9 Best Canned Tomatoes For Soup In 2023
Tomatoes are one of those few items that often taste richer when canned than they do fresh.
That is why many people prefer using canned tomatoes when it comes to making soup.
But what are the best canned tomatoes for soup? The best canned tomatoes for soup varies by the type of tomatoes needed for your soup and by preference. The tomatoes should be of good, fresh quality and not have any flavors that will clash with the soup recipe. Roasted, seasoned, or flavored tomatoes are a matter of preference.
In this article, we have picked nine of the best canned tomatoes you can use to make tomato soup. You will also learn what to pay attention to when buying canned tomatoes so that it best fits your needs and taste buds.
Choosing Canned Tomatoes for Soup
Using canned tomatoes to make soup is convenient. This is not the case when cutting down the preparation and cooking time affects the flavor of the dish.
In fact, using canned tomatoes has a number of benefits.
Firstly, as tomatoes are canned with salt, their flavor is amplified. In certain cases, sugar is also used in canned tomatoes. Sugar also enhances their flavors. Fresh tomatoes, on the other hand, don’t have that intense and rich of a flavor.
Secondly, if there is a brand of canned tomatoes you buy and love, and know that the flavor is consistent, you can always be sure that your soups will turn out flavorful.
This is not the case with fresh tomatoes. You may buy excellent-looking tomatoes to only find out that they taste bland one week, yet delicious the next.
Thirdly, you are guaranteed against tomato skin in the soup, as canned tomatoes nearly always come peeled. That’s also a time-saver in the kitchen.
And lastly, you can put together a hearty dinner with a bowl of warm tomato soup with minimal effort.
When it comes to choosing canned tomatoes, you may think you can grab any from the supermarket shelf.
However, there are a few things you will want to consider:
Types of Canned Tomatoes
There are different types of canned tomatoes. Each type has a different advantage, so let’s look at each one more closely:
You can buy whole canned tomatoes. These are great if you are looking for the most versatile option. With several of these on hand, you can always crack one open and then use them however you need.
Diced tomatoes, featuring tomato chunks in juice, are also good for many soups, especially if you make soups with tomato chunks, and not just tomato-based broths – though you can certainly puree diced tomatoes further as needed.
Crushed tomatoes are another option you can go for. These represent a mixture of tomato puree and chunks and they’re still pretty versatile.
Stewed tomatoes, tomatoes that are stewed prior to being canned, are also called for by many tomato soup recipes. Tomatoes are usually stewed with sugar which enhances their flavor.
Tomato sauce, which can also work as a base for tomato soup, features tomato purée. Note that canned tomato sauce is typically unseasoned. Thus, when using it, you need to make sure to season the soup properly to achieve good flavor.
Which type of canned tomatoes you should pick for soup is ultimately a matter of preference – and of recipe.
Since with most recipes your soup will be blended to achieve a smooth consistency, it doesn’t really matter whether your canned tomatoes are chunky or not.
But if you are not going to blend the soup but let it simmer until all the pieces fall apart, the only type of canned tomatoes you should stay away from are diced tomatoes.
Canned diced tomatoes usually contain citric acid and calcium chloride. These ingredients are added to preserve the integrity of the tomato pieces.
These pieces will interfere with the consistency of the soup even if you are aiming for a ‘not-so-perfect’ tomato soup.
Thus, if you are not going to make blended soup, consider buying other types of canned tomatoes other than diced tomatoes.
Tomato Variety
Almost all canned tomato brands state the variety of tomatoes. The taste and texture of canned tomatoes largely depend on the variety used.
Plum tomatoes, including San Marzano and Roma, are some of the most popular varieties used in canned tomatoes.
Added Ingredients and Seasoning
If you want the canned tomatoes to be a blank canvas, buy a can with no added ingredients.
These can be garlic, onion, basil, other herbs, etc. Adding these ingredients fresh into the soup may result in a better flavor if you put a little effort into cooking the soup.
With this being said, added ingredients will bring layers of flavor to your soup.
If you don’t have any plans in terms of developing complex soup flavor yourself by adding various ingredients, going with canned tomatoes that contain other herbs and vegetables can be a good move.
