Top 15 Best Canned Tomato Reviews

Canned tomatoes can replace fresh tomatoes in winter months and when you don’t have time to peel and process newly picked ripe tomatoes into tomato purée or sauce.

Don’t let choices overwhelm you. By reading this article, you’ll find out everything you need to know about canned tomatoes. Also, don’t forget to check out 15 best canned tomatoes.

Choosing a suitable tomato product can certainly make your recipes successful.

Canned Tomatoes – The Good, The Bad

Like two sides of the coin, canned tomatoes have both pros and cons. But, in this case, the convenience and nutrition value of canned tomatoes can totally outweigh their minor bad points.

Just keep in mind that It’s still up to you to decide whether canned tomatoes are right for you or not.

Good

Canned tomatoes are convenient, and it provides you with many health benefits.

They are handy for home-made sauces, pastries, or pizzas when you don’t have the time for peeling and chopping raw tomatoes.

Moreover, winter isn’t the tomatoes’ season. So, it’s a great ideal for you to stock up with canned tomatoes for a natural vitamin C and lycopene supply.

Like fresh tomatoes, canned tomatoes are still abundant in vitamin C and fiber. Check the nutrition labels of each can, and you’ll find the amount of vitamin C and fiber the tomatoes contain.

Canned tomatoes are also bound in lycopene – a powerful antioxidant found in red fruits and veggies. Lycopene protects you from the sun; it also lowers the risks of many heart diseases and cancer types.

Bad

Some major concerns about canned tomatoes are BPA found in plastic cans, and additives to preserve the color and shape tomatoes.

Many brands now produce cans that are free of BPA or any other toxic chemical. Just make sure you check the features carefully, and you’re safe.

Some additives found in canned tomatoes are salt and sugar. Go for tomatoes with no added salt or sugar if you prefer to flavor your dishes yourself, or you’re on a salt/sugar deficit.

Citric acid and Calcium chloride are also common additives in canned tomatoes. Both are safe for your health. They’re listed honestly on the labels. But if you still prefer to consume no additives at all, no worries, there’re brands that offer that too.

Why Stocking up the Best Canned Tomatoes at Home?

Canned tomatoes are my go-to ingredients for many recipes because of their nutritious components and convenience in prepping and cooking.

Canned Tomatoes Are Healthy

• Tomatoes are low in calories
• They don’t contain trans fat and cholesterol
• They are bound in natural vitamins and antioxidants
• They help prevent eyes, heart problems; and minimize the odd of getting cancers

Canned Tomatoes Are Convenient and Versatile

You can use tinned tomatoes right out of the cans and cook or serve them the way you want.

You also have the choice to use distinct types of canned tomatoes for many different recipes. Canned tomatoes give dishes rich flavor and nice texture.

They Stay Intact When Cooked

Calcium chloride in some canned tomatoes keeps the tomato slices intact in case you have guesses over, and the tomato pieces have to be perfect. This can also be a benefit of canned tomatoes as fresh tomato doesn’t hold its shape well when cooked.

What Are the Best Canned Tomatoes?

See for yourself, which one in these stand-out canned tomatoes is suitable for your cooking needs. Don’t forget to read my personal experience with all these exceptional canned tomatoes and many other great tomato products in the detailed reviews later in this article.

• Best Overall – Carmelina San Marzano Whole Peeled Tomatoes
  
  Peeled Canned Tomatoes are very versatile, and it can be the only canned tomatoes product you need. Carmelina’s San Marzano contains only fresh tomatoes, no added preservatives, or seasonings. This product is perfect for all dishes.
• Best Organic – Muir Glen Canned Tomatoes
  
  Perfectly Diced Organic Tomatoes that stays intact for dishes that need tomatoes in shape. Sea salt added.
• Best Crushed – Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes
  
  Versatile Crushed Tomatoes for soup, sauce, chili, and many more.
• Best Peeled – Delallo Imported San Marzano Whole Peeled Tomatoes
  
  Unique taste and smell of fresh Italy imported tomatoes.
• Keto Friendly – Hunt’s Diced Tomatoes No Salt Added
  
  100% natural product, gluten free, and suitable for all lifestyles and diets.
• Best Sauce – Contadina Canned Roma Style Tomato Sauce
  
  Well balanced tasted Roma style Tomato Sauce ready for any dishes right out of the box.
• Best Puree – Dei Fratelli Tomato Puree
  
  Smooth and pourable Tomato Puree for a flawless cooking experience.
• Best Tomato Paste – Cento Tomato Paste in Tube
  
  Convenient Tomato Paste tubes for easy squeezing, extra rich flavor with the Double Concentrated technique.

