Anchovies (canned in oil)
28.9gprotein / 100g131 cal · 4.8g fat · $$ · Quality 0.9
Canned Tuna (in water)
26.0gprotein / 100g116 cal · 0.8g fat · $ · Quality 0.9
Per 100g, Anchovies (canned in oil) comes in at 28.9g of protein against Canned Tuna (in water)'s 26.0g, a 2.9g gap that's noticeable across a full day's eating but won't make or break either choice on its own.
Protein quality is essentially matched between the two — both land in a similar tier for amino acid completeness.
On price, Canned Tuna (in water) wins clearly — $ against Anchovies (canned in oil)'s $$.
Anchovies (canned in oil)'s typical serving also delivers more leucine (2300mg vs Canned Tuna (in water)'s 2100mg) — relevant if the goal is maximizing the muscle-protein-synthesis trigger per meal, not just total grams.
These two are closer than the comparison headline suggests. Either Anchovies (canned in oil) or Canned Tuna (in water) works well in most contexts — let cost, prep time, and personal preference decide rather than the macros.
Full nutrition comparison
| Per 100g | Anchovies (canned in oil) | Canned Tuna (in water) |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 28.9g | 26.0g |
| Calories | 131 | 116 |
| Fat | 4.8g | 0.8g |
| Carbs | 0.0g | 0.0g |
| Fiber | 0.0g | 0.0g |
| Quality score | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| Relative cost | $$ | $ |
| Prep time | 0 min | 1 min |
Frequently asked
Which has more protein, anchovies (canned in oil) or canned tuna (in water)?
Anchovies (canned in oil) has 28.9g of protein per 100g compared to Canned Tuna (in water)'s 26.0g.
Which is lower in calories?
Canned Tuna (in water) is lower in calories per 100g, at 116 vs the other's 131.