Tuna salad is an excellent lunch or dinner option. However, tuna salad can be a bit bland and watery if not prepared properly. This blog post will provide 3 easy ways to thicken tuna salad so that it has the perfect consistency for your tastes!
The problem
Your tuna salad is too watery and bland because the tuna meat has been cooked in tuna juice and salted water (like canned tuna). If you don’t drain your tuna properly, the juices will leak into your salad and make it too watery.
What can be done?
This is a problem that can be remedied with one of three solutions. You can mix tuna with mayonnaise to thicken the tuna salad or add hard-boiled eggs. The third solution is to add properly drained tuna.
3 methods to fix watery tuna salad
One of the most difficult tuna salad problems is finding a way to thicken tuna salad that tastes good. We have 3 methods for you to try below to see which one you like best.
Adding more boiled eggs
If your tuna salad is looking more like tuna soup than tuna salad, one of the best ways to thicken it is by adding more boiled eggs.
You might not know this, but hard-boiled eggs will absorb the moisture from your tuna salad. Especially when it comes to those delicious boiled egg yolks. Adding 4 or 5 more eggs (depending on how much tuna salad you’re making) should thicken up that tasty tuna salad!
Using mayo instead of dressing
When it comes to tuna salad, mayo always seems to be a better alternative than dressing. Not only does it thicken up the salad, but it also includes more flavor as well. If you want tuna salad that is thicker and tastes better, mayo should be your go-to.
Properly drying your tuna
We already discussed a few ways to do this, but this is by far the most effective option and that’s by making sure your canned tuna has been drained properly.
The first step in how to drain tuna is to place a sieve over a bowl and place the tuna into the sieve.
Next, lift the tuna up and start squeezing out any excess water.
Then, keep repeating the previous process until there’s no water left in your tuna meat. This prevents those tuna juices from leaking into your delicious tuna salad.
Using the right kitchen tools
Using the right cooking tools in the kitchen is important to ensure that everything turns out successfully. The best way to thicken tuna salad is by using several of these. Also using the right kitchen tools will really make the cooking process a lot easier. There are different tools that are for different purposes and you should use the right ones for your dish. It’ll save you time and energy in the long run.
Invest in these tools that will make tuna salad easier to make and serve:
- 3-Piece Stainless Steel Mesh Micro-Perforated Strainer Colander
- Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls (Set of 6)
- Wild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna, Sea Salt, Keto and Paleo
- Bounty Quick-Size Paper Towels
- Classic Kitchen Towels 15-Pack – 100% Natural Cotton Dish Towels
Conclusion
Now that you know how to thicken tuna salad, you can try one of these methods to see which one you like the best. All three of these methods should make tuna salad a lot thicker and a lot better tasting! If your tuna is more watery then it’s probably one of the most difficult tuna salad problems and these are some possible solutions for you. As always, if you have any questions leave a comment below.
