I’m not sure any dish on the Thanksgiving table divides people more than cranberry sauce. Are you team homemade or team canned? Are you team jellied or team whole berry? If you’re team canned, are you team “ridges must be visible when plated” or team “who cares?”
Personally, I’m team canned, jellied, ridges showing. Why? That's what I grew up with.
I also grew up with cranberry sauce cans that looked different than they do today. If my memory serves me correctly, the cans of yore had a lip on the top and the bottom. You could use your can opener to open both the top and the bottom and then push the entire contents out of the can, and the cranberry sauce would still be perfectly can-shaped.
Now, it’s not uncommon to see cranberry sauce cans upside-down. Exactly when did that happen? And why?
The “when” happened sometime in the early 2000s, when Ocean Spray changed its can design. Other producers followed suit with their cans, including the ShopRite ones in my pantry.
Ocean Spray Explains Why the Cranberry Sauce Can Is Upside-Down
In a TikTok video, Ocean Spray acknowledged that the can is now upside-down. You have to flip the can over to open it, as the lipped end (the side that can be opened with a can opener) is now on the bottom.
But why? Ocean Spray says this is to get the cranberry sauce out in one intact piece.
“The rounded part of the can that looks like the bottom has an air bubble in it,” Ocean Spray’s representative explains. The bubble is there so you can “break the seal the sauce makes with the can.”
Without that bubble, you’d have to scoop out the cranberry sauce, and you wouldn’t be able to get the “wonderful can shape that comes with cranberry sauce.”
Okay, I get the science, but I got the “wonderful can shape” before the upside-down can by opening both ends. But perhaps not enough people knew that trick, so Ocean Spray changed the can’s shape.
One thing the video doesn’t explain is this: Why does it have to be upside-down? The air bubble is at the top of the can, the now-rounded end that can NOT be opened with a can opener. I assume it has to be that way because the air bubble needs to be at the top of the can during storage. It has to be opened from the opposite end of the air bubble for the seal to break.
If the can were stored with the air bubble on the bottom for an extended time, the cranberry sauce would “crush it,” rendering it useless. By turning the can upside down, meaning that Ocean Spray attaches the label upside down, consumers will store the can with the air bubble at the top.
Cranberry Sauce Fans Weigh In
Thankfully, I’m not the only one who remembers opening both ends of the can.
One commenter wrote, “Literally used to be easier when you would just take off both ends and slide it out.” Another commented, “I miss when you could use the can opener on both ends and push it out.”
These commenters have a point (and prove mine). In Ocean Spray's video, the person explaining the design sticks a knife between the cranberry sauce and the side of the can to help get the sauce out, and she takes a small chunk out of the former perfectly cylindrical cranberry sauce. Of course, you could just hide the missing piece by placing that side on the bottom of the serving dish, but when I could open both ends, it slid out completely intact.
For those who still prefer the old method, several commenters had this suggestion:
- Open the end that’s meant to be opened with the can opener.
- Turn it upside down over the serving dish you’ll be using.
- Poke a hole in the side that has the air bubble in it.
- The cranberry sauce should slide out completely intact.
I have not tried that method, so I can’t promise you it will work. The worst that could happen is that you’ll need to stick a knife between the can and the cranberry sauce. Then pray you don’t take a chunk out of it—especially if you have anyone at the table who is team canned cranberry sauce with that perfect can shape.
FAQs
But why? Ocean Spray says this is to get the cranberry sauce out in one intact piece. “The rounded part of the can that looks like the bottom has an air bubble in it,” Ocean Spray's representative explains. The bubble is there so you can “break the seal the sauce makes with the can.”
Why are Ocean Spray cranberry sauce cans upside down? ›
We reached out to Ocean Spray, and a representative explained that there's a totally logical reason behind this anomaly. "The rounded end of the can is filled with an air bubble vacuum, which makes it easier to get the sauce out," he explained.
