The world of canned goods is almost the same as 50 years ago. Labels have become more artistic and, of course, prices are higher, but the stuff inside is the same old corn, beans and peas we hated as kids.
To me, there’s only one canned food that rivals fresh -- tomatoes for sauce.
Canners are busy rolling out new tomato flavors and textures capitalizing on this. And you cannot beat the convenience.
RoTel cornered this market since the 1940s with their diced tomatoes and chilies, an excellent blend and still available today. Only recently have the majors launched cans of diced tomatoes followed by naturally flavored versions such as Italian and Mexican-Southwestern.
The canning process involves cooking. That makes these pretty much an open, heat and eat proposition.
Dicing fresh tomatoes is a chore. When they cook, they fall apart into tomato slush. Canned dice is almost seedless and has none of the white, tasteless membrane of fresh. The tomatoes are designed to hold up under fire, and they certainly do.
Nearly All the Same
I tried four brands and found all are nearly the same, as if they came from the same cannery. The price was the same at 65 cents each.
The tomatoes were cut perfectly and canned in their own juice. Calories ranged from 25 per half-cup serving for Redpack and Del Monte to 30 for Great Value (Wal-Mart) and Brooks. No big deal.
Sodium, an important canning preservative, ranged from 9 percent for Redpack to 14 percent for Great Value.
Great Value Italian Diced was flavored with basil, garlic and oregano. I
prefer my own herbs and fresh garlic over the flavored brands. My family likes bright flavors here, impossible with canned varieties. Brooks has rolled out a can of diced called Just for Tacos. It is a mild yet nicely seasoned taco sauce, ready right out of the can. It will do in a pinch with your own onions and peppers as a quick salsa or on other Mexican dishes including enchiladas and quesadillas.
Every Bite Juicy
First thing to try with a can of regular diced is your favorite pasta tomato sauce. The dice over pasta creates a pleasantly different meal, every bite juicy. This is no sauce that hides in the background.
Top off your next breakfast eggs with spicy diced and you have huevos
rancheros. Add some sugar and you have stewed tomatoes. And on and on.
We’ve learned at my house that a can of diced tomatoes can save you in an emergency. It’s one of the few times that a canned food is as good as fresh.
Canton (Ohio) Repository
Send food questions to jim.hillibish@cantonrep.com.
author: By Jim Hillibish