How To Fix Watery Tuna Salad? 5 Simple Ways

Tuna salad is one of the go-to easy lunches because it’s very easy to make. However, it can be a big mess-up if not made properly. One of the most typical tuna salad issues is that it becomes watery. When this happens, you should know how to fix a watery tuna salad.

To fix watery tuna salad, add extra tuna, potato and hard-boiled eggs to the recipe. Croutons and pasta can absorb some excessive liquid. If there is too much water from vegetables, carefully strain the whole salad. To avoid watery consistency, consider using tuna in pouches and mayonnaise instead of salad dressing.

This post will show you how to fix the problem with watery tuna salad in a couple of ways. So, let’s get straight down to business and see how to make this fish-based dish better.

How to Thicken Tuna Salad?

The liquids from the can where was tuna can leak into your salad if you don’t drain it properly. What also makes tuna salad watery is water from vegetables.

The tuna salad will automatically separate and become too watery. If you frequently experience this issue when making your favorite tuna salad, all you need is to try using any of the following simple ways to thicken it.

Add mayonnaise to your recipe instead of salad dressing

Tuna salad is incomplete without mayonnaise or salad dressing. If you frequently encounter watery tuna salad, mayonnaise is a better choice than salad dressing. Aside from thickening the tuna salad, it also adds a creamy texture and salty flavor to the mix.

However, mayonnaise and salad dressing are the same thing, I hope you don’t get them mixed up. The main difference is that mayonnaise is made entirely with mayonnaise, whereas salad dressing includes other ingredients in addition to mayonnaise. 

As a result, employing 100 percent mayonnaise will always aid in the thickening of the salad.

 Add more tuna, chopped boiled eggs, potato and celery

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Using the proper number of ingredients may be the only thing keeping you from enjoying a thick tuna salad. If your tuna salad is always watery, consider adjusting the number of ingredients in your tuna salad.

All you need for tuna salad are a few key ingredients: canned or pouched tuna, mayonnaise, celery, red onion, parsley, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.

However, if you want extra thickness, you can add more tuna or other ingredients. For example, you don’t have to use only one type of fish. You can also consider some tuna substitutes. Adding extra chopped cooked eggs, potato and celery, in particular, can make your tuna soup look more like a proper tuna salad. 

Hard-boiled eggs can aid in the absorption of moisture from tuna salad. Adding 3 to 6 extra eggs (based on how much tuna salad you are making) should thicken it up.

Add pasta or croutons

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Croutons, just like pasta, are great at absorbing an excessive amount of water. What is more, they are easy to make at home. Simply cut the bread slices into small cubes and bake them in a pan over medium-high heat with the addition of a tablespoon of olive oil.

Use tuna in a pouch instead of a can

The liquid from the tuna is, without a doubt, one of the primary causes of the watery tuna salad.

To cut down on mayonnaise, consider tuna in a pouch. Cans of tuna are more liquid than pouches and so a better option. Pouched tuna, on the other hand, is more expensive than canned tuna but is worth it if you want a constant tuna salad thickness.

Strain the whole salad

Another reason why your salad is watery is the water from vegetables. Let me tell you why this happens.

The main ingredient everybody uses in the kitchen is salt. We use salt not only to enhance all the flavors in the dishes, but also to dry out the meat surface and vegetables. In other words, salt brings water out from the vegetables. 

This process is happening slowly, so that is why you notice extra water in your salad after some time. 

To fix this, simply strain the whole salad using a strainer.

How to Avoid Watery Tuna Salad?

When you don’t have the necessary cooking gear, it’s easy to complain about watery tuna salad. It is important to use the proper culinary utensil to ensure that every turn is perfect. 

Furthermore, employing the proper kitchen tools makes the cooking process much easier. For example, numerous kitchen tools can assist you in draining the tuna and cooking the tuna salad more effectively. Make sure you invest in the proper ones.

One of the main reasons your tuna salad may become watery is if you did not properly drain the tuna.

To achieve a consistent thickness, your tuna must be properly dried. But how do you do that?

• Place a strainer over the sink. Turn the can of tuna over it.
• Squeeze out any extra water by lifting and pressing the fish.
• Repeat the preceding steps until there is no more water in your tuna meat.
• If you’re preparing it ahead of time, place the tuna on a doubled paper towel in the bowl you’ll be making the tuna salad in. The paper towel will be soaked by the next day.

This keeps the tuna fluids from spilling into your tasty tuna salad.

How Long Does Tuna Salad Last in the Fridge? 

The shelf life of tuna salad is determined by various storage conditions. Tuna salad, on the other hand, will stay in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days if properly stored.

Furthermore, if you want to extend the shelf life of tuna salad, refrigerate it in airtight containers.

However, tuna salad might spoil if not refrigerated after 2 hours of making. Bacteria may easily grow in it at temperatures ranging from 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Furthermore, if the tuna salad acquires an off-odor, flavor, or appearance, or if mold forms, it should be removed.

How to Make Tuna Salad Taste Better?

To improve the taste of tuna salad, add sour cream, crème fraiche or yogurt with a little dijon mustard in your component to give it a creamy texture without weighing it down. For one can of tuna, use about just a tablespoon from each, stir well and then add more of it to taste.