Why would you not love canned foods? Well, while some canned foods are all of the above — and so much more — all canned food is not created equal. Whole chicken in a can? Bleh. Ribs in a can? That's just kinda weird, no? There's a reason why some of these canned meats have gone the way of the dodo bird.

That said, you can still find plenty of canned meats on the grocery store shelf — so which should you add to your pantry and which should you forego, opting instead for a non-canned alternative? Here are some of the canned meats you should eat and some you should avoid, based on factors such as widespread availability, convenience (compared to preparing the meat fresh), versatility, quality, nutrition, and price. Eat: Tuna Yes, if you crack open a tin of tuna at your desk at the office, you're going to get a little bit of side-eye or even a few verbal complaints. Canned tuna can be smelly, but this canned meat makes up for that fact in myriad ways, with tons of benefits that will have you stocking up on this pantry staple, stat.

Step into your neighborhood Walmart and you've got Albacore wild tuna, yellowfin tuna in olive oil or vegetable oil, chunk light tuna in water, no salt-added tuna, etc. You can choose from a variety of brands and, if you're really on a budget, you can get a can for under $1. Once you open that can, the magic happens.

Canned tuna is extremely versatile with . You're not just limited to tuna salad or tuna casserole. Add it to pasta.

or quesadillas..