Whole food · Fruits and Fruit Juices
Photo: Wikipedia
Canned strawberries in heavy syrup are a preserved, ready-to-eat fruit product where whole or sliced berries are suspended in a thick, sweetened liquid. The texture is softer and more uniform than fresh, with a pronounced, sugary sweetness that can overshadow the berry's natural tartness. Nutritionally, it's a concentrated source of quick energy from carbohydrates, primarily from the added syrup.
People love it for its intense, nostalgic sweetness and comforting, soft texture, making it a quick dessert or topping. Its long shelf life and readiness straight from the can offer unmatched convenience for baking, smoothies, or a simple treat.
The very high sugar content (over 21g per 100g) can cause rapid blood sugar spikes, making it a poor choice for diabetics or those monitoring glycemic load. To counteract this, pair a small portion with protein or healthy fat (like yogurt or nuts) to slow sugar absorption, and consider draining and rinsing the berries to remove some syrup.
The heavy syrup is typically a 40-50% sugar solution, which acts as a preservative by creating high osmotic pressure that inhibits microbial growth.
| Water | 75.3 g |
| Energy | 92.0 kcal |
| Energy | 385 kj |
| Protein | 0.56 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.26 g |
| Ash | 0.30 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 23.5 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.7 g |
| Total Sugars | 21.8 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 13.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.49 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 8.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 12.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 86.0 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 4.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.09 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.06 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.20 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.30 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 31.7 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.02 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.03 mg |
| Niacin | 0.06 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.18 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.05 mg |
| Folate, total | 28.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 28.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 28.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 3.8 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 1.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 16.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 26.0 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 18.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.19 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 1.5 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.01 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.04 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.04 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.13 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.07 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.05 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
| Tryptophan | 0.01 g |
| Threonine | 0.02 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.01 g |
| Leucine | 0.03 g |
| Lysine | 0.02 g |
| Methionine | 0.00 g |
| Cystine | 0.01 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.02 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.02 g |
| Valine | 0.02 g |
| Arginine | 0.02 g |
| Histidine | 0.01 g |
| Alanine | 0.03 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.13 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.08 g |
| Glycine | 0.02 g |
| Proline | 0.02 g |
| Serine | 0.02 g |
How does it differ from strawberries in light syrup or juice?
Heavy syrup pack uses a much higher concentration of sugar (syrup) for preservation and sweetness, resulting in significantly more calories and sugar per serving compared to light syrup or fruit juice packs.
Can I use the syrup for other things?
Yes, the strawberry-infused syrup can be reduced into a sauce, used to sweeten drinks, or as a glaze for meats like ham, adding a sweet fruit flavor.
Is it safe to eat the canning liquid?
Yes, the syrup is food-safe. However, due to its very high sugar content, many people choose to drain it off or use the berries in recipes where the excess liquid can be cooked away.