Understanding Soup Can Weights and Sizes
When following a recipe, it's common to see an ingredient amount listed as "1 can of soup." But the weight and volume of soup cans can vary greatly between brands, types of soups, and individual cans. As a cook, its helpful to know some general guidelines for the most common canned soup sizes.
Typical Weights for Condensed Soup Cans
Condensed soups are cooked down to remove excess water content, resulting in a thicker, more concentrated soup product. The standard size for an individual condensed soup can is:
- 10.5 ounces (295 grams)
Popular condensed soup varieties like Campbells come in 10.5 ounce cans. So if a recipe calls for a can of condensed soup you can safely assume it means 10.5 ounces. Some less common condensed soup brands may come in slight smaller or larger cans though.
Weights for Ready-to-Serve Soup Cans
Ready-to-serve canned soups contain more liquid and arent reduced down as much. The most common sizes for these ready-to-eat wet soups are:
- 10.5 ounces (295 grams)
- 15 ounces (425 grams)
- 19 ounces (540 grams)
Major soup makers like Campbells, Progresso, and Amys sell their prepared soup varieties in all three weights. When a recipe lists a can of soup without specifying condensed or prepared, its best to double check which type they mean.
Weights for Condensed Cream Soup Cans
Cream soups have a smooth, thick texture from being pureed and contain dairy products like milk, cream, or cheese. Standard sized cans of condensed cream soups include:
- 10.5 ounces (295 grams)
- 10.75 ounces (305 grams)
Both Campbells and Progresso condensed cream of mushroom, chicken, celery, and other cream soup flavors come in 10.75 ounce cans. So for condensed cream soups, a can in a recipe generally refers to nearly 11 ounces.
Factors Affecting Canned Soup Weights
While the standard soup can sizes listed above are most common, there are certain factors that can cause the actual weight of a soup can to differ:
No Drain vs Drained Weight
Some canned soup nutrition labels list two sets of weights the as packaged full can contents and the drained solids amount after liquid is removed. This applies mostly to prepared ready-to-eat soups, not condensed. For instance, a 19 oz can of Progresso Vegetable Classics soup contains 19 oz total but only 16 oz drained.
Soup Consistency and Ingredients
Thicker, heartier soups with more vegetables, pasta, meat, or beans tend to be heavier overall per can compared to brothy, thinner soups. So a cream-based soup would likely have a higher net weight than a clear broth soup of the same can size.
Evaporation During Storage
The longer a canned soup sits on shelves, the more some liquid content evaporates leading to slight weight reductions over time. Storage conditions also impact evaporation rates. So two cans from different manufacturing dates could have slight weight differences.
Manufacturing Accuracy
Given the mass production of canned soups, some very minor variability in weights is expected between individual cans and batches. But soup makers generally have rigorous quality controls to minimize any major deviations from stated can sizes.
Does the Type of Soup Impact Weight?
In addition to the differences between condensed and regular canned soups, the specific soup variety can also affect overall can weight. Heres how some popular soup types compare:
Broths and Bouillons
Canned broths and bouillons contain water boiled with vegetables, herbs, and spices to extract flavors and nutrients. With no solid ingredients, these clear thin soups are among the lightest per can but still provide essential taste for recipes and cooking. Common sizes include:
- 14.5 ounces (411 grams)
- 32 ounces (907 grams)
Mainstream brands like Swanson sell both chicken and beef broths in standard 14.5 oz cans. Their larger 32 oz cartons are great for complex dishes needing more liquid.
Cream Soups
Cream soups tend to be denser and weigh more than clear broths since they are pureed and incorporate dairy ingredients. As stated earlier, the typical cream soup can sizes are:
- 10.5 ounces (295 grams)
- 10.75 ounces (305 grams)
So when a recipe lists 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup youll want the 10.75 ounce size rather than the 10.5 ounce broth can.
Chowders
Chowder soups also fall on the heavier side due to chunky ingredients like potatoes, corn, and seafood. Common chowder can sizes include:
- 15 ounces (425 grams)
- 19 ounces (540 grams)
These prepared chowder soup sizes from Progresso, Campbells, and other brands work well for recipes needing meatier, heartier soup bases and plenty of liquid.
Beans and Legumes
Bean soups with high fiber ingredients like white beans, lentils, and split peas also tip scales heavier than broths. Look for sizes like:
- 15 ounces (425 grams)
- 19 ounces (540 grams)
Amys Organic and Progresso provide vegetarian bean and lentil varieties in these ready-to-eat soup can sizes perfect for extra thick, hearty recipes.
Tips for Canned Soup Amounts in Recipes
Some key things to keep in mind regarding canned soup amounts when cooking and baking:
Check for Condensed vs Prepared
Condensed and regular prepared canned soups cannot be used interchangeably in recipes. Make sure you have the right variety and consistency specified in the directions.
Note Drained vs Undrained
Pay attention if the recipe calls for an undrained soup where all liquid stays in the can, or a drained amount where some excess liquid will be removed before adding.
Consider Soup Thickness
Factor in that thinner broth soups vs thicker cream or chowder soups will impact the overall moisture level and flavor intensity of the dish.
Weigh Soup for Accuracy
To maximize precision, you can weigh canned soup on a food scale rather than relying on can size labels. Weighing allows adjusting for any liquid evaporation over time.
Getting familiar with the typical weights of different canned soup categories along with these helpful tips will lead to better results when cooking and baking with canned soups!
FAQs
How much does a can of Campbell's cream of mushroom soup weigh?
A standard 10.75 ounce can of Campbell's condensed cream of mushroom soup weighs 305 grams. So if a recipe calls for "a can of condensed cream soup" you can use a 10.75 ounce Campbell's cream soup.
What is the weight difference between a 15 oz and 19 oz can of soup?
There is about a 4 ounce or 115 gram weight difference between a 15 ounce and 19 ounce ready-to-serve soup can. So substituting one for the other in recipes could significantly impact liquid content.
Do broth and cream soups come in the same can sizes?
Broths often come in 14.5 oz or 32 oz cans while cream soups are usually 10.5 oz or 10.75 oz condensed. So cream soups generally come in smaller cans with higher weights than broths per fluid ounce.
Are name brand and generic soup can weights the same?
While slight variations occur between brands and batches, name brand condensed and prepared soups follow the standard 10.5 oz, 15 oz, and 19 oz can weight conventions overall. Store brands tend to adhere to these common can sizes as well.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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