Canned tomatoes are a pantry staple, but there are so many options out there. To find the best choice for three popular culinary applications, I decided to conduct a canned tomato taste test. The first step? I hit the grocery store.
Popping open cans back at the Delish Test Kitchen, I noticed a lot of discrepancies. Some canned tomatoes contain additives like calcium chloride, some have thinner or thicker sauces, and others include herbs like basil. Turns out not all canned tomatoes are created equal! Overall, I tasted 11 brands of canned whole tomatoes side by side. The following are my favorites for three different cooking methods, plus one that stood out as a great all-around pick.
What Type Of Tomatoes Are In Canned Tomatoes?
But first, what exactly is in a can of tomatoes? Most are made from plum tomatoes, either San Marzano (a subtype of plum tomato) or Roma. San Marzano tomatoes are unique: If you see this name on the label, it indicates that the fruit comes from the Agro Sarnese Nocerino region in Campania, Italy. This type of tomato is prized for its balanced skin to seed to flesh ratio. Authentic San Marzano tomatoes will also have the term "D.O.P." on the label, which stands for "protected designation of origin." This confirms that the tomatoes were produced and harvested in the Agro Sarnese Nocerino region. If a can of tomatoes states "San Marzano" without the designation "D.O.P.," it may not be authentic.
Best For Sunday Sauce: Red Pack
The key to a good Sunday sauce is cooking it for hours with the addition of other aromatics. It'll develop a ton of flavor in that time, so it's ok to reach for a milder pick like Red Pack. This brand has a nice flavor, but it isn't too sweet or robust and can handle the addition of onions, garlic, olive oil, fatty pork ribs, beefy meatballs, or other ingredients you may add to your slow-simmered sauce.
Best For Marinara: Cento
My version of marinara is a quick, fragrant sauce that you can throw together in a pot or skillet in no time. Cento is a great option for this type of sauce because, according to my taste test, it has a nice, velvety texture and isn’t too sweet. It can stand up to the addition of onions, a key ingredient in most marinara sauces. This brand has a great consistency straight from the can, making it perfect for a simple, fast-cooking application.
Best For Pizza: La Fede
For this category, I chose tomatoes that don't need a ton of other ingredients to taste great and can be cooked quickly. La Fede canned tomatoes make a great sauce for pizza because they're not bitter, have a good amount of sweetness, and have the right viscosity for a sauce. This brand is made from D.O.P. San Marzano tomatoes, which, IMO, is a great option for a Neapolitan-style pizza. It's an authentic Italian product, after all.
Best Overall: San Merican
I thought I’d pick a true D.O.P. San Marzano tomato as my winner, but this one—made from regular ol' tomatoes—came out on top. During the blind tasting, I loved this brand's texture and well-balanced sweet and savory flavor. The puree in the can wasn’t thick, but it wasn’t watered down, either. It had a neutral flavor, so you could pretty much use it for anything. Add this to the base of your Neapolitan-style pizza, tomato soup, or as a starter for sauce—and you’re winning.
