Tips

Should You Buy or Make Tomato Sauce at Home?

Today, tomato ketchup is a familiar and beloved condiment for consumers worldwide. With its simple recipe and easy preparation, one might wonder if it is better to make ketchup at home or buy it from stores.

Administrator

21 July, 2024

What is Tomato Paste?

Tomato paste, also known as tomato sauce, is a popular condiment often used as a dipping sauce. It is a versatile and flavorful addition to any meal.

Tomato paste offers several health benefits, including improving heart health, reducing the risk of cancer, providing antioxidants, and alleviating inflammatory symptoms.

Ingredient List

Store-Bought Tomato Paste

Homemade Tomato Paste

Main Ingredients

Tomatoes, Onions, , , .

Preservatives.

Additives.

2 tbsp

1 Onion

4 Garlic Cloves

800g Tomatoes

1 tbsp Chopped Lemon Peel

Red Amaranth

Peppercorns

Total Cost

9,000 – 19,000 VND

Olive Oil: 150,000 – 241,000 VND/liter

Onions: 59,000 VND/kg

Garlic: 60,000 VND/kg

Tomatoes: 14,000 VND/kg

Lemon: 1,000 VND/piece

Red Amaranth: 8,000 VND/kg

Peppercorns: 77,000 VND/kg

Total cost for one batch of homemade tomato paste: 23,000 VND

Comparing Store-Bought and Homemade Tomato Paste

Tomato Paste	Homemade Tomato Paste
Preparation Time	No preparation time required	Approximately 30 minutes of preparation time
Convenience	Quick and convenient	Multiple trials may be needed to achieve the desired consistency. Time-consuming preparation process.
Nutritional Value	Lower nutritional content	Higher nutritional value
Shelf Life	Store-bought tomato paste can last for 2-3 months, depending on the manufacturer.	Due to the absence of preservatives, homemade tomato paste can only be stored for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Cost	Lower cost	Higher cost

Should You Make Your Own Tomato Paste or Buy It?

The decision to make or buy tomato paste depends on your personal preferences and usage frequency.

If your family regularly consumes tomato paste, consider making it at home as it offers higher nutritional value and superior flavor.

However, if your family only occasionally uses tomato paste, purchasing it is a more practical option due to its convenience and longer shelf life.

You can easily make your own delicious and simple tomato paste with our recipe!

Tomato paste is affordable and versatile, making it a great addition to your daily meals. Make an informed decision based on your needs and preferences.

Frequently asked questions

Making tomato sauce at home can be a rewarding experience and often results in a fresher, more flavorful product. However, it can be time-consuming and may not always be cost-effective, especially if you don’t have access to a large quantity of ripe, flavorful tomatoes. Buying tomato sauce can be a convenient option, but it’s important to choose a high-quality product with minimal additives and preservatives.

Making tomato sauce at home allows you to control the ingredients, ensuring that you use fresh, high-quality tomatoes and avoiding any additives or preservatives. It can also be a fun and rewarding experience, and you can customize the sauce to your taste preferences.

One of the main challenges of making tomato sauce at home is the time commitment. It can be a lengthy process, especially if you start with fresh tomatoes that need to be blanched, peeled, and seeded. Additionally, finding ripe, flavorful tomatoes in the right quantity can be difficult, and the cost of ingredients may outweigh the benefits.

When buying tomato sauce, look for products with a short and simple list of ingredients, ideally with no added sugar or artificial additives. Choose a sauce that is made with ripe, red tomatoes and has a thick, rich consistency. You can also consider making a semi-homemade sauce by adding your own fresh herbs and spices to a store-bought base.

Yes, you can preserve homemade tomato sauce by canning it using a water bath canning method. This will allow you to store the sauce at room temperature for up to a year. Alternatively, you can freeze the sauce in airtight containers for several months.