Princes Strawberries in Light Syrup - 420g

Tinned fruit has been a fixture of the British pudding course for generations. It is the back-of-the-cupboard rescue when there is nothing else in, the layer at the bottom of a trifle, and the thing that turned up next to a slab of sponge at school dinners.

People in Canada search for this one by name because it is the one they remember: the tin from Nan's cupboard, opened when visitors stayed longer than planned. Any old tin of fruit is not the point. This one is.

It comes in a 420g tin, which sits happily in the cupboard until you need it. Pop it in the fridge for an hour first if you like it cold, and once it is open, tip what is left into a covered dish and keep it chilled. Spoon it over sponge, layer it into a trifle, set it in jelly, or just eat it straight from the bowl.

Princes is one of the best-known names in British tinned food, from fish to fruit. People picking this up tend to grab a tin of custard and a packet of jelly while they are at it, and the trifle more or less builds itself.