Fresh tomatoes
Use fresh tomatoes when texture, aroma and freshness matter. They are best for salads, roasting, sandwiches and dishes where tomato is the main event.
Passata
Use passata when you want smoothness and speed. It is excellent for pizza sauce, pasta sauce, soup bases and batch cooking.
Tinned tomatoes
Use tinned tomatoes for convenience, reliability and year-round cooking. They are strong in stews, curries, slow sauces and everyday meals.
Quick guide
| Job | Best choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Salad | Fresh | Texture and aroma matter. |
| Pizza sauce | Passata | Smooth and easy to season. |
| Slow sauce | Plum, passata or tinned | All work when cooked down properly. |
| Budget batch cooking | Tinned | Reliable and easy to store. |