Canned Tomatoes Comparison Chart

Before getting into the detailed review of each product, have a quick glance at this comparison table to consider and compare all of 15 best canned tomatoes.

Top 15 Best Canned Tomatoes Reviews

Here it is, the in-depth review of each product. There’re also the pros, cons, and highlight features for you to take into consideration.

Carmelina San Marzano Whole Peeled Tomatoes

(Best Overall)

Fresh whole San Marzano tomatoes are packed in tomato purée, no preservative added. Made and imported from Italy, the ripe, juicy tomatoes won’t let you down.

In case you’re not aware, San Marzano is a variety of plum tomatoes. In fact, they’re the most famous plum tomatoes from Italy. They have thicker flesh, fewer seeds, and they taste sweeter and less acidic.

There’s no salt, sugar, or any herbs in Carmelia’s canned tomatoes. You can flavor you dishes as you want. There’s also no citric acid or calcium chloride added in these canned tomatoes from Carmelina.

The tomatoes are non-GMO verified, and the brand ensures its canned tomatoes are without BPA lining. The products are safe for your health.

Highlight Features

• From the Campania, Italy
• Vine-ripened tomatoes
• All natural, no preservatives
• Non-GMO Verified, gluten-free, BPA-Free

Product Specifications

Brand	Carmelina
Net weight of 1 can	28 oz.
Pack of	6 cans
Flavor/seasoning	none

Muir Glen Canned Tomatoes

(Best Organic)

If you’re looking for perfectly diced tomatoes, not smashed or sauce-like, then The Muir Glen’s canned tomatoes are exactly what you need.

When you cook these tomatoes for soup or sauces, they don’t break down completely, leaving tiny pieces for great texture.

The tomatoes are organically grown, and vine ripened. Tomatoes go from field to non-BPA tins in less than 8 hours, which helps preserve their peak sweetness and flavors.

The product is gelatin free/vegan, gluten-free, which makes it suitable for all dietary choices.

The only down point for these diced tomatoes is sometimes the can comes dented.

Highlight Features

• No artificial colors, flavors
• Fields to cans in less than 8 hours
• Certified organic
• Gluten free, gelatin free/vegan

Product Specifications

Brand	Muir Glen
Net weight of 1 can	14.5 oz.
Pack of	12 cans
Flavor/seasoning	None

Sclafani Whole Peeled Tomatoes

Sclafani packs fresh, vine ripened tomatoes in tomato juice that has a slightly thicker texture. They add salt, citric acid, and calcium chloride to preserve the flavor and the shape of the tomatoes.

However, you don’t have to worry that the tomatoes are hard to break down. Since they’re whole tomatoes, not diced, so the tomatoes’ flesh doesn’t absorb much of the calcium chloride added.

While the tomatoes taste great, a small number of the tomatoes’ cores are fibrous and dense, which may require blending if you want a smooth texture in your dishes.

Highlight Features

• Fresh, vine ripened plum tomatoes

Product Specifications

Brand	Sclafani
Net weight of 1 can	28 oz.
Pack of	12 cans
Flavor/seasoning	salt

Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes

(Best Crushed)

Looking for crushed tomatoes to make sauce? Then look no further.

Apart from the sweet and flavorful of the fresh, sun ripened tomatoes, their creamy texture makes these canned tomatoes great for making sauces. Smooth without any tiny tomato chunks, you can make the perfect sauce for pasta and many other dishes.

100 % fresh, finely chopped Italian tomatoes with a pinch of sea salt, this Mutti’s tinned tomatoes product brings a terrific taste and look to your meals.

If you prefer no preservatives, the tomatoes are free of citric acid and calcium chloride. They also have non-GMO certified, BPA-free can, and free of gluten. You can use the tomatoes every day without worrying about them causing health problems.

