Baked beans are a store-cupboard staple and a byword for easy, economical meals. You might prefer them spooned on top of jacket potatoes, with sausages, or tipped on top of toast. You might even enjoy them cold, straight from the tin. Whatever your preferred way to devour baked beans (or whether you like them at all), the seemingly simple side dish packs in a surprising amount of history. Here’s the fascinating story behind the humble baked bean, from its origins to its journey to the tin.