Use it up · Vegetables

Canned tomatoes

Have extra canned tomatoes? Here’s how to choose, store and prep canned tomatoes, plus 39 family recipes to use it all up, best matches first.

🍽 See the recipes 🧺 Pick a few things you have

🛒 Choosing it

Choose cans with no dents on the seams, bulges or rust. Crushed for smooth sauce, diced for chunky chili and soup.

🧊 Storing it

Pantry: Unopened: about 12 months
Fridge: Opened: move to a covered container and use within about a week
Freezer: Leftover tomato paste freezes well in spoonfuls

Keep the fridge at 40°F or below and the freezer at 0°F. Freezer times are for best quality; food kept frozen at 0°F stays safe. When in doubt, throw it out. Times from Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Texas A&M University System.

🔪 Prepping it

Simmer at least 10 to 15 minutes to mellow the tinny taste. A pinch of sugar can soften sharp acidity.

🥣 Make it from scratch

Tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes

It also goes into:

Beef stock Marinara and pizza sauce

🌱 Grow it

You can grow your own: tomatoes. The Food Garden Planner shows how much to plant for your family and when it comes in.

🌱 Plan a garden with it →

📊 Nutrition per 100 g

Diced tomatoes. 100 g is about 3 1/2 ounces.

Calories	16 kcal	1%
Protein	0.8 g	2%
Total fat	0.2 g	0%
Saturated fat	0.0 g	0%
Total carbohydrate	3.5 g	1%
Dietary fiber	1.9 g	7%
Total sugars	2.5 g
Sodium	115 mg	5%
Calcium	33 mg	3%
Iron	0.6 mg	3%
Potassium	191 mg	4%

% Daily Value for adults (FDA). From USDA FoodData Central 170051 (SR Legacy).

🍽 Recipes that use it up

39 recipes, the ones that use the most canned tomatoes first.

With a smaller amount

Tomato Bulgur Pilaf30 min · serves 6 · side ⚡ quick🥕 vegetarian

Plan them into your week in the meal planner, or find recipes for two or three things at once with the “What can I make?” picker.

Storage times and buying tips are general guides from the sources below; follow any date or instructions on the package. Cook meat, poultry, fish and eggs to the USDA safe temperatures in each recipe.