Once the tuna is cooked, it's packed into cans with some salt, water, or oil, and then the cans are sealed and sterilized to remove any air and prevent spoilage. This process is called retorting, and it involves heating the cans to a high temperature to kill off any remaining bacteria. It's a pretty cool process that's been used for centuries to preserve food!
Now, you might be thinking, "But wait, I've heard that canned tuna can be raw in some cases?" And you're right, some types of canned tuna are labeled as "raw pack" or "low-heat" tuna. This means that the tuna was packed into cans before it was fully cooked, and then it was heated to a lower temperature to prevent overcooking. However, this doesn't mean that the tuna is completely raw – it's still been cooked to some extent!
Choosing sustainable canned tuna - Food Crazies
The reason why some canned tuna is labeled as "raw pack" is because it's been minimally processed to preserve its natural flavor and texture. This type of tuna is often used in high-end restaurants or by sushi enthusiasts who want to experience the freshness of raw tuna. However, it's still important to note that even "raw pack" tuna has been cooked to some extent to make it safe to eat!