Making your favorite pizza at home requires a significant element – Sauce. The best homemade sauce is made with the right ingredients, and tomatoes – fresh or canned – play an integral part.
Although Italians usually use raw tomatoes to create their sauce, canned tomatoes can be perfect as the raw option. This doesn’t have to be complicated, but most people are not aware of this common concept of using canned tomatoes for creating a perfect sauce.
Also, this fruit grows differently and can influence the taste and flavor of your sauce dissimilarly. So, we sourced the best-canned tomatoes for pizza sauce, considering the overall flavour purity, texture consistency, and vibrancy of colour.
Top 5 Canned Tomatoes for Pizza Sauce
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bianco DiNapoli Organic Whole Peeled Tomatoes | 6 Number of Pieces |
| 2. | San Marzano Whole Peeled Tomatoes | Product of USA |
| 3. | Cento Plum Tomatoes, 28-Ounce Cans | Grown Naturally |
| 4. | Stanislaus Alta Cucina Whole Tomatoes | Product Size: 1 can |
| 5. | Colavita Italian Diced Tomatoes | Italian Tomatoes |
Things to Consider When Shopping for Canned Tomatoes.
It’s important that you settle for canned tomatoes that work efficiently for a wide range of purposes without spelling trouble. In this section, we discuss the key factors that should influence your decision.
Additional Flavor
Canned tomatoes with additional flavour might not be the best option for anyone looking to create an authentic sauce. So, ensure you check the ingredient list. Keep in mind that it might include citric to increase the product’s shelf life. Also, it includes sugar, and salt, among others.
It’s best to opt for a product with more natural ingredients, and the taste shouldn’t be far from tomato. The right one should help improve your sauce’s natural taste, not alter it.
Type of Tomatoes
As said earlier, there are several types of tomatoes, which makes doing the right ingredient a bit tricky. Thus, it’s important to go for one that suits your needs. Tomatoes can be mashed, crushed, diced, peeled, or pieced. However, for a pizza sauce, the whole tomato is the most suitable.
Nonetheless, it would be best if you allowed it to cook for an extended period to achieve the right texture. In short, you need a watery tomato pizza sauce, which can be caused by the type of tomatoes you opt for.
Variety of Tomatoes
Similarly, there are several kinds of tomatoes, and the San Marzan is the most common option. This variety is from Italy and is not readily available in America. Tomatoes from Italy are often sought after for their rich colour and flavour. Do not underestimate the importance of the environment; the result chiefly depends on it.
Certifications
While a canned tomato tastes naturally indicating that the product was made with organic ingredients, you need to consider any sort of certification such as the USDA certification to ensure you purchase a GMO-free product.
Nutrient levels
Knowing the nutrient level of canned tomatoes can make the decision process easy peasy. So, when trying to pick one, consider the value of nutrients it packs. This information can be found on the package, and purchase ones with high nutrition levels.
According to Italian law, San Marzano tomatoes are the most suitable / recommended option. And, there are hundreds of brands claiming to offer real San Marzano tomatoes. Therefore you need to be careful when making a choice. More importantly, you should check if they grew and harvested in Italy.
Types of Canned Tomatoes
Not really having much idea about the content of a canned tomato makes it much more difficult to recommend a type of tomato to settle for. But suppose you are looking to purchase the best-canned tomatoes for pizza sauce. In that case, you should understand the following types of tomatoes.
Whole peeled tomatoes
As the name suggests, they contain whole tomatoes left whole in their tomato puree or juice. This means you get fewer processed tomatoes stacked in the puree for incredible versatility. The tomato purees often have a cooked flavour. Also, to prevent the tomatoes from being mushy, some brands include calcium chloride.
Crushed tomatoes
Crushed tomatoes do not have a standard look. Thus, you might have a gamut of textures, from smooth tomato puree to chunky mushy tomatoes. Obviously, it’ll come down to preference. Nonetheless, you should consider purchasing whole tomatoes and chunky ones at home if you want chunky mashed ones.
Diced tomatoes
In the stores, you’ll find a great collection of canned diced tomatoes. These tomatoes are peeled and diced using a machine. Afterwards, the diced tomatoes are kept in the tomato puree. Sadly, some brands still use calcium chloride to prevent the mash-up, resulting in the tomatoes getting overly firm.
Tomato puree
The tomato puree contains cooked tomatoes which are best strained for a smooth texture. Keep in mind that tomato puree comes flavoured.
Tomato sauce
This has to do with juice obtained from fresh tomatoes. These fruits are cooked and stained. However, you can also cook the tomato sauce to infuse your meal or pizza with strong umami.
Best Canned Tomatoes for Pizza Sauce Reviews
Canned tomatoes for pizza sauce are a great low-cost alternative to fresh tomatoes, and there are a variety of brands to choose from.
1. Bianco DiNapoli Organic Whole Peeled Tomatoes
There’s no way you wouldn’t have come across this product, except if you are not a fan of canned tomatoes. Personally, I’m yet to get enough of these tomatoes. Bianco DiNapoli Organic Whole Peeled Tomatoes have a bright colour, rich aroma and authentic natural taste. It’s no surprise that this canned tomato is featured in dozens of publications.
It’s a go-to for a lot of people due to its authenticity. It offers the perfect flavour for any dish. This canned tomato includes whole peeled tomatoes, basil, and salt. In short, if you’re looking to purchase a product with natural ingredients paired with a hum of tomato flavours, then the Bianco DiNapoli Organic Whole Peeled Tomatoes is for you.
The basil makes it easier for this product to be perfect for pizza and pasta sauce. Also, it’s responsible for its incredible versatility. Further, its whole tomatoes are firm which allows a home chef and seasoned pro to shape as preferred. This product can still be used whole if you want it chunky.
