Heating canned cranberry sauce can give it a more homemade feel and improve its taste. The sauce typically contains cranberries, corn syrup, and water. When heated, it melts into a jam-like consistency and tastes more like using fresh cranberries. If using the cylinder-shaped version, it's recommended to slice it before heating to make it cook nicer. Whole cranberry sauce can be poured into a pot and simmered without any additional preparation. To enhance the flavor, orange zest, fruits like pears or apples, and cinnamon can be added. The sauce should be cooled before serving to avoid burns.