# Heinz canned spaghetti carbonara: genius or ghastly?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** food-cooking
**Created:** [August 29, 2024, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445 "2024-08-29T23:16:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2024, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/1 "2024-08-29T23:16:33Z")
Italians are said to be confused or upset by this latest incarnation of canned pasta made from pancetta and some non-traditional ingredients.
Would you buy it?
> **[Carbonara in a can? Chefs get shirty but Heinz is unrepentant](https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/aug/29/heinz-spaghetti-carbonara-canned)**
>
> The US manufacturer is indeed selling the spaghetti dish in a tin – like cat food, as one Italian maître put it
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### Author:  [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2024, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/2 "2024-08-29T23:22:13Z")
If I can find this, I might try it. Probably not more than once.
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2024, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/3 "2024-08-29T23:34:03Z")
No. I see no indication they’ve solved the main problem with storing pasta and sauce together, which is the pasta basically never stops absorbing liquid and inevitably what comes out of the can is disgusting mush.
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### Author:  [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2024, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/4 "2024-08-29T23:36:25Z")
Utterly ghastly.
I mean carbonara’s whole deal is its fresh. Freshly cracked egg, cream, heated by the warmth of the freshly cooked pasta. Its not Bolognese sauce where it can be eaten the next day. The idea of eating it from a can is disgusting IMO
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2024, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/5 "2024-08-29T23:42:14Z")
I agree. Ghastly. I cannot imagine how this could possibly be anything other than awful.
A prime example of just because a thing can be done does not mean it should be done.
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### Author:  [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2024, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/6 "2024-08-29T23:49:43Z")
> [@griffin1977](#):
>
> Utterly ghastly.
>
> I mean carbonara’s whole deal is its fresh. Freshly cracked egg, cream, heated by the warmth of the freshly cooked pasta.
I try not to be a food snob – and I’m a big fan of many good prepared foods, but my God, not that! Prepared tomato sauces, and some prepared foods in tomato sauce – especially when freshly made – can be good. And I admit that I’ve actually enjoyed well-made prepared spaghetti carbonara from a high-quality deli, prepared a day or two previously and refrigerated, not frozen.
But not even the finest ingredients of carbonara – which this certainly would not have – could not survive canning! Canned spaghetti carbonara made with crap ingredients sounds like Puke-in-a-Can™!
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### Author:  [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2024, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/7 "2024-08-29T23:52:15Z")
To each his own, but I don’t use cream in my carbonara. If you can temper the eggs correctly you don’t need it.
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### Author:  [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2024, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/8 "2024-08-29T23:52:18Z")
Nothing says “No Artificial Colors” like Pepto-Bismol Pink on Harvest Gold, does it? I’m hungry already.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2024, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/9 "2024-08-29T23:52:29Z")
The article quotes people who seem horrified at the idea of eating something out of a can, and yet this is a country that _lives_ on Heinz Beanz.
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### Author:  [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2024, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/10 "2024-08-29T23:54:07Z")
Here’s an antidote to make you feel much better.
> **[The Pasta Queen on Instagram: "Let me start by saying that this Carbonara is...](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_OGG09RW72/?igsh=NmYyYXRuN3BpeDZp%2F)**
>
> 134K likes, 1,620 comments - the\_pastaqueen on August 28, 2024: "Let me start by saying that this Carbonara is as iconic as you are.
>
> Secondly I wanted to shed light on the fact that this dish is going to be broken down, dissected and all secrets...
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### Author:  [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2024, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/11 "2024-08-29T23:57:31Z")
I would try it. I enjoy trying weird canned food, even though half the time it’s awful. I had canned haggis that was actually okay.
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2024, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/12 "2024-08-29T23:59:16Z")
People add cream to a carbonara?
I mean, to each their own and if they want to do that then fine but just don’t call it carbonara anymore. It is something else.
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2024, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/13 "2024-08-30T00:00:15Z")
Ghasty.
Anathema
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### Author:  [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2024, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/14 "2024-08-30T00:09:31Z")
Straight to the top of my list, joining Spaghetti-os with Franks RedHot sauce.
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### Author:  [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2024, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/15 "2024-08-30T00:16:43Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> The article quotes people who seem horrified at the idea of eating something out of a can, and yet this is a country that _lives_ on Heinz Beanz.
No, some of us are horrified at eating certain kinds of foods out of cans, namely those in which freshness and quality matters, which turns out to mean almost everything. But canned beans are a rare exception because they still produce an enjoyable product provided that (a) you use good beans to start with (e.g.- Bush’s Homestyle with bacon), (b) you sautee some white onions first before adding the beans, and (c) you add hickory-smoke barbecue sauce.
Whereas this puke-worthy concoction is subject to no such remedial enhancements. It’s just so wrong on a very basic level.
> [@chela](#):
>
> > The Pasta Queen on Instagram .
>
> ..
I question the authenticity of this particular Queen’s royal _bona fides_.
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### Author:  [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2024, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/16 "2024-08-30T01:15:27Z")
> [@chela](#):
>
> > The Pasta Queen on Instagram .
>
> ..
I question the authenticity of this particular Queen’s royal _bona fides_.
[/quote]
How dare you question the “ tears of the pasta goddess”
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2024, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/17 "2024-08-30T01:22:22Z")
Believe it or not, I like canned pasta in general. It is a “comfort food “. Spaghetti-Os, Beefaroni, Mmmmmm.
But Carbonara? Heh, my gf makes an incredible Carbonara, that she will lecture about as being the real, traditional thing.
If I procured this I would have to heat and eat it when she wasn’t home, then drive to a gas station to throw out the empty can. With my luck someone would see me toss the can and tell her.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2024, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/18 "2024-08-30T01:29:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#):
>
> Believe it or not, I like canned pasta in general. It is a “comfort food “. Spaghetti-Os, Beefaroni, Mmmmmm.
I tried those products as an adult and found them overly sweet, which makes sense as they’re aimed at children. But this product isn’t.
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2024, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/19 "2024-08-30T01:35:37Z")
If you have a GF who makes an incredible carbonara there is no need to stray. Count yourself lucky.
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2024, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-canned-spaghetti-carbonara-genius-or-ghastly/1006445/20 "2024-08-30T01:55:10Z")
Ravioli(s). We used to say it plural+.
Kids🤔
Wish I could eat it occasionally, now.
I’m told it ain’t the same.
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