that is for sure.
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