Do you have a can of potted meat sitting in your pantry for the past month and are you waiting for that special weekend to arrive? Are you wondering if it is still good to use and will turn into a devouring meal to feast on?
Quickly find out! Here are some things you need to know about potted meat nutritions, their nutritional value, their evolution, and how long it lasts, so keep reading!
What is Potted Meat?
Potted meat is a method that was invented by our ancestors to preserve meat for a long time period. In the olden days, the concept of refrigerators did not exist. It was a time when there was no existence of technology. So people had to find natural ways to increase the shelf life of items. Lucky us!
Ancient Method of Potting Meat and How Has it Evolved With Time
Potted meat has been used for quite some time and has been stored pretty differently over the years, let’s find out how it was stored in ancient times!
- To protect the meat from rotting, people in the olden days used to cover all the leftover meat in large jars and would cover it from the top with animal fat.
- The layer of fat used to act as an airtight seal and prevent the meat from decomposition. This way the meat was stored and could be used in the future whenever needed.
- But thank god for the refrigerator and freezers, or how would we survive? With the evolution of technology, the jars evolved into tinned cans which can be stored in our refrigerators or even in the pantry.
Modern potted meats are also called canned meat and meat food products. These can are now pre-seasoned and have various ingredients like beef, meat, fish and pork etc.
Nowadays the main ingredients of potted meat are mechanically separated chicken, beef tripe, and salt. Armour Star and Libby’s are two of the most famous brands for potted meat.
Potted Meat and its Nutritions
The real question: Is Potted Meat Healthy? Is it safe to consume or does it contain excessive which can harm our health? Do not worry because the chart below will help you find out some essentials about potted meat and let you know if it is safe to consume on a daily basis, keep scrolling!
| Nutrition Facts | |
| For a Serving Size of 1 serving (85g) | |
| Calories 160 | Calories from Fat 108 (67.5%) |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 12g | – |
| Saturated fat 3.5g | – |
| Cholesterol 80mg | – |
| Sodium 840mg | 35% |
| Potassium 75mg | 2% |
| Carbohydrates 0g | – |
| Net carbs 0g | – |
| Fiber 0g | 0% |
| Protein 11g | |
| Vitamins and minerals | |
| Vitamin A 0μg | 0% |
| Vitamin C 0mg | 0% |
| Calcium 100mg | 11% |
| Iron 0.6mg | 8% |
| Fatty acids | |
| Amino acids | |
| * The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. |
Is Potted Meat Good For Bodybuilders?
If you are a bodybuilder or are planning to become one, then potted meat is the ideal meal for you. Find out why!
- They contain a lot of protein which is exactly what a bodybuilder looks for in his diet, sounds pretty good!
- They are very easy to consume since no extra time is needed to cook the meal, how convenient!
- Potted meat often comes in handy when there are no other food options left or when one is travelling. It is a great time saver in cases of emergency. Planning to avoid wasting time on meal prep this is the perfect solution for you!
How Can You Eat Potted Meat?
Finally, find out how healthy potted meat is, and are you looking for ways to have it? Here are a few ways you can enjoy potted meat at home. Let’s dig in!
- The most delicious way to use potted meat is by eating it with crackers. Both these food items have a long shelf life which means you can munch on these snacks while you’re on a trip. Sounds yummy!
- Another way to devour canned meat is by adding it in a sandwich. This is a quick and easy meal especially if you are in a time crunch. All you gotta do is spread the paste on your sandwich, add in some veggies and your meal is ready! Isn’t this convenient?
However, there are plenty of more ways that it can be used to cook and you can mix different ingredients according to your flavor. Here are some recipes that you can use to make potted meat yummy!
There are a number of canned ingredients like potted meat, potted beef, canned fish and sardines. We’re sure potted beef will make devouring meatballs! Imagine your kids running to the kitchen counter to have some of those mouth-watering meatballs you made. Oh the happiness!
Important Things to Keep In Mind About Potted Meat!
Before buying that yummy can of potted meat sitting in the grocery store aisle, here are a few things that you need to keep in mind!
- Potted meat has a long shelf life but always remember to check the expiration date at the back of the can when purchasing
- It does not have any specific storage requirements so it can be stored anywhere in the house. How convenient!
- Once the can is opened, make sure to refrigerate it
- An open can of potted meat lasts about 4 to 5 days for use! After that it
becomes food for the fungi!
- Potted meat contains high amounts of sodium – avoid consuming all of it at once because health comes first!
- If you are a diabetes patient or suffer from high blood pressure, we would recommend you to avoid consuming potted meat.
- If you’re planning a roadtrip, make sure to stock cans of potted meat – they are a great travel asset
Bottom Line
So are you ready to use those stacks of potted meat lying around in your house or are you waiting for the perfect occasion where you can make a devouring meal to serve your guests?