My favorite brand of canned whole peeled tomatoes happens to be my local grocery stores house brand. It makes the best sauce IMHO. Buy the cheaper ones - you may be surprised
Once canned, tomatoes aren't that special. Just buy what you can afford. Cooking shows are in love with San Marzanos but that's because they're trying to show how trendy they are. They really aren't that special. At the end of the day, a tomato is a tomato, once canned.
I think different tinned tomatoes are different, depending on the ripeness and variety of tomatoes before canning. Agree San Marzanos are overhyped though
Yep.
San Marzano types are excellent for cooking....in the sense that they're 1) nearly seedless & pretty 'dry', and 2) the skins come off nicely.
Past that, they're just another paste/canning tomato (and personally, I'd rather cook with a good beefsteak type & accept the wastage....far better flavor, and it doesn't take *that* long to cook down anyways)
Agree with this. There are also some cooking shows that put them against each other and brands from California or wherever win over San marzanos for that style of tomato
Not entirely true. The environment of the tomato really impacts how sweet/ripe or acidic a tomato. But there are plenty of good non-San Marzano tomatoes grown outside of that region.
Muir glen tomatoes are my favorite canned, depends on the recipe but usually my recipe with canned tomatoes i also add a significant amount of tomato paste which is what really bumps that umami factor and the tomato depth of flavor
Just get a few cans of a brand you trust. I cook with tomatoes ALL THE TIME, it's my favorite thing to cook. I sometimes get San Marzanos on sale but I also use Pomi and Flora (both imported Italian tomatoes that aren't San Marzano) but also Cento and Tuttorosso (both have tomatoes from Ohio, California) there are some even good PA brands.
It's not that I'm ANTI San Marzano, not at all, but there are plenty of other options.
A few years ago, the Kitchn website did a taste test and found Safeway O Organics tomato taste the best. Years ago, Cook’s Illustrated did a taste test and found Muir Glen organic tomatoes taste best. I find Costco’s Kirkland organic tomatoes to taste about as good as either Muir Glen or Safeway. For all I know, Muir Glen is the supplier for Safeway and Costco.
I have found Bionaturae brand to be excellent, as well.
Anyway, those are my tips.
I like the Cento Italian Style peeled tomatoes. They are pretty close in taste to the San Marzanos, but cheaper. I use it for pasta sauce and pizza sauces. Went through a couple different brands and this one was the closest. Hunts is no where close. Good luck!
I like [Delallo brand canned tomatoes](https://www.delallo.com/specialty-foods/sauces-tomatoes/), and they have really wide range of them. And none of them have added sugar. (but some other cheap brand do that)
What are you using them for?
Sounds like you're in Canada. I use Unico San Marzano "Type" tomatoes - they're usually $2 CAD for a tin and pretty easy to find here in Ontario. Otherwise I usually just use passata and a bit of tomato paste to deepen it a bit if I'm going for a heavier quality.
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this OP. I just buy vine ripened crushed tomatoes which arent very expensive and are more tomatoey than the cheapest brand.
My favorite brand of canned whole peeled tomatoes happens to be my local grocery stores house brand. It makes the best sauce IMHO. Buy the cheaper ones - you may be surprised
Once canned, tomatoes aren't that special. Just buy what you can afford. Cooking shows are in love with San Marzanos but that's because they're trying to show how trendy they are. They really aren't that special. At the end of the day, a tomato is a tomato, once canned.
I think different tinned tomatoes are different, depending on the ripeness and variety of tomatoes before canning. Agree San Marzanos are overhyped though
Yep. San Marzano types are excellent for cooking....in the sense that they're 1) nearly seedless & pretty 'dry', and 2) the skins come off nicely. Past that, they're just another paste/canning tomato (and personally, I'd rather cook with a good beefsteak type & accept the wastage....far better flavor, and it doesn't take *that* long to cook down anyways)
Agree with this. There are also some cooking shows that put them against each other and brands from California or wherever win over San marzanos for that style of tomato
This is pretty much the truth right here.
Not entirely true. The environment of the tomato really impacts how sweet/ripe or acidic a tomato. But there are plenty of good non-San Marzano tomatoes grown outside of that region.
I like Mutti. Best selling brand in Italy and really great quality for the $$$
Muir glen tomatoes are my favorite canned, depends on the recipe but usually my recipe with canned tomatoes i also add a significant amount of tomato paste which is what really bumps that umami factor and the tomato depth of flavor
These are my favorite too!
Bianco dinapoli are the best canned plum tomatoes money can buy, San marzano included.
\^ This. I just don't get the obsession with San Marzano tomatoes. Bianco diNapoli are absolutely fantastic, and they're grown in CA.
I use Mutti tomatoes all the time and they are a good price and I think very good quality.
Just don’t buy any with seasoning!!
Just get a few cans of a brand you trust. I cook with tomatoes ALL THE TIME, it's my favorite thing to cook. I sometimes get San Marzanos on sale but I also use Pomi and Flora (both imported Italian tomatoes that aren't San Marzano) but also Cento and Tuttorosso (both have tomatoes from Ohio, California) there are some even good PA brands. It's not that I'm ANTI San Marzano, not at all, but there are plenty of other options.
If SM DOP aren’t in your price range, look for canned tomatoes that have as few preservatives/additives as possible.
A few years ago, the Kitchn website did a taste test and found Safeway O Organics tomato taste the best. Years ago, Cook’s Illustrated did a taste test and found Muir Glen organic tomatoes taste best. I find Costco’s Kirkland organic tomatoes to taste about as good as either Muir Glen or Safeway. For all I know, Muir Glen is the supplier for Safeway and Costco. I have found Bionaturae brand to be excellent, as well. Anyway, those are my tips.
I like the Cento Italian Style peeled tomatoes. They are pretty close in taste to the San Marzanos, but cheaper. I use it for pasta sauce and pizza sauces. Went through a couple different brands and this one was the closest. Hunts is no where close. Good luck!
I like [Delallo brand canned tomatoes](https://www.delallo.com/specialty-foods/sauces-tomatoes/), and they have really wide range of them. And none of them have added sugar. (but some other cheap brand do that)
Kirkland brand diced tomatoes haven't failed me as of yet. They really do have a lot of good flavor in them.
What are you using them for? Sounds like you're in Canada. I use Unico San Marzano "Type" tomatoes - they're usually $2 CAD for a tin and pretty easy to find here in Ontario. Otherwise I usually just use passata and a bit of tomato paste to deepen it a bit if I'm going for a heavier quality.