If you must use tomato paste in a recipe that calls for tomato puree, you’ll need to thin the paste out to the appropriate consistency with some water. Tomato puree and tomato paste are similar ingredients that are often applied to the same recipes, although adjustments will be made with the other ingredients to accommodate their differences.ĭespite their similarities, these two ingredients have plenty of differences that set them apart. How is Tomato Puree Different From Tomato Paste? The flavor of tomato sauce will be more similar to tomato puree, but it will have the additional flavors of the seasonings and be a bit weaker due to the water used to thin out the sauce. It also won’t taste as sweet as tomato paste. Tomato sauce isn’t cooked as long as tomato paste is, so its flavor can be heavy on the acidity in comparison. Seasonings added to tomato sauce can include garlic, onion, basil, and oregano. It’s made with tomato puree, but sometimes water and seasonings will have been added to make it more flavorful. What Is Tomato Sauce?Ĭanned tomato sauce is similar to tomato puree in consistency, but thinner. Some brands may add flavorings such as olive oil, salt, or even high fructose corn syrup. Because tomato paste packs such a flavor punch, recipes tend to call for only a small amount at a time. Instead, it develops a sweet, full-bodied flavor that can add a punch of tomato flavor and richness to your dishes. Then it is cooked longer to achieve the paste-like consistency, which is sometimes used to thicken sauces and gravies.īecause tomato paste is cooked for so long, the flavor of the tomatoes mellows out and isn’t as bright and acidic as fresh tomatoes are. After being cooked for a while, the tomato paste is strained to remove the seeds and skins of the tomatoes. Tomato paste is a tomato sauce that has been simmered and cooked for a long time to take its texture past the consistency of a paste to something thicker.
Tomato paste has the thickest texture and consistency, then tomato puree, then tomato sauce. The stronger the consistency level, the thicker it will be, and the stronger the flavor will be. The difference between tomato puree and tomato paste is the consistency and the strength of flavor. Unless you made the tomato puree yourself, you should be careful when adding it to a recipe, as adding too much can easily overpower the taste of your dish with acidity. Canned tomato puree only lasts a few days after opening, but tomato puree from a tube can last for about a month. After opening the premade puree, it should be used rather quickly before it goes bad. You can purchase premade tomato puree from the grocery store in cans or tubes. While the tomatoes are being blended, salt and some form of citric acid, like lemon juice, is added.
Tomato puree can be made by removing the skin and seeds from fresh tomatoes, then blending the treated tomatoes in a food processor on puree mode. Tomato puree is a thick sauce that is made from tomatoes which have been cooked for a brief period of time and then strained in some way.
We’re ready to break all these differences down for you, so just keep reading to learn more. What’s the difference between tomato paste and tomato sauce and tomato puree, for example? There are lots of differences between these products, from their makeup to their preparation and nutrition-and especially the ways these ingredients are used in recipes. Standing in the tomato sauce aisle of the supermarket, you may suddenly realize that there are lots of variations on simple tomato sauce.