I saw a couple of pictures of beans on toast and it looks good. I've never had it!

Any suggestions on what kind of bread and baked beans to use? Just toast the bread, butter it, heat up the beans and put them on the toast? Maybe add a little cheese?

I'm thinking the beans are Heinz and the bread is toasted white.

I have to admit, it's never looked good to me and when I see it or hear it, the acronym that comes to mind is "WIC".

Yes.....beans on toast is a very popular and protein-packed meal in Britain and Australia (and I daresay New Zealand too). It's so quick and easy to prepare to boot, taking less than five minutes!

I'm an English expat living in New Jersey. I'm fortunately able to buy the UK "Heinz" Baked Beans at Wholefoods and a local supermarket chain, 'Kings' and I think Stop & Shop stock them in their 'international' aisle as well. It has a distinctive turquoise label.

If you can't find (or don't want to pay the higher price) for the UK Heinz beans, then you should be able to find the US Heinz 'vegetarian' baked beans at most American supermarkets - it has a green label. The tomato-based sauce is slightly sweeter than the British Heinz beans though.

(I was horrified when I once purchased a different brand of baked beans, as it had a layer of pork fat floating on the top....yuck!)

I usually just toast some wholemeal bread (white is fine but not as nutritous.....the Italian sliced bread would be best as it's not as sweet as most other kinds of white bread in the US) and heat the beans on the stove-top for a couple of minutes....I do add a tiny scraping of Olivio spread on the bread (no need really as the beans are in a sauce) and hey presto! it's done. I do like to grate some cheese from time to time and put it on the top of the beans.

I also love to add a splodge of some brown 'HP' sauce if I can get it (the A1 steak sauce is almost as good) and also like Branston pickle if I have it (made by Crosse & Blackwell)...accompanied by a steaming mug of tea with a dash of milk.

Lovely jubbly!

I understand that the BMI flights (British Midland) from Chicago to the UK offers a full English breakfast on its flights and possibly beans on toast? What a pity they don't fly out of Newark LOL!

Beans on toast is a very English breakfast thing. I had a mate in Hong Kong that had them every day. Not too bad.

godivabrit, what a great introduction to beans on toast. I am going to try it.. maybe for lunch or a snack tomorrow!

I have a close friend who was raised in Spain by an English nanny. Beans and toast remain her favorite comfort food.

Personally, I prefer my buttered, white toast topped with real scrambled eggs but I keep forgetting to do this at breakfast buffets.

Urgh! The nauseating stench of canteen breakfasts.

I'm half Spanish and with things like this the cracks in my 'British' facade show.

I'd rather have a bowl of natto on rice. Smells better too!

Beans on toast can be a healthy and nutritious snack if you choose the right ingredients. I myself prefer wholemeal bread - I never usually eat white bread if I can help it. I also do not butter my toast - absolutely no need for extra fat. Try and choose beans that are low in salt and sugar and you have a quick and tasty snack anytime of the day.

These days though, I don't eat beans on toast often, I usually have the beans as an accompaniment to the Great British Breakfast (if I cook it's usually lean grilled bacon, scrambled eggs in olive oil, grilled tomato and grilled black pudding and of course baked beans) which I indulge in about once a month.

Beans on toast requires white toast covered in butter and Heinz baked beans. That's all.

What no-one has mentioned,of course,is that beans on toast to an English person is very often associated with accompanying wind.
Which is why an early advertising slogan of Heinz Meanz Beanz became known as Heinz Means Fartz.
Personally - and usually when drunk - I always add some curry powder and chilli sauce to my beans.
You can imagine the result the following morning.
Apologies in advance.

Tip: make sure the toast is very well done, otherwise it can go very soggy under the beans.

Also, it's not really an English breakfast dish (although both beans and toast may feature in an English breakfast). More a nursery snack / light supper.

Yes, the bread needs to be a golden brown.

It's also an excellent midnight snack.^

A brief google reveals this as mistaken. The childhood rhyme (whether or not inspired by advertising I don't know) was "Beans, beans, good for your heart. The more you eat, the more you fart." The first beans could be replaced by the word Heinz.

It was the only savoury brekkie dish we got at my London Uni Hall during weekday mornings. Saturday and Sunday then brought the scaled down version of the Full English.

It's not bad, though, especially if the toast is crispy.