More so,
If you want a good balance of acidity and sweetness, you can’t go wrong with this product. It works well with all pizza recipes, thanks to its tomato flavours. Another thing to love about Bianco DiNapoli Organic Whole Peeled Tomatoes is its rich red colour and thick tomato purees.
Strengths:
- Basil included
- Free from pesticides or chemicals
- Sugar and preservatives free
- Offers incredible authenticity
Weaknesses:
- A bit chunky due to its slightly firm texture
2. San Marzano Whole Peeled Tomatoes
Suppose you want something slightly different from canned tomatoes on the sweeter side. In that case, you should seriously consider San Marzano Whole Peeled Tomatoes. The issue with sweet canned tomatoes is that they require you to add lots of ingredients, including salt when nixing it.
With this product, you won’t have to deal with such issues, and that’s why we recommend San Marzano Whole Peeled Tomatoes. These tomatoes are domestically grown to ensure home and seasoned chefs enjoy that authentic bittersweet taste that pairs easily with a wide range of pasta dishes. The manufacturer included fresh basil leaves to enhance the tomato’s taste.
Furthermore, they can be consumed straight out of the can since the tomatoes are peeled. The San Marzano Whole Peeled Tomatoes are suitable for gravies, sauces, stews, soups, and much more. The domestically-grown tomatoes feature a bright red colour and do not contain as much water as other products.
With these canned tomatoes, you should achieve that perfect texture and taste to create a tasty, sumptuous dish. Although the San Marzano is not actually from Italy like we hoped, it still delivers that decent taste to make a great pizza.
Strengths:
- It offers a unique bittersweet taste
- Arrives in a pack of six
- Domestically-grown tomatoes
- Includes salt and basil leaves
Weaknesses:
- Tomatoes are not grown in Italy
3. Cento Plum Tomatoes, 28-Ounce Cans
When it comes to brands offering San Marzano canned tomatoes, Cento is one company hard to beat. This brand has its production plant actually in Italy. It grows the best Italian tomatoes in the San Marzano region, which has the perfect climate and fertile soil.
Also, the farm isn’t far from the food processing unit, which ensures handpicked tomatoes can quickly be processed in the shortest period possible. This implies that the tomatoes will stay fresh as they peel and pack them in cans.
This company is keen on delivering only high-quality plum tomatoes with rich textures for a delicious dish. It features a natural additive, fresh basil leaves, to enhance and preserve the canned tomatoes’ shelf life. Aside from the basil leaves, there are no other colours, preservatives, or additives included.
This Italian canned tomato from Cento has an incredible flavour and thick puree to make a thick sauce and impact its natural colour. This well-known brand boasts of delivering premium-quality, organic canned tomatoes that won’t endanger your health. The whole tomatoes are peeled off and include organic ingredients such as natural citric acid and organic salt. Cento Plum Tomatoes come ready to consume straight out of the can.
Strengths:
- Ergonomic easy-to-open can
- Grown and freshly handpicked tomatoes from San Marzano, Italy
- Whole tomatoes can be diced or crushed for better cooking versatility
- No artificial ingredients, preservatives, or additives included
Weaknesses:
- Slight issues with the can’s denting
4. Stanislaus Alta Cucina Whole Tomatoes
The Stanislaus Alta Cucina Whole Tomatoes is another popular option among seasoned chefs. Most Italian restaurants, especially in New York, make their pizza sauce with these canned tomatoes. It’s safe to say that this product has become a standard for making world-class pizza toppings and pasta sauces.
The tomatoes are organically grown in California and canned without including any preservatives. This ensures that the canned tomatoes are as natural and fresh as possible. However, you’ll find little fresh basil in the can, improving the tomatoes’ taste.
That’s not all: its ingredient profile features a little tangy and rich tomato juice to minimize the water content. This makes it possible to make rich and lovely sauces. Keep in mind that the tomatoes might not be of the same juiciness or sizes. That is, some tomatoes may be smaller, larger or even harder than others. They feature a hardcore that requires you to remove them before consuming them.
Strengths:
- Suitable for sauces and soups
- Includes fresh basil and tomato juice
- No artificial preservatives added
- Tout to offer rich flavour
- It has a soft and tender texture
Weaknesses:
- Hassle removing the hard cores
- Inconsistent quality complains
5. Colavita Italian Diced Tomatoes
This product is slightly different from most options reviewed in this guide. It comes in tetra packaging instead of actual cans. This style of packaging also keeps the food safe and offers some bells and whistles.
Most people are often worried about the paper altering the taste of the tomatoes. Good to know, you will notice the tomato won’t taste the paper tetra box. You will be getting fresh, organic products. The tomatoes have a vibrant colour and rich flavour to help create excellent Italian cuisine.
Colavita Italian Diced Tomatoes boast deep flavours that will make the perfect flavours for a sumptuous pizza. Even better, it delivers the perfect texture and can refrigerate for long-lasting use.
Strengths:
- Rich flavours
- No preservatives included
- Perfect for soups or sauces
Weaknesses:
- The flavours may not be consistent
Frequently Asked Questions & Answered
The best-canned tomatoes will not contain trans fat or any fat at all. Thus, it’s important to purchase from a reputable brand.
You can, especially if you are purchasing a diced tomato can. This additive is responsible for tomato shape retention.
This product is versatile and can be served with continental dishes, stews, soups, or salads. This means you can choose to cook or eat them directly.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this guide helps you choose the best-canned tomatoes for pizza sauce. Most products on our list are made of natural ingredients for a burst of flavour and perfect taste. We are confident that whichever product you decide to go for among our top 5 picks will be perfect for your pizza and a wide range of different dishes.
But if we must recommend one, it has to be the Bianco DiNapoli Organic Whole Peeled Tomatoes, a favourite for many seasoned chefs and home bakers.
