Chicken noodle soup is a classic comfort food that is beloved by many. It’s warm, filling, and brings back feelings of home and childhood. But have you ever wondered what exactly goes into that can sitting in your pantry? Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients that make up this popular canned soup.
The Main Ingredients
The primary components of chicken noodle soup are, of course, chicken and noodles. Let’s break these key ingredients down:
Chicken
Canned chicken noodle soups contain chunks of chicken meat. This chicken undergoes significant processing before ending up in your can of soup. Here are some of the steps:
- Whole chickens are stripped of feathers/internal organs and cut into pieces
- The meat is mechanically separated from the bones
- The shredded chicken goes through centrifuges to separate fat and tissue
- The meat is mixed with water and salt solutions to extract proteins
- The extracted chicken is then chopped into chunks before being cooked and canned
So that chicken meat you see floating in the broth has been heavily processed and refined before packaging. However, the ingredients list will simply read “chicken” rather than detailing the extensive manufacturing process.
Noodles
The noodles in canned chicken noodle soup also go through processing and reforming. Here’s a quick overview:
- Flour and water are combined and kneaded to form a dough
- The dough is flattened and put through rollers to create thin sheets
- The sheets are stamped to cut the dough into noodle shapes
- The noodles are briefly precooked in water before canning
So those wavy noodles are transformed from a simple dough to the finished product you see in the can. They are partially cooked before canning but will soften and expand further when you heat up the final soup.
The Broth
The foundation of chicken noodle soup is the savory broth the noodles and chicken float in. Commercial canned broth goes through quite a bit of processing to achieve its flavor.
Chicken Stock
To make real broth from scratch, cooks simmer chicken bones for hours to extract collagen, flavor, and nutrients. Canned soup companies don’t have time for this slow home cooking process. Instead, they rely on industrial shortcuts to make chicken stock:
- Cook chicken carcasses and bones in large vats for 1-2 hours
- Strain the liquid and feed it through centrifuges to remove fat
- Concentrate the stock by cooking it longer to reduce water
- Add natural and artificial flavorings, sugars, and monosodium glutamate (MSG)
This quick stock production results in a less nutrient-dense broth than slow home cooking. But the flavors are usually consistent batch to batch.
Vegetable Broth
Most canned chicken noodle soups also include some vegetable broth for added flavor. This may come from:
- Boiling onions, carrots, celery, and other veggies
- Using potato or corn starch to thicken the broth
- Adding tomato paste for umami flavor
- Including natural and artificial vegetable flavorings
Combining the concentrated chicken and vegetable broths creates a flavorful base for the noodles, veggies, and seasonings to mingle in.
Supporting Vegetables
What’s chicken noodle soup without some vegetable accents? While ingredients vary by brand, some veggies you may see include:
- Onions – Dried minced onions add savory flavor.
- Carrots – Tiny diced carrots provide color and sweetness.
- Celery – Small celery bits add aroma.
- Peas – Frozen peas give a touch of green.
- Corn – Kernels of corn bring texture and light sweetness.
- Green beans – Slivers of green bean add body.
The vegetables are pre-cooked just enough to soften during canning while still keeping some crunch and bite. Different combinations of veggies give each brand a unique soup profile.
Seasonings
To balance and round out all the chicken, noodle, broth, and vegetable flavors, canned soups rely on carefully crafted seasoning blends. Common additions include:
- Salt – Sodium regulates overall flavor.
- Black pepper – A touch of spicy-ness.
- Garlic and onion powder – Savory flavor boosters.
- Thyme – Earthy herbaceous notes.
- Parsley – Light fresh accent.
- Turmeric – Warming hint of spice.
- Oregano – Subtle woodsy element.
Stock makers tweak these seasonings until the soup tastes perfectly cohesive. The exact blend is usually top secret!
Thickeners and Stabilizers
To achieve an appealing consistency from factory to can, canned soups often include thickening agents and stabilizers:
- Starches – Corn starch or wheat flour gives broth more body.
- Gums – Gum arabic prevents separation and improves mouthfeel.
- Carrageenan – Extracted from seaweed, this helps suspend solids in the broth.
- Xanthan gum – Another thickening agent made from sugars.
- Dextrose – A sugar that maintains viscosity during canning.
Without these subtle helpers, the solid bits in the soup would sink or the liquid would be thin and watery. They keep the canned soup consistent.
Preservatives
Canned soups need preservatives to prevent spoilage and maintain quality through shipment and storage. Two common ones found in chicken noodle soups are:
- Sodium phosphate – Controls acidity levels and bacteria growth.
- Potassium chloride – Also used to regulate acidity for food safety.
Checking the ingredients list can give you insight into what’s used to keep the soup fresh and shelf-stable.
Nutrition Facts
Now that we know what goes into canned chicken noodle soup, let’s examine some of the key nutritional information.
Calories and Macros
A 1 cup serving of canned chicken noodle soup contains approximately:
- 120 calories
- 6g fat
- 970mg sodium
- 2g fiber
- 7g protein
- 14g carbs
As you can see, sodium content is quite high, providing 40% of the daily recommended value. This comes from the salt and sodium-based preservatives used.
Vitamins and Minerals
You’ll also find a range of micronutrients in a serving chicken noodle soup:
| Vitamin/Mineral | Percentage of Daily Value |
|---|---|
| Vitamin A | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 2% |
| Calcium | 2% |
| Iron | 6% |
The vegetables, chicken, and enriched noodles provide small amounts of vitamins A and C, calcium, iron and other nutrients. While not a significant source, they can contribute to your daily recommended intake as part of a balanced diet.
Conclusion
Looking at the complete ingredient list reveals that canned chicken noodle soup goes through extensive manufacturing and fine-tuning during production. While it can’t match the wholesomeness of homemade, it provides convenience and standard flavor for a quick warm meal any day of the week. Keeping portion sizes reasonable can help limit the sodium content. So next time you enjoy this comforting classic, you’ll know exactly what’s gone into that iconic can.