Tomatoes are at the heart of countless dishes, from hearty pasta sauces your gran makes to vibrant salsas your favourite Mexican restaurant serves. The one question that almost always comes up is: tinned or fresh? The answers aren’t always straightforward, but we’ve included tips and tricks to help you decide.
It’s all about timing
Tomatoes are at their best in peak summer. Vibrant, sweet and savoury, bursting with flavour. Peak summer is the best time to make the most of fresh tomatoes. Think easy tomato sandwiches for lunch, spicy roasted salsas with refried beans, or easy putanesca pasta for dinner. As soon as the sun starts setting sooner, and the days grow colder, you’ll find a dip in tomato production. The lack of heat and sunshine produces dull, mealy, and bland tomatoes (not great in much).
But that’s where tinned tomatoes come in. Our ancestors have been preserving summer harvests for centuries. Not only was it a way to preserve abundance, but also to make sure there was food during the worst of winter. Today, many families and manufacturers do the same. The only difference is that the vibrant red colours and bursting flavours come from a tin, and not freshly picked at the local grocer. Keeping in mind that different brands produce different tinned tomatoes. Keep an eye on the ingredient label to find the brand that uses the least sodium, flavourants, and preservatives to ensure you’re getting a product that’s been tampered with the least.
Pros and cons
Fresh tomatoes
- Pros: Vibrant flavour and colour, versatile raw use, nutrient-rich, huge selection of different varieties
- Cons: Short life span, requires prep (peeling and seeding), and dull flavour when out of season
Tinned tomatoes
- Pros: Consistent flavour year-round, long shelf life, affordable, convenient
- Cons: Can only be used in cooked dishes, can lack brightness, and sometimes higher in sodium (depending on the brand)
When to use which
Use fresh tomatoes for a variety of dishes during the summer months, including:
- salads
- bruschetta
- fresh or roasted salsas
- quick sautés
- pasta sauces
- sandwiches or pizzas
Use tinned tomatoes during off-peak season for a variety of dishes, including:
Or, consider a blended approach, and combine fresh and tinned tomatoes to add depth and brightness to dishes.
Choosing between tinned and fresh tomatoes can be tricky. It’s all about the flavour you want, the season you’re in, and the time you have to spend in the kitchen. We suggest stocking both in your kitchen, and you’ll always have the right tomato for the right recipe!