Additionally, pay attention to how the tomatoes are seasoned. If you like it simple, buy canned tomatoes that are seasoned only with salt.
Roasted or Not?
Prior to being canned, the tomatoes may also be roasted. Roasted canned tomatoes have a slightly smoky aroma. Some people like this for their soups, while others don’t. This is a matter of personal preference.
Fire-roasted canned tomatoes may be whole, crushed, diced, etc.
If you like the flavor of roasted tomatoes for soups, buying a can of fire-roasted tomatoes is a great way to cut down the soup preparation time.
Can Size
Canned tomatoes come in a variety of can sizes, from 14 to 106 ounces and anything in between. Depending on how many people you are cooking for, you can choose between smaller and bigger cans.
It is best to use the entire can of tomatoes all at once. Thus, go with options that won’t leave you with leftovers.
9 Best Canned Tomatoes For Soup
As we have already mentioned, all types of canned tomatoes will work for soup. So long as you blend them or cook the soup so long as to melt the tomato chunks in it, you can make any type of canned tomatoes work.
Here are our top picks for the best canned tomatoes to use for soup:
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Rega San Marzano Whole Peeled Plum Tomatoes | Whole |
| 2. | Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes | Diced |
| 3. | Cento San Marzano Organic Peeled Tomatoes | Whole |
| 4. | Muir Glen Organic Tomato Sauce | Sauce |
| 5. | Muir Glen Organic Crushed Tomatoes | Crushed |
| 6. | Sclafani Whole Peeled Tomatoes | Whole |
| 7. | Del Monte Canned Stewed Tomatoes | Stewed |
| 8. | Tuttorosso Crushed Tomatoes | Crushed |
| 9. | Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes | Chopped |
Whether you are looking for whole, diced, crushed, pureed, or stewed tomatoes, we have got options for you in this list of the best canned tomatoes.
You can also choose between fire-roasted canned tomatoes, canned tomatoes with added ingredients, as well as ones with simple sea salt seasoning.
So keep reading for more about each of these great canned tomatoes. Maybe pour us a bowl of soup when you’re done?
1. Rega San Marzano DOP Whole Peeled Plum Tomatoes
San Marzano tomatoes are what most people are looking for in canned tomatoes. Coming from a small Italian town, these plum tomatoes are extremely flavorful.
The unique flavor of these tomatoes comes from the volcanic soil they are grown in. This is what makes Rega Whole Peeled Tomatoes the canned tomatoes of choice of many people.
What makes these canned tomatoes good for soups is not only the fact that their flavor is one sweeter side but that there are fewer seeds in them.
The ingredient list of these canned tomatoes is short, which is certainly a win when it comes to canned products. It contains only three ingredients – whole peeled tomatoes, tomato juice, and basil.
Aside from using these whole peeled tomatoes for making soups, you can also use them to make pasta and pizza sauces, add them to stews, etc.
2. Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes
The Muir Glen diced tomatoes are perfect for blended tomato soups. These tomatoes are first peeled, then diced, and seasoned with salt. The tomato chunks are packed in flavorful tomato juice.
The good thing is, the seasoning is light. These diced tomatoes are seasoned enough to amplify the flavor of tomatoes but not overpower them. This will allow you to play with various seasonings when making the soup. There is also no sugar in these canned tomatoes.
Muir Glen uses organic Californian tomatoes. This product is also free of any GMOs.
These diced tomatoes are good not only for soups but also for sauces and stews. Stocking up on a few cans of these premium-quality tomatoes will help you speed up the cooking process of many dishes.
3. Cento San Marzano Organic Peeled Tomatoes
One of the first things that comes to mind when thinking of the staples of Italian cuisine is canned tomatoes. They are the base ingredient of a range of dishes, including the heart-warming soups.
These San Marzano canned tomatoes by Cento are a perfect choice for those looking into the more versatile options of canned tomatoes. As these tomatoes are peeled, whole, and packed in tomato puree, you can use them to cover all your cooking needs, from soups to stews.
