Understanding the Difference Between Tomato Sauce, Tomato Puree, and Tomato Paste
You’re walking up and down the aisles of your favorite grocery store to get some ingredients for a new recipe. The list says you need one can of tomato sauce, one can of tomato paste, and one can of tomato puree. Surely, you don’t need three different kinds of tomato products, right? They all come from the same fruit, so they can’t be that different, right? Wrong.
Not to worry! We’re here to help you out. To put your mind at ease, let’s delve into the differences between tomato sauce, tomato puree, and tomato paste, their uses in cooking, and even share a few recipe ideas. By the end of this post, you’ll know exactly which one to choose and impress your family and friends with your tomato expertise.
Tomato Sauce: Definition and Uses
Tomato sauce is a mild, fairly thin, and versatile sauce made from lightly concentrated fresh tomatoes or tomato paste diluted with water. It’s typically seasoned with salt, onion powder, and garlic powder, though some varieties include green bell pepper for extra flavor. Tomato sauce is smooth, without seeds or tomato skins, making it a go-to choice for various dishes.
How to Use Tomato Sauce
Tomato sauce is a culinary staple that works wonderfully in a wide range of recipes. Its mild flavor makes it an excellent base for pasta dishes, casseroles, and slow-cooked meals. For example, you can use tomato sauce in:
Pasta sauces, like marinara or Bolognese
Chili recipes, such as a hearty chili con carne
Classic comfort foods, like meatball subs or chicken cacciatore
Tomato Sauce Recipe
Need a comforting dish for a family dinner or potluck? Try baked spaghetti! Combine ground beef or Italian sausage, melted mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and Red Gold Tomato Sauce for a rich and satisfying meal. It’s a savory dish guaranteed to please everyone at the table.
Tomato Puree: Definition and Uses
Tomato puree (pronounced pyur-ay) is thicker than tomato sauce but much thinner than tomato paste. Made from concentrated tomatoes with no added seasonings, it has a smooth texture and is free of seeds and skins. Tomato puree is the ideal choice when you want rich tomato flavor as a blank canvas for your seasonings.
How to Use Tomato Puree
Tomato puree shines in dishes that benefit from its robust tomato flavor and smooth consistency. It’s perfect for recipes where you’d like to customize the seasoning. Here are some popular uses:
Bases for soups, such as tomato bisque
Homemade salsa or hot sauce
Tomato gravies for dishes like meatloaf or Salisbury steak
Tomato Puree Recipe
Looking for a crowd-pleasing dish? Try Black Bean Chili. Combine tomato puree with beans, onions, ground beef, and your favorite spices in a slow cooker. The result is a hearty and flavorful meal that’s perfect for gatherings or weeknight dinners.
Tomato Paste: Definition and Uses
Tomato paste is a highly concentrated tomato product. Made from fresh, ripe tomatoes that have been cooked down, strained, and cooked again, it’s much thicker than tomato sauce or puree. Its intense flavor comes from a longer cooking process, which develops the natural sugars in the tomatoes. Like tomato puree, it’s free of seeds and skins.
How to Use Tomato Paste
Tomato paste is a powerful flavor enhancer. A small amount goes a long way in adding depth and sweetness to your dishes. It’s often used for thickening and enriching tomato-based recipes. Here are a few ideas:
Add to soups and stews for richness
Create flavorful sauces, such as marinara or enchilada sauce
Enhance dishes like meatloaf, meatballs, or chili with sweet and savory notes
Tomato Paste Recipe
For a classic family dinner, try Authentic Italian Gravy. This Sunday night staple combines Red Gold Tomato Paste with Italian spices, fresh ingredients, and a touch of love to create a rich and flavorful sauce perfect for pasta or meat dishes.
Key Takeaways
Now that you know the differences, you can confidently choose the right tomato product for your next recipe. Here’s a quick recap:
Tomato Sauce: Mild, thin, and seasoned, perfect for pasta and casseroles.
Tomato Puree: Thicker than sauce and unseasoned, ideal as a base for soups and gravies.
Tomato Paste: Highly concentrated with intense flavor, used for thickening and flavor enhancement.
Each of these tomato products has its unique characteristics and uses, making them essential ingredients in any kitchen. With this knowledge, you’re ready to tackle your next recipe with confidence and creativity.
Happy cooking!
Tomato Sauce vs. Tomato Puree vs. Tomato Paste: Key Differences
Now that we’ve looked at all three of these tomato-based products, here are the key differences between these delicious dinner-crowd pleasers:
Flavor and Texture
Tomato sauce is thinner than both tomato puree and tomato paste and it is seasoned. Tomato puree provides a rich tomato taste in a thick sauce with no seasonings whatsoever. Tomato paste has the thickest texture and consistency of all three and is used to add a savory, cooked brown note to your dishes.
Cooking Applications
Tomato sauce is ready to use with pasta, chili, and other tomato based or topped meals. Tomato puree is ready to season yourself, but it is already nice and thick and will not have to be cooked down. Tomato paste is a great option to thicken up sauces and gravies.
Shelf Life and Storage
Canned, unopened tomato sauce, puree and tomato paste, stored properly, can last for 18-24 months.
Conclusion
For more than eight decades, family owned Red Gold Tomatoes has insisted that only the best quality and freshest tomatoes make it into our tomato sauce, tomato paste, and tomato puree. Grown on 35 Midwest farms and picked at the height of freshness, our tomatoes are bursting with color, firmness and flavor, and we’re proud to be the first brand to offer Non-GMO Project Verified Ingredients and Non-BPA/BPS lined cans so your tomatoes taste fresh off the vine. We never need to use any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives because our patented Steam Packed Fresh process ensures our tomatoes are preserved using only heat. So, whether you need tomato sauce for your pasta, tomato paste for your gravy, or tomato puree for your pork roast recipe, Red Gold makes all of them with the freshest, most delicious tomatoes available!
