Grant's Irish Stew review

Our verdict · Researched

3.9 / 5

Mutton, beef, potatoes, carrots and pearl barley in one tin: a light main meal at 310 kcal a can. Grant's says open the can and heat, so it's for the disruptions where the hob, or a camping stove used outdoors, still works.

Best for: Meat, potatoes and veg in one tin, when you can heat it.
Skip it if: Anyone at home needs gluten-free food, or doesn't eat beef or mutton

Amazon.co.uk price

£12.50

as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.

What we like

Meat, potatoes, veg and barley in one tin
Made without additives or preservatives, Grant's says
310 kcal a tin

Worth knowing

Contains wheat and barley, so not gluten-free
Grant's directions are to heat it

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Our review

Grant's Irish Stew is a tinned stew of potatoes, carrots, mutton, beef, onion and pearl barley in gravy. A 392g can works out at about 310 kcal and 20g of protein, a light meal on its own that becomes a proper one with bread or a tin of beans, and it rotates easily through winter suppers.

What is in the can

Grant's lists water, potatoes, carrots, mutton (10%), beef (10%), fortified wheat flour, onions, pearl barley, maize starch, salt, vegetable extracts, natural flavourings, yeast extract, tomato powder and white pepper. Wheat and barley are the declared allergens, so it is not gluten-free. Per 100g it gives 79 kcal, 2.2g of fat (0.9g saturated), 9.0g of carbohydrate (2.2g sugars), 1.3g of fibre, 5.2g of protein and 0.9g of salt. Across the 392g can that is about 310 kcal, 20g of protein and 3.5g of salt.

Where it fits in a store

A tin that combines meat, starch and vegetables saves space and decisions: one can, one pan, one meal. The protein is what sets it apart from many store-cupboard tins, and the barley and potato make it more filling than the calorie count suggests. Grant's sells it in packs of six or twelve. Mutton is a less common meat in British tins than chicken or beef, which gives a store cupboard a little variety over a long run of meals. Salt is the thing to watch: the NHS says adults should have no more than 6g a day, so one can is over half of that. Pair it with lower-salt food and plenty of water, and think twice before giving a whole can to a young child, whose daily limit is lower still.

Heating it

Grant's product page gives no heating directions, so follow the instructions on the can. In a power cut, a camping stove used outdoors heats a can's worth in a small pan in minutes; never cook on a gas stove or barbecue indoors, because of carbon monoxide. Our cooking without power guide covers safe ways to heat food when the hob is out. Once opened, treat leftovers like any cooked meat dish and refrigerate them, which is hard without power, so open one only when it will be eaten.

How it compares

On the tinned food page, Stagg's chilli gives far more calories per can, and Heinz Baked Beanz give slightly more energy with more fibre and less protein. Ambrosia Deluxe rice pudding is the calorie-dense pudding to go alongside. Sardines and tuna give protein with no cooking at all. A stew earns its place as the warm, complete meal in a mixed cupboard; our how much food to store guide helps balance the rest.

Dates and rotation

Tins carry a best-before date. GOV.UK explains that best-before is about quality and use-by is about safety, so a sound tin past its best-before is usually still safe to eat. Do not use a can that is swollen, leaking or badly dented. Put new tins at the back and eat from the front, and the stock never ages. See our use-by vs best-before guide.

Our verdict

A sensible, filling tinned main for a household that likes stew, with real protein in it. Skip it if anyone at home needs to avoid gluten or does not eat red meat, or if you need food you can eat without heating; pick tins that work cold instead.

A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Grant's: canned Irish Stew; NHS: salt in your diet; GOV.UK: best before and use-by dates.

Who shouldn't buy this

Don't buy it if anyone at home needs gluten-free food, or doesn't eat beef or mutton.

Key specs

Type	Ready meal
Pack	6 × 392g
Calories per tin	310 kcal
Eat cold	Maker says heat

How this review works

This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.

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