San Marzano tomatoes are a plum tomato variety. They are the most popular Italian tomato variety, with a high level of sweetness and low acidity.
To make these canned tomatoes even more Italian, basil is added to it. This keeps the flavor simple while adding subtle sweet and peppery notes to the tomatoes.
Cento peeled tomatoes are organic and gluten-free (not that we expected there to be a lot of gluten in canned tomatoes, but still, it’s nice to have it confirmed when allergies are an issue).
4. Muir Glen Organic Tomato Sauce
If you don’t blend your tomato soups but prefer them a little ‘rough’, then the Muir Glen tomato sauce is what you should try next.
Made from tomatoes grown in organic farms, the flavor of this sauce is as pure as possible. Only a small amount of sea salt is added to the tomatoes. This allows you to add whatever spices and herbs you want to the soup.
Making tomato soup with tomato sauce is easy. Simply mix some water or broth to the sauce.
Add a few simple ingredients to this mixture, such as diced carrots and celery, beans, and fresh tomatoes, A few minutes on the stove and the most delicious soup for a light cozy dinner is ready.
The tomatoes used are organic and free of any GMOs.
5. Muir Glen Organic Crushed Tomatoes
Making crushed tomatoes yourself can be a hustle. You first need to peel the tomatoes.
This can take you a while especially if you don’t know the proper techniques for doing it quicker. Then you will need to crush the tomatoes using a spoon or a potato masher. And this is not the end.
You still need to cook the tomatoes!
Is all this effort and mess worth it when you can buy a can of high-quality crushed tomatoes?
These organic crushed tomatoes by Muir Glen will provide the perfect base or your soups. Seasoned with salt and some sweet basil, these canned tomatoes won’t leave you wishing for more.
The fact that these tomatoes are fire-roasted makes them even better as it gives them a slight smoky aroma.
6. Sclafani Whole Peeled Tomatoes
The Sclafani canned tomatoes are another great option for those looking for high-quality whole tomatoes in juice.
You can use these tomatoes however you like. They are ideal not only for soups but also for sauces and stews.
The Sclafani whole peeled tomatoes don’t contain any seasoning except from salt. They also don’t have any added ingredients. These make the sweet flavor and aroma of tomatoes even more distinct.
Giving these whole peeled tomatoes a quick blend will turn them into a perfect base for any tomato soup.
7. Del Monte Original Recipe Canned Stewed Tomatoes
If you are looking for stewed canned tomatoes for soups, then these Del Monte canned tomatoes are certainly worth a try.
These stewed tomatoes in tomato juice are perfectly seasoned with sea salt, oregano, basil, and garlic. These canned tomatoes also contain added ingredients – onions, celery, and green bell pepper. So, the flavor of these stewed tomatoes is complete. You just need to turn them into a soup.
It is worth mentioning that all ingredients are organic. There are no preservatives and GMOs in these Del Monte canned stewed tomatoes.
You can use stewed tomatoes for not only soups but also sauces for pasta and pizza, as well as hearty stews.
8. Tuttorosso Crushed Tomatoes
Tuttorosso crushed tomatoes are another good option for those who love a smoother texture when it comes to canned tomatoes.
If you don’t want to blend your tomato soups, then this is the product for you.
These crushed tomatoes are also good for people who love the simple tomato flavor, without any added seasonings or ingredients.
All that is in this can is crushed tomatoes, salt, basil, and citric acid. There are no artificial colors or flavors in this product.
Tuttorosso crushed tomatoes have fresh tomato flavor. But cooking the mixture on low heat and adding the needed ingredients to it will turn it into to a perfectly cooked soup with deep flavor.
9. Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes
If you think that canned products can’t taste fresh, try the Mutti finely chopped tomatoes. These true Italian tomatoes are canned so that they don’t lose any of their freshness and bright red color.
Mutti canned tomatoes are 100% Italian, with rich tomato flavor. The secret of the flavorful tomatoes is that they are sun-ripened and GMO-free.
You can use these chopped tomatoes whenever a recipe calls for crushed tomatoes. It will work well for not only warm tomato soups but also for the well-loved gazpacho, the ultimate cold soup for hot days.
