When the cold winter air blows in, French onion soup quickly becomes the ultimate comfort food.
While it’s true that this hearty soup can be delicious when served hot, it also makes for a great winter warmup.
The French have been enjoying this classic soup for centuries.
It was first created by an aristocrat named Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, who described it as “the most beautiful of soups.”
Today, canned French onion soup is a favorite among both home cooks and chefs alike.
You can buy it at your local grocery store or order it online.
Here’s everything you need to know about this timeless classic.
What is in canned French onion soup?
The base of French onion soup includes beef broth, flour, and water.
The soup is then seasoned with salt, pepper, and other spices.
To these basic ingredients, you add caramelized onions, which give the soup its signature flavor.
Some versions of French onion soup also include other ingredients like Gruyere cheese or croutons.
But you don’t have to use them.
This dish can be enjoyed on its own without anything else added.
How do you make canned French onion soup?
To prepare canned French onion soup, start by melting butter over medium heat in a large pot.
Add onions, stirring frequently, until they begin to turn golden brown.
Season with salt and pepper, and let cook for another 10 minutes.
Then, pour in the beef stock and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let simmer for 20 minutes.
Next, remove the lid, stir well, and return the soup to a boil.
Once boiling again, reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 15 more minutes.
Remove from heat, season with additional salt and pepper, and set aside.
Why is canned French onion soup so popular?
One reason why canned French onion soup is so popular is because it’s easy to make.
It only requires three simple steps: melting the butter, adding the onions, and boiling the mixture down.
There’s no complicated cooking involved here, so you can enjoy this soup in minutes.
What are the benefits of eating canned French onion soup?
Aside from being super quick to make, French onion soup offers several health benefits.
For starters, it’s rich in protein, which is critical for building muscle and helping you stay full longer.
In addition, it contains high levels of vitamin C, iron, potassium, fiber, and B vitamins.
These nutrients are essential for good overall health.
Are there any disadvantages to eating canned French onion soup?
While French onion soup is extremely tasty and nutritious, some people may not want to consume it often due to concerns about sodium.
If you’re watching your sodium intake, you might want to limit how much of this soup you eat each week.
On the flip side, if you’re someone who likes salty foods, you won’t find yourself complaining about how much sodium is in this soup!
Another potential downside to eating canned French onion soup is the fact that it doesn’t taste very fresh.
This isn’t because it’s old, but rather because it’s been cooked for a while before it’s put into the jar.
As such, you may get less flavor out of it than you would if you were to make it fresh.
How long does canned French onion soup last?
You could easily eat a whole bowlful of this soup in one sitting, but it shouldn’t sit around for too long after that.
Canned French onion soup loses its flavor quickly, so it’s best to serve it within two days of making it.
After that, it starts to lose nutritional value.
How should you store canned French onion soup?
Even though French onion soup is fairly perishable, it still lasts quite awhile.
However, you should keep it stored properly to maintain its quality.
First, you need to ensure that the container you are using is airtight.
If not, you should purchase a new one.
Next, avoid storing canned French onion soup in direct sunlight.
Instead, place it in a cool, dry location where it won’t be exposed to moisture.
Ideally, you should refrigerate this soup immediately after opening.
Can you freeze canned French onion soup?
Yes, you can freeze canned French onion soup just like you would frozen food products.
Be sure to follow all proper storage instructions.
What happens if you eat canned French onion soup that has gone bad?
If you accidentally end up buying a batch of French onion soup that is past its prime, there’s nothing wrong with consuming it.
However, it’s important to note that eating canned French onion soup that is expired is risky.
Not only could it be unhealthy, but it could also cause serious harm.
This is because canned French onion soup is packed in a vacuum-sealed container.
When this is done, the contents must remain sealed at all times.
If the seal is broken, the contents could leak out, which means that bacteria could enter the food.
This is especially dangerous if you already have compromised immune systems.
As such, you should throw away any leftover canned French onion soup if it smells moldy or has a strange texture.
Is canned French onion soup healthy?
Overall, yes, canned French onion soup is safe to eat.
Even though it’s packed in a vacuum-sealed container, it’s safe to eat since it has been processed correctly.
As mentioned above, you should refrain from eating this soup if it looks, feels, or smells spoiled.
Make french onion soup in your slow cooker
Equipment
- 1 Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 bay leaf
- 6 thyme sprigs
- 5 pounds onions
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 6 cup beef stock
- ½ tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp black pepper
- 5 ounces gruyere cheese
- 24 slices French baguette
Instructions
- Firstly place the thyme, butter, and bay leaf in your slow cooker and add the onions or sprinkle with sugar.
- Cover properly and cook it on high for almost eight hours.
- Then take away the bay leaf or thyme, discard and add vinegar, salt, stock, and pepper.
- Cook it on high heat for almost thirty minutes.
- After it is done, preheat the broiler to high and arrange the bread in a single layer on two baking sheets.
- Broil it thirty seconds on every side or until toasted, and place the one cup soup in every of twelve ramekins.
- Top every serving with two bread slices and almost two tbsp cheese and place six ramekins on a jelly roll pan and broil it for two minutes.
- You can broil until the cheese melts and starts to brown.
- Repeat this process with leftover six ramekins, cheese, or bread slices.
Video
Nutrition
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