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Old 02-02-2016, 16:30
newda898
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Just realised I don't have any in the cupboard

Before I buy some more, I usually buy the cheapo ones but I've had a thought.

The more expensive ones...are they sweeter and more ripe? Has anyone noticed the difference?
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Old 02-02-2016, 16:34
Croctacus
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I buy mine in the world food aisle with the Indian food in Tesco for half the price of the normal ones.

They taste exactly the same.
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Old 02-02-2016, 17:03
Gogfumble
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They all taste the same to me. I buy the value range most of the time.
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Old 02-02-2016, 17:58
Bex_123
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Tinned tomatoes are one thing I can't really tell the difference with. I buy value
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Old 02-02-2016, 20:43
Toby LaRhone
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Just realised I don't have any in the cupboard

Before I buy some more, I usually buy the cheapo ones but I've had a thought.

The more expensive ones...are they sweeter and more ripe? Has anyone noticed the difference?
If you did a blind taste test of them individually you'd probly discern a difference or preference.
If you're bunging them in a bolognaise, lasagne, chilli, curry etc you'll never know the difference.
Having said that I don't buy the "value" range usually found in dented cans on the bottom shelf
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Old 02-02-2016, 21:10
degsyhufc
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Just realised I don't have any in the cupboard

Before I buy some more, I usually buy the cheapo ones but I've had a thought.

The more expensive ones...are they sweeter and more ripe? Has anyone noticed the difference?
Generally there is no difference.

What you might find is that the chunks in the value range are smaller and there is more juice and it might be thinner.

But if you're using them in a stew etc. then it shouldn't make a difference.



The other differences are the speciality varieties such as San Marzano which should have a better flavour (going by the price and the esteem) and cherry which are sweeter.
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Old 02-02-2016, 21:53
newda898
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Thanks for the replies, yes they always end up in stews and curries.

Think i'll be sticking the value ranges then.
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Old 03-02-2016, 16:39
WombatDeath
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Don't worry, the Guardian has covered this recently:

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandst...rst-taste-test

The top-rated brand is a snip at only £5 a jar.
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Old 04-02-2016, 18:12
bluefb
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I once tried some side by side and yes, I could taste a difference. The Napolina ones were a little sweeter and more flavoursome than the economy ones.
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Old 04-02-2016, 21:28
venusinflares
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For cooking purposes I buy the KTC tinned tomatoes (3 cans for £1 in Asda) but for having for breakfast with bacon and scrambled eggs I like the Tarantella organic tinned tomatoes which are 89p a tin. They are sweeter, have no skin still attached and no black or green end bits like you sometimes find in the cheap ones.
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Old 05-02-2016, 10:16
JulesF
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I use tinned tomatoes quite a lot and I can definitely taste the difference. The cheap ones tend to taste tinny and aren't as sweet or rich and have a watery juice. I buy Napolina or, when I go to Sainsbury's, their own-brand organic tinned tomatoes, which are lovely.
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Old 05-02-2016, 11:14
trevvytrev21
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I once tried some side by side and yes, I could taste a difference. The Napolina ones were a little sweeter and more flavoursome than the economy ones.
Napolina tinned toms are the nicest going by my taste buds. Cheap tins can be perked up with a pinch of sugar and a squeeze of ketchup.
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Old 05-02-2016, 11:20
barbeler
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Sweetness isn't an indicator of quality. I always try to buy the ones with the lowest sugar levels possible.
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Old 05-02-2016, 11:20
Thunderfoot
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Napolina or Cirio are a rip off when they are not of offer, they do taste better if you are eating them on their own. But if you are using them to make the base for a bolognese/curry you can not tell any difference whatever ones you use.
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Old 05-02-2016, 11:56
JulesF
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Napolina or Cirio are a rip off when they are not of offer, they do taste better if you are eating them on their own. But if you are using them to make the base for a bolognese/curry you can not tell any difference whatever ones you use.
I can definitely tell the difference in a Bolognese. Not so much in a curry.
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Old 05-02-2016, 21:32
Skyler_Wright
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4 for £1 at the Asian shop.

A must have ingredient for all Nigerians.
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Old 06-02-2016, 08:50
Jasper92
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I can never tell the difference, so I go for the 3 for £1 deal in my local supermarket on the cheapest brand. A tin of tomatoes is just a tin of tomatoes, any difference in price is surely just the company taking liberties with the retail mark-up.
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Old 06-02-2016, 09:01
Watcher #1
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I think you can tell a difference, up to a point. The lowest priced value ones have very watery juice, and make a distinctly less rich and thick sauce. Once you go up to the own label ones, the difference is much smaller.

And, obviously, it should be fresh grilled tomato with a cooked breakfast. Tinned of any kind are just wrong for that
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Old 06-02-2016, 11:14
brangdon
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But if you are using them to make the base for a bolognese/curry you can not tell any difference whatever ones you use.
I started teaching myself to make curry about 2 years ago. I started with cheap tins of chopped tomatoes. I was much happier with Napolina. It was partly the colour. The economy brand turned everything into brown sludge. The better brand looked more appetising.
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Old 06-02-2016, 11:18
barbeler
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I always thought curry was supposed to be a brown sludge. I've never even thought about putting tomatoes in a curry.
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Old 06-02-2016, 14:39
Swarfega
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I've never even thought about putting tomatoes in a curry.
Really?
They're the base for a massive chunk of all curries.
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Old 06-02-2016, 15:18
alanwarwic
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A tooth rotting thought ; would Coca Cola tomatoes win the taste test?
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Old 06-02-2016, 15:25
sarahj1986
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I usually get Cirio or Napolina whichever is on offer. I do find the cheaper tins can be more watery, there's nothing wrong with them though.
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Old 06-02-2016, 21:04
degsyhufc
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I'd just like to reiterate some points about the quality of the value brands.

They may be slightly weaker in flavour and have a thinner sauce but that's nothing that can't be rectified with a pinch of sugar, squirt of ketchup/puree, cooking down the sauce for longer etc.


A little more effort that just shotting a tin of tomatoes in a pan but I'm always tasting as I go anyway so it's no big deal and still works out cheaper than buying named brands.
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Old 07-02-2016, 07:00
chopsim
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I get tescos own brand. Not the cheapest ones but the next ones up. But Napolina ones if they are on offer. Much tastier plum tomatoes as I love them on toast.
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