A video from the world’s largest baked bean factory has spilled the beans on how this full English breakfast staple is actually made. 

The Heinz factory in Wigan, UK, spans 55 acres. That’s bigger than Grand Central Station in New York, or about half the size of Vatican City in Rome. It opened in 1959, and is one of the largest food processing plants in Europe. It produces around 3 million cans of baked beans every single day. 

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Among the surprises revealed in the video is the fact that the beans used in the classic recipe are dried haricot beans, which have been imported from the US. These are rehydrated before being added to steel cans. A secret spice blend is sprinkled in, then the tins are topped up with tomato sauce before being steamed in their cans. 

So no baking to be seen, then.

Here in Australia, the only locally made mass-produced baked beans brand is SPC, with Heinz moving its Australian operations to New Zealand in 2011. However, SPC’s beans are not 100% Australian – the company website states that the beans are, ‘Made in Australia from 47% Australian ingredients’. The company uses navy beans from Canada, stating that, ‘we always look for Australian crops but currently need to buy our navy beans from Canada in order to meet demand’.

So if you’re after 100% Aussie baked beans, the best bet is to make your own.

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