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~~~

Everything tinned is cooked. The food is sealed into the tin and heated to a high temperature, so it’s preserved and cooked at the same time. The canning process kills virtually all bacteria. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-47033151
(I did microbiology as part of my degree and it included food preservation- very interesting!)

There’s a page on fb called ‘my fussy eater’ that covers real basics like tomato pasta - you might find it useful for some simple recipes?

Oh and a chef from my hometown told me she adds an apple to the tomato sauce to make it sweeter and hide more fruit into his grandson's meal. Then blend it all. It doesn't look as red but he says is the best pasta in the whole wide world :)

A hint (and it's cheaper!) is to use ready sliced frozen onions and garlic powder.

Simmer in a frying pan over a low heat whilst the pasta cooks.

@DuchessOfSausage unseasoned and cold tomatoes sounds shit to me.

Meh, she's 2. She didn't eat enough for me to worry.

I think you are doing very well cooking meals instead of buying ready meals.
I make a quick pasta and 'meatballs' meal by heating a tin of chopped tomatoes, add a shake of dried basil and 2 cooked sliced sausages ( you can add more of wanted) then adding cooked pasta stir round and serve. You could also add cooked chopped bacon instead.

My sister’s children toddlers are adventurous eaters who love olives, interesting cheeses, rocket etc etc. She smugly tells everyone how simple it is - you just give them the same food as the adults!

I am clearly a horrible cow for hoping they become fussy eaters like my child, who was also weaned on all the interesting foods but now only eats beige carbs and the occasional apple…

@piglet81 maddening, isn’t it? I am lucky that I happen to have the sushi chomping, curry loving, olive snacking variety of child but I’m under no delusion that it’s because of anything I’ve done, or not done. My niece and nephew were weaned the same way and will only eat margarita pizzas or macaroni cheese currently. It’s ALL A FLUKE!

Well derr.

I doubt most adults would be happy with being served blended apples either.

For a 3 year old, that would be just fine!

I know the feeling- having to think about, prepare and clear away so many meals in the holidays is such a chore.

Echoing pp- Passata is really good for quick sauce and very cheap.

You can take the bitterness out if tomatoes with bicarb as well as sugar. About 1/4-1/2 teaspoon per tin.

I always find garlic powder doesn't taste quite the same. I am a convert to Iceland's frozen chopped garlic though. No prep and no waste, and probably slightly cheaper than buying fresh.

Another passata fan here. Some can be salty so check the label but most supermarket own brands are fine. I like Aldi’s. It may be psychological but I find passata less acidic than whole or chopped tinned tomatoes.

Frozen garlic / onion / ginger etc is a game changer. If your supermarket has a ‘world foods’ frozen section look for cubes of garlic, ginger, or a combination thereof from Taj or Cofresh. They are brilliant and I am never without them.