A can of tuna might seem like the simplest thing on your grocery list. Grab a familiar label, toss it into your cart, and dinner is halfway done. But when you open the can, some brands deliver beautiful flakes and satisfying flavor, while others leave you staring at a watery pile of shredded fish.
The difference isn’t always the brand. In a taste test updated August 3, 2026, Allrecipes compared eight water-packed tuna products. Serious Eats tested 38 varieties across oil-packed and water-packed categories, while Food & Wine examined eight oil-packed options in May 2025.
Their findings offer some surprises. A brand criticized in one test won in another, proving that the specific tuna, its cut, and its packing liquid deserve as much attention as the label.
Here is what the original tastings revealed about nine familiar brands, without pretending they were all tested under identical conditions.
Bumble Bee: From Last Place to Best Overall
Bumble Bee might be the clearest example of why judging an entire brand by one can doesn’t work. In Allrecipes’ eight-product comparison, Bumble Bee Chunk Light Tuna in water finished eighth. Tasters disliked its excessively wet, shredded texture and weak flavor. One described a metallic impression that made the experience particularly disappointing.
Yet Food & Wine reached a very different conclusion about Bumble Bee Prime Tonno Yellowfin Solid Light Tuna in olive oil. Testers named it the best overall, praising the generous fillet pieces, pleasant flakiness, and rich flavor.
The verdict: Bumble Bee’s water-packed chunk-light offering disappointed one panel, while its premium oil-packed yellowfin impressed another. Choosing the exact product matters.
StarKist: A Better Showing for Sandwich Lovers
StarKist’s familiar name didn’t guarantee an enthusiastic response from every tasting panel. Allrecipes placed StarKist Chunk Light Tuna in water seventh out of eight products. Testers complained about its soft consistency and pronounced fishy flavor, leaving it near the bottom of their list.
However, Food & Wine selected StarKist Solid White Albacore in vegetable oil as its best option for sandwiches. Reviewers appreciated its mild flavor, moist texture, and ability to separate into appealing flakes.
That makes the oil-packed albacore worth considering for tuna melts or classic tuna salad sandwiches, even though its water-packed chunk-light counterpart received considerably less praise.
Chicken of the Sea: Mild Flavor, Disappointing Texture
Sometimes a product isn’t terrible; it simply doesn’t give you much reason to buy it again. Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light Tuna in water finished sixth in the Allrecipes tasting. Reviewers found the flavor relatively mild but criticized the shredded, mushy texture.
Food & Wine also included Chicken of the Sea Solid White Albacore in oil among its eight contenders. However, the publication didn’t assign a separate numerical rank or provide a detailed assessment for that product.
The verdict: The water-packed chunk-light version struggled with texture. That doesn’t show how every Chicken of the Sea product compares, but shoppers who want firm, substantial pieces have better-documented options.
Trader Joe’s: Good Flavor With One Noticeable Drawback
Trader Joe’s Chunk Light Skipjack Tuna in water landed fifth in the Allrecipes comparison, delivering a mixture of pleasant surprises and frustrating shortcomings.
Tasters appreciated its flavor and the occasional substantial piece of fish. Unfortunately, much of the contents appeared fragmented, and reviewers considered the taste unusually salty. That’s a sensory observation, not proof that the product contains more sodium than its competitors.
Food & Wine separately tested Trader Joe’s Solid Light Yellowfin in olive oil but didn’t publish its exact placement. For shoppers considering the water-packed skipjack, the main question is whether its appealing flavor outweighs the loose texture and perceived saltiness.
Good & Gather: A Store Brand That Impressed
A familiar national label isn’t necessarily the ticket to a better tuna sandwich. Target’s Good & Gather Chunk Light Tuna in water secured third place in the Allrecipes tasting. Reviewers praised its firm consistency, relatively large pieces, and pleasing flavor without an overpowering fishy character.
Allrecipes described it as an economical option, reporting a price below $2.50 for a five-ounce can. However, that was the reviewer’s reported price, not a verified current price at every Target location.
The verdict: Good & Gather made a strong case for trying a store-brand alternative, particularly if texture and value guide your purchases.
Related: 5 Time-Saving Canned Foods That Taste Amazing
365 by Whole Foods Market: A Strong Water-Packed Contender
There’s something satisfying about opening canned tuna and finding recognizable pieces rather than a collection of tiny fragments. That’s what helped 365 Skipjack Wild Tuna take second place in Allrecipes’ eight-product test. Reviewers liked its firm, intact pieces and mild but enjoyable flavor. Some even returned for additional samples.
The publication recommended it for salads and mayonnaise-based tuna preparations, where those larger flakes could work particularly well. Serious Eats tested different 365 albacore products, so its coverage shouldn’t be treated as another tasting of the same skipjack can.
The verdict: For shoppers seeking a versatile water-packed tuna, the specific 365 skipjack product earned convincing praise.
Wild Planet: The Water-Packed Winner
Wild Planet earned the top position in Allrecipes’ comparison, with its Skipjack Wild Tuna outperforming the other seven water-packed products.
Reviewers particularly appreciated its firm texture, substantial pieces, and satisfying flavor. The panel’s favorite, it worked well in preparations ranging from straightforward tuna salad to recipes where the fish plays a central role.
Serious Eats also included Wild Planet Solid Wild Albacore in extra-virgin olive oil among its other good options. Although tasters generally appreciated its seasoning and tuna flavor, one questioned the quality of the packing oil.
The verdict: Wild Planet’s skipjack stands out in Allrecipes’ test. Its separately evaluated oil-packed albacore also earned a qualified recommendation.
Tonnino: Strong Results in Both Packing Styles
Tonnino emerged as an especially interesting option in Serious Eats’ extensive comparison of 38 canned tunas. Its Yellowfin Fillets in Olive Oil earned top-pick status thanks to generous flakes, appealing flavor, and a firm yet tender texture. Not everyone agreed, though; one reviewer found it slightly dry despite the oil.
Tonnino Yellowfin Tuna in Spring Water also made the publication’s top picks. Testers appreciated its seasoning and recognizable flakes, although some noticed softness or a slightly metallic quality.
The verdict: Tonnino deserves consideration in either packing style, especially when you want larger pieces of fish. Personal preferences still matter, even among the winners.
Conservas Ortiz: An Oil-Packed Favorite
Conservas Ortiz White Tuna in Olive Oil delivered one of the strongest performances in Serious Eats’ testing. Reviewers praised its generous, moist flakes, tenderness, balanced seasoning, and clean, savory flavor. The combination earned it a place among the publication’s leading oil-packed choices.
That makes Ortiz particularly appealing for preparations where the tuna itself remains prominent, rather than disappearing beneath heavy dressings or sauces. Still, Serious Eats didn’t publish a complete ranking that placed Ortiz above every other recommended product, and the tasting didn’t show it offers better value than cheaper alternatives.
The verdict: Ortiz received excellent feedback for flavor and texture, making it a compelling oil-packed option.
So, Which Canned Tuna Is Actually Worth Buying?
The answer depends on what you’re cooking and which product you choose. Wild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna led Allrecipes’ water-packed test, with 365 and Good & Gather close behind. Food & Wine preferred Bumble Bee Prime Tonno Yellowfin in olive oil overall, while Serious Eats highlighted options from Tonnino and Conservas Ortiz.
These were separate tasting exercises, not one universal ranking. Before reaching for your usual brand, check the tuna species, whether it’s solid or chunk, and whether it’s packed in oil or water. Sometimes the best grocery discovery isn’t an entirely new brand. It’s discovering that a different can from a familiar company can deliver a completely different experience.
