One tester said: “The tin features drawings of a literal trout smoking a pipe—adorable! And when they said this trout is smoked, they weren’t kidding. That flavor comes through loud and clear, which made for an intense but satisfying snacking experience.”
Best Tinned Clams: Island Creek Littleneck Clams with Confit Garlic, Chili, & Olive Oil
Why we love it: If you’re looking to branch out from canned fish to canned shellfish, you can’t do better than Island Creek’s littleneck clams. They’re smooth and rich, with just the right amount of heat to keep things interesting.
One tester said: “Love the flavor profile, and these don’t have that weird green algae (harmless but odd) that other canned clams often do. They were perfectly spiced with just the right amount in a tin. I’ll definitely be purchasing again—so good!”
Best Beans
Best Beans: Amy’s Organic Vegetarian Traditional Refried Beans
Why we love it: With their spreadable consistency and depth of flavor, these refried beans could have come straight out of the pot rather than a can. Our testers gave them perfect scores across the board and deemed them a wonderfully filling plant-based protein option.
One tester said: “These have a good deal of added flavor compared to your standard refried beans, but not so much that it’s overwhelming or even oversalted. Good on its own, but perfect in tacos or burritos.”
Best Protein Bar
Best Protein Bar: MOSH Bars
Why we love it: Cofounded by mother-son duo Maria Shriver and Patrick Schwarzenegger, Mosh makes protein bars that pile on important nutrients like vitamin D, vitamin B12, and omega-3s. They come in non-boring flavors and don’t crumble into a bland mess when you eat them—sounds impossible, but we’d say mission accomplished. And for those who are still thinking about the Ratliff family, you’re in luck: Mosh has a limited-edition White Lotus multipack available for purchase.
One tester said: “Great variety in the flavors—the chocolate chip was my favorite. The packaging is bright, pastel, and adorable. They’re perfect for on the go, because they don’t break up or get smushed. I felt like they gave me lots of energy for my walks and workouts too.”
Best Meat Snacks
Best Jerky: Archer Bison Jerky
Why we love it: Archer took everything we love about meaty snacks and put it into its bison jerky. It’s smoky, salty, vinegary, and very subtly sweet—packed with flavor and just about the furthest thing from boring, leathery meat.
One tester said: “Tender and juicy, with just the right amount of fat for extra flavor. I love that you can see the seasoning.”
Best Protein Snack: Archer Beef & Cheese Mini Sticks
Why we love it: If plain old jerky gives you the blahs but you still enjoy a nice meaty snack, these beef and cheese sticks are for you. Grass-fed beef and cheddar cheese have excellent chemistry as costars, melding together to form a perfect protein-rich alloy that salt lovers will devour.
One tester said: “I am unfortunately obsessed with these. They are so salty, flavorful, and delicious! The texture is really nice—they have a good snap and aren’t super mushy in the middle like some meat sticks.”
How we picked the winners of the 2025 SELF Pantry Awards
This year, items we considered for the 2025 Pantry Awards had to meet the following criteria:
Read the full article here
