Urgent! Do I need to cook chopped tomatoes in tins for pasta sauce?

[Return2thebasic]

Sorry, it sounds such an idiot question! But when I tipped over the whole tin on cooked pasta ready to serve, I suddenly became not quite sure if I need to cook the sauce out from the tin!!! Help~~~

No - but I would much prefer them hot!

It will taste better if you do

It won't kill you if you don't but will be rather acidic and depending on the quality, not very nice

They are already cooked.

i'm not sure what you mean? Were you planning to serve cold tinned tomatoes on top of pasta? If you want decent pasta sauce you'll need to add other things to it (garlic, onion, tomato puree, red wine, vegetables etc) or it'll just taste like tinned tomatoes!

Much nicer cooked with some onion, garlic, salt and pepper.

Phew~ Thanks! I threw the pot back to stove and simmered for 5 minutes. I guess that's enough. 💪

Will do next time. Thanks for the tips!

Usually, before or while the pasta is cooking you soften some onion garlic and herbs in a pan, then add the tomatoes. The longer you leave it to simmer, the nicer it will be.

But there's no health issues with eating them straight out of the can!

No. You can eat tomatoes raw

Stupid me 😂 I did look online and found a blog saying "You should never have tinned tomatoes without cooking." The article claimed it would be bitter.

A spoonful of sugar takes away the acidity of tin toms

They’re not raw in the tins. But they are just tomatoes, and taste better if heated up with herbs and spices, garlic and onion, a stock cube and some wine. Bit of milk if you don’t like the acidity.

Cooked pasta with cold tomatoes on sounds a bit grim tbh, even if you’re on the bones of your arse and can’t afford the energy to cook it. You’d be better off heating it all up together and adding a bit more water.

I sometimes crave cold tinned plum tomatoes, but definitely prefer them a bit pepped up (onion, garlic, oregano etc) for a sauce, and much prefer them heated.

Are you serious

Cold tinned tomatoes on pasta? You'd want them hot at least wouldn't you? And unless you've got one of the kind with garlic/basil etc in them, it's literally just tomato. Fry off some onion and garlic in olive oil, cook for 15 mins with a little bit of sugar if you like to take some acidity off, chuck some basil on it.

They’ve been canned so already cooked, but will taste better for being reheated and seasoned.

Have you ever eaten pasta with tomato sauce OP? I’m just curious as to how you thought that this was how it was made. Even heating up plain tinned toms would be pretty lacklustre.

My mother taught me to cook by starting by frying an onion, then decide what to make 😀

Agree with PP that frying an onion, adding any garlic and spices (I like spicy paprika and or chilli) then add tinned tomatoes, add oregano and simmer for as long as you have got, at least long enough to cook the pasta

Perfection. Enjoy.

You need to cook them (and add oil, garlic, herbs) if you want it to be “tomato sauce” rather than “tomato”.

I generally simmer for about 30 minutes

Have you just started uni

Definetely cook them first, can't imagine it would of tasted good just cold tinned tomatoes with plain pasta.

A really cheap and easy tomato pasta dish that I make is the following:

Peel and dice 1 medium onion.
Peel and dice 3 cloves of garlic.

Place your pasta in a pan to boil.

Put 2 tablespoons of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Cook the onions for about 5 mins, add in the garlic for a further 2 mins. Sprinkle of salt, pepper and oregano. Stir in 2 tablespoons of tomato paste. Pour in your tinned tomatoes & 1 teaspoon of sugar. Simmer for around 10 mins. Drain the pasta, keep 1/2 cup of pasta water and add it to the sauce mix. Add the pasta in too, cook for a further couple of mins and then serve 😘

🤣 and have you ever eaten a) tinned tomatoes b) pasta with tomato sauce? 🤣

There is no health issue in eating straight from the can. They just taste better if subject to further heat. Also, if you put it on the pasta straight from the can you would essentially be eating a cold meal🫣.

No they are not.

Those who are being very sarcastic. Really no need to beat someone up like this, right? If I ask this question, I really didn't know. Never used one and always just olive oil pouring in. Sometimes pesto sauce, but they are too much to afford now.

Regarding cold sauce in cooked pasta, I thought it would help cool down the pasta quicker before serving to a 3 yo. In summer time, I used ice cube to do the job!