The Canned Tomato Brand We Suggest You Leave On The Shelf

There is hardly a shortage of options to choose from when perusing the shelves for canned tomatoes, but the real truth is that the brand you buy matters. While you may be tempted to go with the cheapest choice available, this may result in a lifeless dish. When we assembled a ranking of canned tomato brands, one stood out as especially sub-par. So, when shopping at one of Kroger's various grocery retail locations, it might be best to skip the store's private-label tomatoes.

Just as Costco sells products under its Kirkland Signature banner, Kroger manufactures many kitchen staples. These are generally more affordable than brand-name alternatives. However, when our tomato tester sampled over a dozen brands of canned nightshades, they found that Kroger's version seriously lacked flavor. The contents of the can weren't as saturated with the vibrant red color you look for in a good tomato, either, indicating they may not have been quite ripe when they were packaged.

While the product may boast an unbeatable price of just $1.00 per can, it appears that you get what you pay for in this case. Still, that doesn't mean Kroger brand canned tomatoes should never be considered as an option, especially if you are on a tight food budget. With a little love and extra effort, these discount veggies can be a welcome addition to some dishes.

If you plan on making a pasta dish or topping a salad, it's best to skip pre-packaged veggies altogether and go for fresh, in-season varieties like grape or cherry tomatoes. When making pizza sauce or a creamy tomato basil chicken — where the tomato flavor needs to shine — spend a little extra and purchase a high-quality canned tomato brand. However, if you are making a chili with a dozen other ingredients, the type of tomatoes you pick up beforehand isn't quite as important.

Canned tomatoes that cook for a long time won't have much flavor in the first place, as most of their signature taste will cook out. Then there are spices, which can readily add character to any meal but can also mask some of the more lackluster ingredients that go into the dish. If you want to save some dough on Kroger brand canned tomatoes, consider incorporating them into soups, stews, or anything heavily seasoned that may require some extra time on the stove. Although this isn't a canned tomato brand that should be thought of as versatile (and at the end of the day, it is probably better left on the grocery store shelf) it does have some uses if you give it a little extra attention.