Canned goods are a common resource in the kitchen: practical, tasty, and easy to incorporate into any recipe. But the question arises: what to do with the liquid they contain? Can it be consumed, or should it be discarded?

Specialists clarify that, in most cases, this liquid does not pose a risk to health. According to Pablo Martínez, president of the Official College of Dietitians of Cantabria, it is usually composed of oils, syrups, or water with salt or lemon, and it passes the same food safety controls as the rest of the product. However, he warns that the quality of the canned goods is decisive, since in lower-quality products, the liquid may not be recommended.

In the case of canned goods in oil, such as tuna, nutritionist Carmen Escalada points out that there is no problem in taking advantage of it, especially if it is olive oil, which can even be reused in salads. With packaged legumes, such as lentils or chickpeas, opinion is more divided: some advise rinsing them to reduce the amount of starch or salt, although they do not represent a health risk.

On the contrary, asparagus water does not provide nutritional benefits and, as it contains high amounts of salt, it is best to discard it.

In summary, the decision depends on the type of canned goods: some liquids can be used, while others are better thrown away.