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If you are like me, you have a big stash of canned tomatoes in your pantry. Crushed canned tomatoes (in juice and puree), whole canned tomatoes, diced canned tomatoes, petit diced canned tomatoes — I use them all! Of course, they are amazing in pasta sauces, but they are also the base for so many other recipes.
You can find canned tomatoes with reduced salt, no salt, with basil or other herbs added in, and maybe other seasonings like garlic. Also, let’s not forget about canned tomatoes with chilis, great for Mexican recipes. Pick the type that’s best for your recipes and your family. Sometimes tomatoes might be packaged in cartons instead of cans.
Storing Canned Tomatoes
Canned tomatoes will usually last for at least 6 months after the “best by” date. Make sure the cans aren’t dented, and store them in a cool place. Once opened, any leftovers should be transferred to an airtight container and refrigerated. They will stay good for up to a week.
San Marzano tomatoes from Italy are D.O.P protected, from the San Marzano region. They are prized for their sweet flavor and firmer texture. They are more expensive, but if you’re going for optimal tomato flavor (sweet, rich in taste, with just the right amount of acidity), they will deliver.
I use canned tomatoes in chilis, stews, soups, braises, and more. During the winter months, when fresh tomatoes are…disappointing, at best, this is the way I keep tomatoes in the dinner rotation. In fact, canned tomatoes are better for cooking than fresh, in most cases, because they have been peeled and processed with heat before being canned.
There is always a dinner to be made when you have this staple in stock. This list of canned tomato recipes will keep things hearty and interesting week after week.
This divine soup is scented with chili, cumin, and coriander, and topped with all kinds of deliciousness, like avocado and tortilla crisps. It is one of my favorite soups of all time.
Make a soup people will remember! This comforting and hearty Tomato, Orzo and Dill Soup is really a meal, just top it with a little fresh Parmesan to complete.
If you are a meat sauce family (my family is a serious meat sauce family), then a pot of this in the fridge, or a container of this in the freezer is just pure peace of mind.
This has been a family favorite since before it was a necessity, and costs just a few dollars to make. Canned tomatoes, garlic, onions, carrots and red pepper all pull together to make a very soul-satisfying dish.
Katie Workman is a cook, a writer, a mother of two, an activist in hunger issues, and an enthusiastic advocate for family meals, which is the inspiration behind her two beloved cookbooks, Dinner Solved! and The Mom 100 Cookbook.
