Why It's Time To Stop Storing Canned Tuna In The Pantry

Tuna salad might be one of the world's easiest pantry meals; as someone who works from home, I can definitely attest to this. Grab a can of tuna, pop that thing open and drain it, mince a few tablespoons of whichever veggies you have in the fridge (even those are optional), mix in some mayonnaise, and you're about ready to eat it. Nobody likes room-temperature tuna salad, though, so you have to let it sit in the fridge for at least 15 to 20 minutes until it chills, which can feel like an eternity if you're hungry. 

If you're a regular enjoyer of tuna salad, one of the easiest ways to get it right into your face is by storing the cans of tuna in your fridge. This is one of those seemingly minor details that'll save you time later, and your impatient side will thank you a million times over once you've assembled that sandwich and immediately started eating. But now that you've got chilled canned tuna ready to go, dial up your tuna salad game with a few extra tips.

Don't forget your basics, like draining your tuna fully outside of the can, breaking it up as you go along. Draining it using the pressure of the can lid might be convenient, but it always leaves your tuna with excess water, resulting in tuna salad that weeps liquid. Crumbling or shredding the bigger pieces of tuna gives you consistent texture in each bite, too. And don't forget to season your tuna prior to adding the mayonnaise; doing so concentrates the flavor in the meat, not the dressing. 

And when in doubt, crowdsource! A Reddit thread titled "What the secret to your tuna salad?" had many people chiming in with their suggestions. One user swore by celery salt, while another stuck to a specific combination of a "little mustard, mayo, celery, fine chopped shallots, a bit of pickle brine, a touch of sesame oil."  Then there are unconventional suggestions that I'd never have considered, like curry powder, diced apple (a tart variety), miso, lemon pepper seasoning, and broccoli. I'm a big fan of adding any fresh herbs you have in the fridge, but if I'm feeling lazy, I'll use pickle relish.

We have even more gussied-up tuna salad suggestions for you here on our own site that run the gamut from conventional to unconventional (like potato chips or pecans), so be sure to check those out. And don't forget to chill your cans of tuna in the fridge from now on. Your stomach will thank you.