Why You May Want To Use Canned Artichokes Over Fresh

Artichokes are peculiar vegetables that can help regulate blood pressure, per Health. The artichoke seems like an unlikely candidate for a common treat between their dense cluster of petals that protect their heart and its center choke. This might be why a OnePoll survey found that 20% of Americans considered it one of their least favorite vegetables.

If you can get past that tough, threatening exterior (and interior), you'll find a great-tasting vegetable full of nutrition. According to Healthline, artichokes are high in Vitamins C and K, and magnesium is the highest among vegetables for antioxidants. They also go great in dips, sandwiches, or as entrees with parsley and pancetta. They can also be a lot of work to prepare safely. Luckily, there are plenty of frozen, canned, or marinated options, but can they substitute for a fresh artichoke heart?

There is a case to be made for the flavor of a well-grown, fresh artichoke, but most of the time, they aren't worth the trouble (via Epicurious). There might be some purists out there, but frozen, canned, or marinated artichoke hearts will do just as well as substitutes, per Cook Think. A visual guide to cleaning artichokes presented by Serious Eats shows the careful work it takes to get down to the edible parts of an artichoke with a paring knife and other tools.

According to the University of Wyoming, it is more time and cost-efficient to use canned or frozen artichoke instead. It also notes that those soaked in olive oil can add healthy fats and more flavor to a dish and recommends defrosting frozen artichoke hearts first and patting them dry before cooking. This will avoid adding any water to the dish. Canned artichoke hearts should also have the extra salt rinsed off of them before they are patted dry and cooked.