Why do Fray Bentos Pies come in a tin?

[simo1863]

I've a friend who is currently on paternity leave (poor soul) and is enjoying the delights of daytime TV.

He's just said that he watched a programme that explained the above age old question but is refusing to tell the rest of us mortals.

In my frustration I've decided its a good question to ask the Lounge. Any pie in a tin experts out there that have any insights?

I've googled it with no obvious answer, maybe that they're shipped from so far away or something.

[SydneyBridge]

something to do with the pastry rising ??

I think they are blinking lovely..

[Wiccan of Darkness]

Take one out of the tin and see if you can cook it on a baking tray or something. There isn't one answer, I mean it holds its shape, it's more convenient for the user to take off the lid and whack it in the oven without faff, can serve it from the tin, tinned food lasts longer, improving shelf life, storage quality etc etc.

[zoom star]

And the empty tin makes a great dish to feed your ferrets...

[Piersman2]

Used to love Fray Bentos pies when I was a kid - but never bought another one since the day I found what I can only describe as a cat's bell end masquerading as the meat content in one about 25 years ago.

[Topbuzz]

Piersman2 said:

Used to love Fray Bentos pies when I was a kid - but never bought another one since the day I found what I can only describe as a cat's bell end masquerading as the meat content in one about 25 years ago.

My friends in the bar caught me laughing at that comment. I then explained why to them and they all want Fray Bentos pies now.
I'm in Ho Chi Minh city btw.

[LordHaveMurci]

SydneyBridge said:

I think they are blinking lovely..

They are my guilty pleasure every now & again!

[Evolved]

Apt username. Put me right off my lunch now haha

Piersman2 said:

Used to love Fray Bentos pies when I was a kid - but never bought another one since the day I found what I can only describe as a cat's bell end masquerading as the meat content in one about 25 years ago.

[Piersman2]

Topbuzz said:

Piersman2 said:

Used to love Fray Bentos pies when I was a kid - but never bought another one since the day I found what I can only describe as a cat's bell end masquerading as the meat content in one about 25 years ago.

My friends in the bar caught me laughing at that comment. I then explained why to them and they all want Fray Bentos pies now.
I'm in Ho Chi Minh city btw.

Tha cat's bell end was the final straw. The two or three pies before that had had some very questionable lumps that were clearly not 'steak', in them. I remember pulling out something that looked like jellied fragspawn and leaving on the side of the plate as I contemplated what part of a cow that could possibly have been. I could not come up with an answer.

Problem is once you start having to investigate what each lump could be you know it's time to move on.

[ZedLeg]

According to wiki Fray Bentos products were originally made in Uruguay so it would've been for shelf life and ease of packing for transport.

[Cotty]

Topbuzz said:

My friends in the bar caught me laughing at that comment. I then explained why to them and they all want Fray Bentos pies now.
I'm in Ho Chi Minh city btw.

excellent. No problems shipping them as they do not need to be refrigerated, they were obviously thinking about you.

[The Broker]

In case they try to escape.

[karona]

The program said the tin was for transport protection. It was also designed to be tough enough to survive the cooking process. They considered a 'ring-pull' lid but ruled it out because it 'had potential to cause severe injury to the user'.
The makers promised to redesign the tin to opener interface (different shape ring) to stop destroying tin-openers.

[PurpleAki]

I've never had one.

Am I missing out?

[Salesy]

PurpleAki said:

I've never had one.

Am I missing out?

NO, do not ever eat one of these pieces of st. Dog meat in a tin

[Marvtec]

PurpleAki said:

I've never had one.

Am I missing out?

Yes you are, ignore the poster above me!

It's a guilty pleasure, but on a hungover morning, a Steak & kidney pie with Warburtons sliced white bread to soak up the gravy is the business

[anonymous-user]

PurpleAki said:

I've never had one.

Am I missing out?

Yes. A well done Fray Bentos is bloody lovely. Steak for me.

[SydneyBridge]

Steak and kidney for me.
Although I do still have a half inch scar on my thumb when opening one went a bit wrong...

[Hainey]

PurpleAki said:

I've never had one.

Am I missing out?

No. They can be had for £0.99.

I fully understand economy of scale but exactly what sort of meat product do you think can be raised, fed, slaughtered, processed, transported to factory, processed again, transported again and sold for £0.99 providing a profit to the retailer and all parts of the chain detailed above?

High quality? Medium? Low? Stray cats bell end?

[anonymous-user]

Never had one but lived tinned curry for some reason. Might try and steak one but steak and kidney is too far.