Highlight Features

• 100% Italian tomatoes, with Mediterranean sea salt
• No additives, preservatives
• Non-GMO, non-BPA, gluten-free

Product Specifications

Brand	Mutti
Net weight of 1 can	14 oz.
Pack of	12 cans
Flavor/seasoning	Salt

DeLallo Imported San Marzano Whole Peeled Tomatoes

(Best Peeled)

In Sarnese-Nocerino valley, Italy, local farmers grow these bittersweet tomatoes. Then the local producers peel and pack these vibrant tomatoes, 100% fresh at their peak.

You won’t doubt the quality of these tasty peeled tomatoes with thick flesh, fewer seeds, and less watery. Bring the Italian cuisine to your kitchen. The juice comes with the can isn’t thick in texture, but you can add either tomato purée or paste to make it denser if you like.

San Marzano tomatoes make it right every time you like to make soup. So, don’t wait any longer to try these Italian tomatoes, it’s worth every cent you spent.

The brand does add some basil leaves and salt for flavors, take this into account when you choose to pick these cans up.

Highlight Features

• O.P (Protected Designation of Origin) San Marzano tomatoes
• Basil leaf, salt added
• No added preservative

Product Specifications

Brand	DeLallo
Net weight of 1 can	28 oz.
Pack of	6 cans
Flavor/seasoning	Salt and basil leaves

Stanislaus Alta Cucina Whole Tomatoes

One can of tomato contains fresh vine ripened plum tomatoes, juice, basil leaf and salt for flavors, and natural citric acid as an acid regulator. No more harmful additives.

Their taste is terrific, juicy tomatoes with salt and basil flavors. You can cook these flavorful tomatoes and sauces for your pizza recipes, pasta sauce, and many more.

The tomatoes come in a 6.43-pound can, quite a big amount. Consider if you want a big can at once or you prefer a smaller can instead. You can store the rest in the fridge for future use, so don’t worry too much about this. It’s merely a personal preference.

Highlight Features

• Basil leaf, salt added
• Vine ripened plum tomatoes

Product Specifications

Brand	Stanislaus
Net weight of 1 can	6.43 lbs.
Pack of	1 can
Flavor/seasoning	Salt and basil leaves

Bianco DiNapoli California Peeled Organic Whole Tomatoes

Tomatoes are organically grown in California and packed within hours after picking. Vine ripened tomatoes bring the taste and smell of fresh tomatoes, just like they’re just harvested and served right away.

The brand packs these tomatoes in their own rich juice and sauce with some salt and basil leaves for extra flavors. Get ready to add the sweetness of fresh tomatoes to your chilies, sauces, pizzas, or anything you can imagine.

Out of the BPA-free linings, the tomatoes are ready for using in any dishes. They have the right taste, no bitterness, and a perfect balance of acidity.

Highlight Features

• California grown tomatoes
• Vine ripened
• Great balance of flavors
• Non BPA cans

Product Specifications

Brand	Bianco
Net weight of 1 can	28 oz.
Pack of	6 cans
Flavor/seasoning	Salt and basil leaves

Red Gold Canned Stewed Tomatoes

This’s tomato product from a family-own business; they’ve been around since 1949. All tomatoes are family grown, owned, and made

Each can of tomatoes includes vine ripened tomatoes in their own juice with less than 2% of added natural ingredients, including sugar, salt, dried onion, celery, bell pepper, citric acid, and calcium chloride.

All fresh ripe tomatoes are steam-packed in BPA free lining. The product also is vegan and gluten free, making these stewed tomatoes suitable for people with different lifestyles and dietary choices.

Quality packing leaves no metallic taste on your stewed tomatoes. Try it out and see for yourself.

Highlight Features

• BPA free lining
• Gluten free
• All natural ingredients

Product Specifications

Brand	Red Gold
Net weight of 1 can	14.5 oz
Pack of	6
Flavor/seasoning	Sugar, salt, dried onion, celery, bell pepper

Hunt’s Diced Tomatoes No Salt Added

(Keto Friendly)

Diced tomatoes are also very versatile in your kitchen. Each can of Hunt’s diced tomatoes has unpeeled, sliced tomatoes, tomato juice, and less than 2% of citric acid, calcium chloride. This version has no salt added so you can flavor your dish as you like.

