#10 Can of Canned Tomatoes: 7 Creative Ways to Use One

A #10 can is a pantry staple in every restaurant and large family. It holds more than 100 ounces of anything from artichokes to zucchini and every fruit, vegetable, sauce, and condiment in between.

Canned tomatoes happen to be the most commonly purchased #10 cans by the most popular cuisines in the world from Indian to Pizza to Mexican. Producers capture the vine ripened tomato in season at its peak freshness to become a central role in hundreds of recipes and used year round.

However, many shoppers are intimidated by the size of #10 cans assuming it’s too much for a small family, so they opt for the more expensive alternative of regular size cans. The idea that buying in bulk is wasteful unless you’re cooking for 10 people is a common misconception. In this article, we will prove why buying one #10 can of canned tomatoes is the smartest food shopping decision you will ever make.

The World of Canned Tomatoes

There are as many types of these canned red goodies as there are uses for fresh ones. Their rich and tasty authentic tomato flavor makes them a great addition to any meat, poultry, vegetable or fish dish. The only trick is finding the right type.

Tomato paste and tomato sauce are among the well-known types and resemble a more finished product for most sauces with different added flavors and textures. Whole and diced tomatoes have the raw flavor, tartness and acidity of fresh tomatoes, which makes them ideal for soups and salsas. Sun-dried or fire-roasted tomatoes have a rich, oily taste, which makes for tasty toppings on pizza and salads.

7 Ways To Slice It Up

Unlike other canned goods, canned tomatoes preserve that distinct tomato flavor that balances sour and sweet. Here are 7 ways to use one #10 can of tomatoes. Some recipes last longer than others, so portion and store your sauces according to the recipe and appetite for your favorite meals.

1. Traditional tomato sauce – Puree whole, peeled canned tomatoes and place in a pot with garlic, olive oil and salt to taste; cook until the mixture is reduced by about 1\3. Stir under low heat, and melt in some butter – and you have a classic sauce for your favorite pasta. Storage: Jar it and keep in your pantry for months or freeze it for 30 days.

2. Pizza sauce – While you can use pureed or crushed tomatoes as pizza sauce, we recommend mixing 2 parts selected tomato sauce and 1 part tomato paste with garlic and onion powder and sugar to create the perfect sauce to top your selected pizza dough. Storage: Jar it and keep in your pantry for months or freeze it for 30 days.

3. Bolognese – Another staple of traditional tomato sauce, Bolognese uses meat and vegetables to add flavor to your sauce. Cook some ground beef and\or pork with chopped celery, onion and carrots. Add wine, milk and some crushed tomatoes until the sauce is thick. Just make sure you let it cool for that extra rich taste. Storage: Jar it and keep in your pantry for months or freeze it for 30 days.

4. Salsa – Tracing back to the 16th century, with various combinations of chili, tomatoes and other spices, it’s native to South America. Today, salsa is usually made with Roma tomatoes, chili, jalapeños and onions all chopped and mixed together in a blender or processor. Storage: Best if eaten fresh or keep in the fridge for no more than 5 days.

5. Pav Bhaji – A traditional indian curry, Pav bhaji is a dish made by boiling fresh vegetables and adding them to fried onions, spices and chopped tomatoes. The curry is made thick by the tomatoes, and has a rich and balanced taste.Storage: Jar it and keep in your pantry for months or freeze it for 30 days.

6. Shakshuka – Originally North-African, this is one of the most popular breakfast dishes in Israel. It’s usually made by poaching eggs in tomato sauce, onions, bell peppers and garlic. Add some olive oil and spices like paprika, pepper and cumin. Storage: Jar it and keep in your pantry for months or freeze it for 30 days.

7. Homemade Ketchup – A popular commodity among both kids and adults, homemade ketchup is surprisingly simple to make. Ketchup is mostly tomato paste, water, and sugar, but the secret to great ketchup is in the vinegar and spices. Add garlic and onion powder, celery salt, and add your vinegar of your choice (we like apple cider). The ketchup is done when it gets that creamy texture. Storage: It can be safely stored in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

Storing Canned Tomatoes

Keep tomato cans in a cool, dark place and follow the simple system of “first-in-first-out”. Before opening any can of tomatoes, look for dents or damage that might leave a pinhole-sized opening leading to bacteria growth in the can.
What if you opened a can and used only a couple tablespoons before reading this article? Don’t have time to bang out a bunch of recipes? No worries! Portion the remaining contents in quart size bags and freeze. This will make it easier to use later on.

Smart Shopping with Cheetah

Cheetah has a large variety of brands and types of canned tomatoes for you to choose from. We work with select farmers to ensure our products are made from the freshest produce and capture the natural sweetness and rich red color of ripe tomatoes. Chances are this is already one of your basic pantry staples. Cheetah lets you add a whole lot more of it at a much lower cost.