FOOD NEWS
The Distinctions Between White And Light Canned Tuna
By Grace Allison
If you're serious about picking the right canned tuna at the grocery store, understanding the subtle difference between white and light canned tuna is important.
White canned tuna is made from Albacore tuna, which has white or lighter-colored flesh. It also tends to be somewhat higher in fat than the lighter canned variety.
Albacore is a slightly smaller tuna species that usually grows to 4 ½ feet and weighs up to 125 pounds. It has a generally milder taste and a meatier texture, similar to steak.
Part of its firmness comes from the fact that large parts of the fish can be canned without being trimmed down, which is what you get if you choose solid white canned tuna.
Light canned tuna has a darker, pinker color than white tuna and is usually sourced from one or both of the tuna species skipjack and yellowfin.
Skipjacks are fairly small, generally measuring around three feet and 70 pounds, while yellowfin are over double the length and weigh around 400 pounds.
Light tuna is almost always served in chunks due to the differences between skipjack and yellowfin tuna. Unlike white tuna, light tuna also tends to be softer with a moist texture.
White tuna is ideal for fish tacos and dishes where you want other flavors to shine, like fresh salads or wonton cups filled with a tuna filling and zingy dressing.
With its texture and strong, fishy flavor, light canned tuna is incredible in sandwiches, casseroles, stews, or any dish where you want the fish to blend into a sauce.