100% Natural and fresh tomatoes are all you need for any home recipes. The ripe, vibrant tomatoes go from field to the package in 10 hours or less, which helps preserve it peak ripe and fresh taste and smell.

The net amount of carbs in one can is 4g, making these tomatoes keto-friendly. There’s also no added sugar.

Highlight Features

• 100% Natural
• Gluten free
• Less than 10 hours from picking to packing
• Keto friendly

Product Specifications

Brand	Hunt
Net weight of 1 can	14.5 oz.
Pack of	12 cans
Flavor/seasoning	None

Contadina Canned Roma Style Tomato Sauce

(Best Sauce)

If you’re looking for a can of tomato sauce, then I highly recommend this Roma tomato sauce.

Each can of tomato sauce has Roma tomato puree, sea salt, citric acid, onion and garlic powder, and spices. So, no need to add more seasoning. The sauce is ready to use right out of the can.

The sauce has a smooth and pourable texture and a good balance of taste overall. Not too sweet or sour, just the right amount of acidity for tomato sauce.

This sauce can be added to many home-made dishes to make their flavors full and complete. There’s no added sugar if you’re wondering.

Highlight Features

• Roma tomatoes
• Smooth texture, blends well with other ingredients

Product Specifications

Brand	Contadina
Net weight of 1 can	15 oz.
Pack of	12 cans
Flavor/seasoning	sea salt, onion and garlic powder, and spices

Dei Fratelli Tomato Puree

Fresh tomatoes are picked and made into this delicious and flavorful tomato puree. Dei Fratelli makes sure there is a minimum number of tomato seeds left in the puree, giving you a smooth and rich tomato puree texture.

The puree consists of fresh tomatoes and citric acid. No worries that your puree is made of tomato paste mixed with water.

There’s no salt, sugar added to the puree, letting you to flavor your dish as you prefer. The tomatoes are non GMO verified, which ensures you get the best and safest ingredients.

Highlight Features

• Non GMO
• Fresh tomatoes
• Seedless

Product Specifications

Brand	Dei Fratelli
Net weight of 1 can	28 oz.
Pack of	12
Flavor/seasoning	None

San Marzano Double Concentrated Tomato Paste

The double concentrated tomato paste gives you extra rich flavors in just one squeeze. Both the taste and the convenience make this tomato paste score high on the list.

The tomato paste comes in a 4.5 oz. tube (roughly 8 tablespoons), making it much more convenient than tomato paste can. You just have to squeeze the exact amount of paste you need and preserve the rest in the fridge.

Highlight Features

• Double Concentrated
• Convenient tubes

Product Specifications

Brand	San Marzano
Net weight of 1 tube	4.5 oz.
Pack of	2 tubes
Flavor/basil leaf	None

La San Marzano Diced Tomatoes with Basil Leaf

Natural and fresh diced tomatoes are packed in tomato puree, salt, and basil leaf, which make the flavorful tomatoes safe, healthy, and convenient to use for all occasions.

Basil leaf and salt finish the diced tomatoes with a well-balanced taste, not too overpowering. All ingredients are 100% Italian and non-GMO verified, which ensures that the product is safe for everyone.

Highlight Features

• 100% Italian Ingredients
• Non GMO
• Gluten free

Product Specifications

Brand	La San Marzano
Net weight of 1 can	106 oz
Pack of	1 can
Flavor/seasoning	Salt and basil leaf

Cento Tomato Paste in Tube

(Best Tomato Paste)

With this superior tomato paste, you can squeeze the amount you need and store the remaining in the fridge for freshness.

Rich and dense in texture, this paste surely make a difference in all your dishes. Just 1-2 tablespoons for every recipe, you can feel the rich flavor this tomato paste brings.

Once you go for tomato paste tubes, you can say goodbyes to canned paste that is hard to keep fresh once opened.

