If you’ve found your way to this article, you likely think about tinned tomatoes more than the average human being. There’s no shame in the matter - we’re right there with you in all their cylindrical, pantry-essential glory.
We’d never go so far as to say that tinned tomatoes are underrated as the vast majority of households will use at least one can a week. From pasta sauces to delicious curries and filling chicken cacciatore baked in the oven, they’re a veritable staple no matter what you’re cooking, and it’s all thanks to that perfectly balanced acidic sweetness.
The first tinned tomatoes were produced in 1856 by Francesco Cirio, who was intent on pioneering the sale of Italian tomatoes in the UK. Indeed, Italian tomatoes are considered to be some of the best in the world thanks to the Mediterranean climate and rich volcanic soil in which they’re grown.
The Campania region in Southern Italy is particularly famous for tomato production. San Marzano, a small region between Naples and Salerno within the Campania province, lends itself to growing delicious tomatoes in bustling varieties.
The particularly fertile volcanic soil at the foot of the infamous Mount Vesuvius is said to give the tomato plants even more flavour and nutrients. San Marzano tomatoes are longer and skinnier than a regular plum tomato, with a thin skin and thick flesh filled to the brim with flavour.
It’s why you’ll see that special ‘PDO’ label on tinned tomatoes by the likes of Mutti (another heritage brand, founded in 1899 in Montechiarugolo within the Italian Parma province), which simply confirms that the preserved fruit has been grown in one of the European Union's Protected Designation of Origin areas. Some other famous examples of PDO excellence include Parmigiano Reggiano, Gorgonzola, Asiago cheese, Camembert de Normandie and Champagne.
What are the different types of tinned tomatoes, and what are they used for?
Simply Recipes has a brilliant, detailed guide to the main types of tinned tomatoes, which we’ve summarised below.
- Whole, peeled tomatoes: packed with either juice or puree, they’re the most versatile tinned tomato because they can be crushed, diced, blended or pureed to whatever consistency you require.
- Diced: these are chopped prior to canning and are ideal for chunkier tomato dishes like chilli, pasta sauces, salsas and manicotti.
- Crushed: usually mixed with additional tomato puree or juice, making them saucier than normal diced tomatoes but still chunkier and more concentrated than a classic sauce. Commonly used for chicken parmesan, chicken marinara, lasagne, or a simmered soup like minestrone.
- Stewed: these have been cooked and seasoned with sugar, spices and additional flavourings like celery, onions and pepper. They’re softer, sweeter and not hugely common when making a recipe from scratch.
- Paste: this is made by cooking down tomatoes until all the juice has evaporated, which gives it that signature deep red hue. It’s brilliant for adding additional flavour to all sorts of dishes. In curries, it’s usually added after cooking onions and garlic.
We’ve curated a selection of the best tinned tomatoes to buy in the UK below.
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Cirio Peeled Plum Tomatoes, 12x 400g
Despite being the original heritage brand to bring tinned Italian tomatoes to the UK, Cirio Peeled Plum Tomatoes are surprisingly good value and add oodles of balanced flavour to any dish. 100 per cent Italian and produced in an entirely climate-neutral manner as of January 2024, these Pelati peeled plum tomatoes from Puglia have been perfectly ripened in open fields under the Mediterranean sun in limestone-rich soil.
Buy now £16.80, Amazon
Mutti San Marzano peeled tomatoes, 6x 400g
Mutti San Marzano tomatoes are the diamonds of the tinned tomato world, which is why their products are so expensive – but always worth the investment. The peeled San Marzano comes in an irreplicable juicy, thick tomato sauce which has our mouths watering just thinking about it.
Deliciously rich in nutrients, they’re grown and sun-ripened in the Italian Agro Sarnese Nocerino region, between Naples and Salerno. The fleshy tomatoes have a brilliantly vibrant red colour, dense texture and a slightly acidic flavour thanks to the volcanic soil in which they’re grown.
Buy now £19.50, Amazon
Mutti Pelati Peeled Tomatoes, 4x 400g
These plump and firm Pelati tomatoes come significantly cheaper than the San Marzano variety from Mutti, but certainly don’t compromise on flavour. The peeled tomatoes are immersed in Mutti’s signature, velvety-smooth and juicy passata – making them particularly great for dishes which require long cooking times.
Buy now £6.00, Amazon
Mutti Polpa Finely Chopped Tomatoes, 4x 400g
Can you tell we’re big fans of Mutti’s tinned tomatoes yet? One of the brand’s most unique tinned tomato varieties, Polpa combines the juice of the tomato with thinly diced flesh. The tomatoes are picked when perfectly ripe and cold-crushed to maintain that freshly harvested flavour. It takes a whopping 5kg of fresh tomatoes to make 1kg of highly concentrated, incredibly flavourful Mutti Polpa – which can subsequently be used for a myriad of dishes, whether speedily cooked or stewed for hours.
Buy now £6.00, Amazon
Italianavera Vero Pop San Marzano PDO Peeled Tomatoes, 1x 400g
At £3.15 a tin, Italianavera San Marzano tomatoes certainly don’t come cheap. Though we won’t judge a book by its cover, we love the contemporary design on these tins – which house delicate San Marzanos cultivated in Agro Sarnese-Nocerino.
If you’re in the market to try other intriguing, difficult-to-source Italian tomatoes, Italianvera also has tinned Corbarino, Cherry, Spunzillo, Datterino and Yellow Peeled tomatoes as well as a rich passata and 210g tin of fine pulp.
Buy now £3.15, Ocado
Casalinga Marzanino Tomatoes, 1x 400g
Harvested in the fields around the port of Brindisi, these lovely Marzanino tomatoes by Casalinga are wonderfully sweet and perfectly vine-ripened. They’re called ‘Marzanino’ since they resemble a miniature San Marzano, and are used for both pasta and pizza.
Buy now £1.50, Ocado
Rega San Marzano DOP Peeled Tomatoes, 3x 400g
Perhaps the best value San Marzano tomatoes on the market, Rega is favoured by restaurants across the globe for a reason. Fresh, unbeatably flavourful and grown in volcanic soil, they’re naturally sweet and slightly less acidic than other DOP varieties. The extra creamy passata consistency also makes cooking delicious meals in a pinch easier than ever.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
