Tomatoes and beans aside, it’s easy to turn our noses up at canned and tinned foods – these days, it’s all about keeping things fresh, local and seasonal. Rewind a few decades, though, and people understood the value of a well-stocked store cupboard. Tinned foods, from fruits and vegetables to savoury pie fillings, were especially important during the Second World War, when a long shelf-life was crucial. Here’s our ranking of the best and most ubiquitous, from the 1940s into the 1960s.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover 27 old-school canned foods that are sure to spark some serious nostalgia.