Highlight Features

• 100 % Italian
• All natural
• Double concentrated
• Convenient tubes

Product Specifications

Brand	Cento
Net weight of 1 can	4.65 oz.
Pack of	3 tubes
Flavor/seasoning	None

Cento San Marzano Peeled Tomatoes

I round up the list with this versatile peel San Marzano tomatoes with basil leaves.

If you’re not sure which type of canned tomatoes, then go for cans of peeled tomatoes. With peeled tomatoes, you can transform them into anything you want, sauce, puree, you name it.

Cento offers consistently ripe plum tomatoes, both the tomatoes and the sauce are very rich in flavor. This’s a classic product to have around.

Highlight Features

• Verified products from Italy

Product Specifications

Brand	Cento
Net weight of 1 can	28 oz.
Pack of	2 cans
Flavor/seasoning	Basil leaves

Best Canned Tomatoes Buying Guides

Before picking up any canned tomatoes to add to your home-made dishes, it’s essential to do some research, so you know for sure what you’re getting. To save time, read this quick guide to know more about 7 different types of canned tomatoes and some factors to consider before buying them.

7 Types of Canned Tomatoes

The process of canning tomatoes varies; hence, there’re 6 types of tomatoes, from the least touched products – peeled tomatoes – to the most – tomato paste.

• Peeled Tomatoes

This is the most versatile type of canned tomatoes, as they’re whole tomatoes without skin packed in tomatoes juice or sauce. You can turn them into any other canned tomatoes.

Dice them up, shred them down into smaller pieces, or blend them to make tomato sauce or purée. If you want only one canned tomatoes product in your kitchen, peeled tomatoes must take the 1st place without any doubt.

• Diced Tomatoes

Diced tomatoes are sliced and packed in tomato juice. There’re typically additives – Citric acid and Calcium chloride in this product, which helps the diced tomatoes retain colors and delicate shape.

• Stewed Tomatoes

Stewed tomatoes are precooked tomatoes with seasoning like salt, sugar, spice, etc. Check the food labels before purchasing for more precise information about the ingredients.

• Crushed Tomatoes

These tomatoes are crushed into tiny pieces, and they often go with purée or tomato paste. It has a thick texture, but it’s often pourable.

• Tomato Purée

Tomato purée is smoother than crushed tomatoes. The brands season it differently.

• Tomato Sauce

The texture of tomato sauce is very smooth. Brands sometimes add seasoning in this product too. So, check the ingredient before buying is a must.

• Tomato Paste

This is the most processed canned product from tomatoes. They contain the least water and are darker than other canned tomatoes. You can mix tomato paste with water to make tomato sauce.

Things to Consider Before Buying Canned Tomatoes

Now you’ve known about different types of canned tomatoes, make sure you know which one you need for your recipes. Now, let’s look at some more things to consider before you make a purchase.

The Manufacturing Processes

You should check the source of the tomatoes, how they’re grown, treated, and packed. Many brands state that their tomatoes are 100% fresh, and from field to can in just less than 10 hours.

If you want to consume an organic product, some brands offer organic canned tomatoes too.

Seasonings

Canned tomatoes manufacturers can add salt, sugar, or different herbs to flavor the tomatoes. Just check the food labels carefully, and you’ll know what’s with the tomatoes.

Preservatives

The most 2 common preservatives in canned tomatoes are Citric acid and Calcium chloride. Both are safe for food.
Citric acid’s role is to preserve and enhance food flavors, and it can leaver sour taste in the tomatoes.

Calcium chloride helps keep the tomatoes’ shape. Hence, tomatoes are harder to broke down when cooking. But it can be great if you want intact tomato pieces on your dishes.

FAQs

Here’re some frequently asked questions about best canned tomatoes. You’ll find some useful info concerning tinned tomatoes in this FAQ.

My Top Pick

Hopefully, with this in-depth guide to canned tomatoes, you’re now able to pick the best tinned tomatoes for you and your loved ones.

After trying out all these 15 canned tomatoes, my favorite one is the San Marzano Whole Peeled Tomatoes from Carmelina. The natural and vine ripened tomatoes bring an authentic flavor to your recipes. And you’ll be able to add garlic, onion, or herbs to the dishes as you wish because the Carmelina’s peeled tomatoes aren’t pre-seasoned.