The Canned Tomato Taste Test Slideshow
Average Score: 66.9/100
Price: $3.29 for 35 ounces ($0.09 per ounce)
Though this claims to be a "product of Italy," that doesn't do anything for the flavor, which editors commented was "very processed" and "chemical" in nature. The tomatoes' "mushy" texture didn't help matters either; all in all, a very poor showing.
#10 — Del Monte
Average Score: 67.5/100
Price: $2.69 for 28 ounces ($0.10 per ounce)
This American brand was lambasted for its unnatural flavor; one editor complained that it tasted of chlorine, which is unsurprising since many American brands use calcium chloride to help retain texture when cooked. However, the "big and messy plum[s]" contained within probably wouldn't have held up too well to cooking anyway.
#9 — Luigi Vitelli
Average Score: 70.6/100
Price: $2.19 for 28 ounces ($0.08 per ounce)
These were acceptable from a textural standpoint, but flavor wise, these tomatoes weren't great. These "large dark plum[s]" were "very juicy, but bland" and had a "very dull flavor." Leave these on the shelf.
#8 — Rega Rega
Average Score: 72.9/100
Price: $3.99 for 28 ounces ($0.14 per ounce)
A brand of D.O.P. tomatoes from the Sarnese-Nocerino area of Italy that made a mediocre showing. These "partly peeled, huge plum[s]" have a "mushy" texture and "no standout flavor." That's disappointing because at $0.14 per ounce, it's on the pricier end of our test suite. Not worth the money.
#7 — Muir Glen
Average Score: 73.0/100
Price: $3.59 for 28 ounces ($0.13 per ounce)
We were actually expecting a better showing for this popular, premium American brand, but these "plum shaped" tomatoes' "acidic and tangy" flavor didn't sit well with our editors, and their texture, which was "too mushy" meant that this brand scored in the middle of the pack.
#6 — San Marzano
Average Score: 75.5/100
Price: $3.99 for 28 ounces ($0.14 per ounce)
The San Marzano brand, with its illustrated, elongated red tomatoes on a white background, has become nearly synonymous with "authentic" Italian home cooking, but these aren't Italian at all. They're American-grown, and they don't have the characteristic elongated San Marzano varietal shape; instead, they're round. Although one editor said that he "enjoyed eating it all on its own," others weren't quite convinced. They thought the tomatoes were "watery and bland," that they had a "stewed taste," and were "a bit mushy inside."
#5 — Tuttorosso
Average Score: 75.6/100
Price: $1.69 for 28 ounces ($0.06 per ounce)
These tomatoes were considered "firm" relative to the others, and these "full tomatoes that aren't soggy are good enough to eat alone" wrote one editor. They're "very juicy" with "good structural integrity" wrote another editor. If you're looking for a firm, round tomato with decent flavor, this might be it.
#4 — Vantia
Average Score: 79.1/100
Price: $4.99 for 35 ounces ($0.14 per ounce)
Another imported Italian brand, Vantia's "elongated plum shape" tomatoes did well thanks to "very meaty" texture and juiciness. One editor even went so far as to write, "Great balance across the board; now this I imagine in grandma's sauce."
#3 — Hunt's
Average Score: 79.4/100
Price: $2.69 for 28 ounces ($0.10 per ounce)
These "small round tomatoes" have "good tomato flavor" and "good sweet-sharp balance" with a "meaty" and "firm" texture. A good all-purpose canned tomato.
#2 — Ciao
Average Score: 81.3/100
Price: $3.99 for 28 ounces ($0.14 per ounce)
These "small dark plum[s]" that "taste like [they] could go right into sauce" are D.O.P. from the Sarnese-Nocerino area of Italy. "It almost tastes like a homemade sauce in and of itself," wrote one editor. If you're looking for a "sweet, meaty" tomato with "perfect tang and sweet balance" this is the one to look for. It's worth every penny.
#1 — Sclafani
Average Score: 82.9/100
Price: $2.59 for 28 ounces ($0.09 per ounce)
"Great texture" and "nice balance" with the right amount of salt and a fresh flavor (as close as canned gets to fresh, at least) helps Sclafani cinch the win.
Recipe: Basic Tomato Sauce
A good tomato sauce is an essential component of any cooks recipe repertoire...
— Colman Andrews
Recipe: Bucatini alla Matriciana
This is a very important dish in Italian cuisine. It gives you a taste of pork from the guanciale, a shot of salt from the pecorino, and a touch of acid from the tomato. It is the quintessential example of a perfect combination that should never be altered.
— Mark Vetri
Recipe: Farro with Chicken and Chanterelle Ragù
Delicious, nutty farro is the star in this recipe from the Culinary Institute of America's latest pasta cookbook.
Click here to see the Farro with Chicken and Chanterelle Ragù Recipe.
Recipe: Chicken and Smoked Sausage Jambalaya
Chef Mitchell Rosenthal of Town Hall Restaurant in San Francisco builds layers of flavor the old-fashioned way: with slow cooking and lots of careful attention to the ingredients.
Click here to see the Chicken and Smoked Sausage Jambalaya Recipe.
Recipe: Pasta Alla Norma
Restaurateur Joe Bastianich, best known for his appearance on MasterChef and his food ventures in New York including Eataly and Del Posto, offers his take on a Sicilian classic.
Recipe: Pollo alla Cacciatora
Pollo alla cacciatora is a classic dish that almost everyone in Italy makes...
— Manuela Zangara
Recipe: Bobby Flay's Spaghetti and Meatballs
This is the recipe from one of Bobby Flay's throwdowns.
Click here to see Bobby Flay's Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe.
Recipe: Spanish-Inspired Wild Rice, Chicken, and Chorizo Casserole
This dish is really arroz con pollo with wild rice. Wild arroz con pollo? Arroz salvaje con pollo? It doesn't make linguistic sense, but the dish is a complex meal, thanks especially to the wild rice.
— Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough
Click here to see the Spanish-Inspired Wild Rice, Chicken, and Chorizo Casserole Recipe.
Recipe: Cannelloni di Carne
Tired of lasagna? Try cannelloni instead. This version has two sauces tomato sauce and besciamella which makes for a rich and complex flavor.