While canned food has its roots in the Napoleonic wars (1803–1815) and appeared in American stores as early as the 1800s, it became a true staple of America's diet in the 1940s. Brands such as Chef Boyardee (then Chef Boy-ar-dee) helped the Second World War effort by producing field rations. Chef Boyardee factories operated 24 hours a day during this time – their signature dish was beef ravioli in sauce which was described as being as "truly Italian as the Tower of Pisa".

In the 1940s, another canned legend burst onto the scene: Dinty Moore's Beef Stew. This cockle-warming concoction of beef chunks, diced potatoes, carrots and gravy helped feed American troops during the Second World War and also served as a "whole wonderful meal quick" for families at home.

Hormel Foods (then George A. Hormel & Company) is credited as the first ever company to put ham in a can, in 1926. This canned ham was also used to feed the nation's troops. In fact, in the 1940s, millions of cans of meat per week were shipped overseas by Hormel for the US military. Back home, the ham could be bought in a range of sizes from "a banquet deluxe" whole ham to a 3oz (85g) tin perfect for "the lunchbox parade".

What better way to finish off a fruit cocktail than with a glug of sweetened condensed milk – Eagle Brand to be exact. While the product dates right back to 1856, feeding troops during the Civil War, it gained in popularity through the 1940s. It was given to soldiers in both the First and Second World Wars, and served as a sweet and satiating snack for those back at home. 

By the 1950s, the Second World War was over but the canned food revolution had life in it yet. Many soldiers who returned from war had developed something of a penchant for hearty canned meats and warming canned broths and, with more women working than ever before, it was imperative that family meals were quick and simple. It was in this decade that SPAM, an essential war food, sold its one billionth can.

Joining SPAM and Prem was Treet, another canned luncheon meat made with chicken and pork, and sold by Armour Star. Invented in the 1930s, it was known for its smoky flavour and its popularity soared though the 1940s and 50s.

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Oscar Mayner was another brand that cooked up creative ways for consumers to enjoy its canned products. In the CookOut Fun cookbook, published in 1959, the brand professed that "fun-cooking never stops when you have Oscar Mayer meats". It suggested grilling its popular sausages over a fireplace in the event that bad weather ruins a planned cookout.

V-8 Vegetable Juices was another nutrient-packed canned food that gained traction in the post-war era. Mothers concerned with their kids' vegetable intake would swear by this Good Housekeeping-recommended drink, which was to be served for "lunch, dinner and in-between meals". The veggie cocktail, still on shelves today, included celery, parsley, spinach, beetroot, lettuce, carrots, tomato and watercress.

The novel pasta shapes didn't stop at hoops. While Campbell's had sold a vegetable broth with pasta letters since 1915, it officially branded the soup The Alphabet Soup in the 1960s – a name it had already been given by families across America. Its popularity continued to soar in this decade and beyond with other brands following suit and selling their own versions.

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A food guaranteed to feed your nostalgia is Chef Boyardee's Beefaroni. While this comforting dish of beef and macaroni in rich tomato sauce had been on the canned circuit for a while, a hit TV ad in this decade cemented it in America's food psyche. The charming black-and-white ad saw hordes of children running through the streets singing the virtues of Beefaroni, before tucking into bowls of the stuff at long alfresco benches.

Many fun, foodie mascots launched in the 1960s and Starkist's slick Charlie the Tuna was one of them. Ads throughout the decade showed Charlie the Tuna's quest to become a StarKist Tuna, only to be knocked back time and time again. "Sorry Charlie" became the brand's enduring catchphrase and, naturally, StarKist cans flew off the shelves.

Another canned classic to make its debut in the 1970s was Campbell's Chunky Soup. While the brand's condensed soup range had been popular for decades, this hearty offering was touted as a meal in a can – or "soup so chunky you'll be tempted to eat it with a fork". Seventies shoppers could choose between chunky chicken, beef, turkey or vegetable.

Tex-Mex was another food trend to take off in the 1970s with writers such as Diana Kennedy, author of 1972's The Cuisines of Mexico, shedding light on the term. Old El Paso, actually founded in the 1930s, is credited with popularising the cuisine during this decade and the brand had plenty of canned foods available so punters could whip up quick Tex-Mex-style meals at home. These included tomatoes, pinto beans and even tortillas. 

In the 1970s and 1980s, there were more conversations around healthy eating and vegetarianism than there had been in previous decades, and brands like Loma Linda (now La Loma Foods), which has roots in the 1890s, helped lead the charge. Canned meat alternatives such as Loma Linda's Nuteena, a veggie loaf made from peanuts, graced kitchen cupboards.

Loma Linda's meat-free alternatives also came in the form of veggie sausages called Sizzle Franks. They were even dubbed "a real improvement on an American tradition, the hot dog" and held up for their lack of added preservatives or MSG. Today La Loma still sells an array of canned goods, from nut meats and Vege-burgers to a plant-based seafood alternative called Tuno.

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The health-conscious cans continued with big dog Campbell's and their Healthy Request range, then called Campbell's Special Request. The line launched in 1985 and was focused around heart health with lower saturated fat and cholesterol levels. Flavours included favourites like Tomato and Chicken Noodle, and the range is still sold today.

When it came to cans, soup still reigned supreme through the 1990s and Campbell's was still king. In the 1980s, the mighty soup company introduced Home Cookin' Soup (later Homestyle) – hearty meat and veg broths designed to match a home-cooked meal. The range remained popular through the 1990s and actor Jimmy Stewart even did the voice-over for the 90s TV ads.

Campbell’s didn’t rest on its laurels though – in the 1990s, the company introduced another decade favourite and saw their “most successful new introduction in 55 years”. If you entered an American kitchen in the 1990s, you could bet you'd see Campbell's Condensed Cream of Broccoli Soup in the cupboard. A creamy bowl of the stuff was – and is – perfect on a cold evening with a hunk of crusty bread.

Come the 1990s, competition was always on the up and brands had to think outside the box to keep customers coming back. Chef Boyardee knew just the thing. In 1991, to tie in with the popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics and feature film, the brand introduced canned pasta shaped like the crime-fighting cartoon characters. Needless to say, it was a hit with the kids. 

Age-old canned favourites prevailed throughout the Noughties, though often bigger was better. Chef Boyardee's Overstuffed Ravioli, for example, ruled cupboards and was held up as a nutritious option for those with bigger appetites, especially kids. Italian Sausage Ravioli was the canned pasta of choice.

Chef Boyardee's classic Spaghetti and Meatballs got a mammoth makeover too. Its Jumbo Spaghetti and Meatballs saw the meatballs double in size, "for bigger kids with bigger appetites".

Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup was another veteran canned food to truly stand the test of time. It remains one of the brand's top sellers and in the 2000s, Campbell's delighted fans by adding even more chicken to the time-honoured recipe.

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Springing up in the late 1980s, Amy's Kitchen thrived in the Noughties, offering an organic alternative to the biggest-selling soups on the market. Increasingly health-conscious consumers filled their cupboards with Amy's Kitchen's organic Lentil Vegetable, Split Pea and Cream of Mushroom soups and continue to do so today.

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