Cat vs dogs. Coffee vs tea. Pineapple on pizza vs pineapple not on pizza. 

Monumental match-ups that people have been debating for decades. 

In the world of John West, there’s one face-off we rarely go a week without hearing about – canned tuna vs fresh tuna; specifically, which contains the most protein.  

The funny thing about this ‘debate’ is there isn’t actually too much to debate.

While the amount of protein present in tuna can vary quite significantly based on the size of the tin and the brand, there really isn’t a great deal of difference when comparing canned to fresh.

1. How much prep time do I need? If you’re somebody who is constantly on the go then spending 20 to 30 minutes cleaning, cutting and cooking a piece of fresh tuna may not sound like a whole lot of fun. With tinned tuna, the three Cs have already been done for you, so whether you want to eat it straight from the tin, or toss it on a salad, you’re good to go.

2. What is my budget? Time may be money, but money is also, well, money. With rising food prices always a hot topic of debate, cooling it on the weekly big shop can sometimes be wise. Fresh tuna is typically more expensive than the canned variety, despite there not being any real difference in nutritional value between the two, so this may be something to take into consideration when drawing up next week’s shopping list.

3. How long do I need to store it? Fresh tuna must be refrigerated and eaten within a matter of days. Canned tuna, on the other hand, can be stored at room temperature for years until opened. This means, not only is it ideal for quick meals, it is far better in terms of reducing food waste.

The truth is, there is no winner. 

Making a choice between fresh tuna and canned tuna is a decision that will ultimately come down to personal preference.

Taste, texture, budget, time constraints, nutritional needs; there’s a great deal to take into account. 

Both have very similar nutritional profiles, however if time is your priority, that straight-from-the-can convenience probably gives tinned the edge.

One thing is for certain though, introducing any form of tuna into your diet is a fantastic way of boosting your protein intake while potentially adding a dash of tasty goodness to one of your dishes.