How many cans of cranberry sauce does Ocean Spray make a year? ›
5,062,500 gallons of jellied cranberry sauce are consumed by Americans every holiday season. 70 million is the number of cans of cranberry sauce Ocean Spray produces a year.
What is the history of Ocean Spray cranberry sauce? ›
Ocean Spray was formed in 1930, in Hanson, Massachusetts, by three cranberry growers who wanted to expand their market for cranberries. Led by growers Marcus L. Urann, Elizabeth F. Lee and John C. Makepeace, who had created a cranberry sauce, the cooperative developed more cranberry-based products.
Does Ocean Spray use real cranberries? ›
It's 100% juice made with the crisp, clean taste of real cranberries straight from the bog. Plus, it has no added sugar, a daily dose of vitamin C, and one cup of fruit, so it tastes good and it's good for you, too.
How long does Ocean Spray cranberry sauce last? ›
Unopened canned cranberry sauce can last a year in the pantry but make sure to check the "best before" date to make sure it hasn't expired, and once open, it can be stored in a container with a tightly fitting lid for up to two weeks.
Why put cans upside down? ›
This way, the cans stay clean on top, which means I'm not pouring dust into my recipe, and the contents on the bottom of the can come out easier.
Why do you stack cans upside down? ›
When it's time to open the can, simply open the previously upside-down stored tin as usual and voila. The contents will pour out by itself without the hassle of prodding around for dregs at the bottom. She wrote alongside the video: "This is your sign to store your tins upside down. No scraping needed."
Is it OK to drink Ocean Spray cranberry juice Everyday? ›
Although cranberry juice is safe to consume in moderation, drinking too much can cause side effects such as upset stomach, diarrhea, and blood sugar spikes. In the past, it was believed that cranberry juice can slow the growth of bacteria and therefore is useful in treating urinary tract infections.
Can you eat cranberry sauce by itself? ›
Canned cranberry sauce is delicious on its own, but there are ways you can dress it up for any meal.
According to Wick, the tart fruit became popularly used to create cranberry sauce for turkey and other types of meat in the late 17th century. Within a hundred more years, cranberry sauce became a staple dish in the U.S., with its popularity taking off even more throughout the 19th century.
Why are the labels upside down on Ocean Spray cranberry sauce? ›
According to Ocean Spray, that's intentional: It creates a seamless serving experience. The cans are “filled and labeled upside down with the rounded edge on top and the sharp can-like edge on the bottom to keep the jelly whole,” an Ocean Spray spokesperson told CNN Business.
Is Ocean Spray really farmer-owned? ›
Ocean Spray is not your typical corporation. It's a cooperative owned by over 700 farmers. This structure has its advantages, like the pride and motivation that come from owning a stake in the business you contribute to.
Are Ocean Spray Cranberries good for you? ›
Whole Body Health
Besides helping consumers meet their recommended daily fruit intake, cranberries work hard for your whole-body and can support urinary tract, stomach, oral and heart health. Cranberries aren't only delicious—they're also packed with surprising one-of-a-kind health benefits.
How do you elevate cranberry sauce from a can? ›
Adding a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon or orange zest, a tablespoon of chopped candied peel, or even a splash of juice to your canned sauce will brighten flavors and bring in some homemade flavor.
Why do cranberry sauce cans have ridges? ›
Believe it or not, those ridges do more than add flare to canned cranberry sauce. They have a very practical purpose. Mainly, the ribbed edges on your can help make your cans stronger. The ribs, which curve around the can's center, help to prevent dents in the cans, which can be potentially dangerous.
Why is canned cranberry sauce so good? ›
I love the texture, shape, ridges, and dependability of the cranberry sauce that comes from a can. Each year, no matter what happens or may go wrong, I know the cranberry sauce will taste exactly as it has for as long as I can remember.
How do you fix too much liquid in cranberry sauce? ›
Try reducing the sauce down even further so more of the liquid cooks off and the mixture thickens. If that doesn't work, add a thickener like gelatin, pectin or a cornstarch slurry (cornstarch whisked into juice or water). Let the sauce cool before refrigerating to completely set.
