How to choose in the supermarket: 5 tips for buying the best tomato sauce

Tomato sauce is one of the most versatile and frequently used ingredients in every Ukrainian home kitchen. It is used for pasta, pizza, stews, fries and many other recipes. At the same time, not all products found in supermarkets are equally good in terms of nutritional value and taste. Kyiv Online found out how to choose a good tomato sauce.

Natural ingredients and no added sugar

One of the important aspects when choosing is to look at the composition and avoid products with added sugar. Many commercial sauces contain sugar and sweeteners to balance the acidity of tomatoes, but this can be harmful for those who are trying to eat healthier. Experts agree that the flavour of natural tomatoes does not require as much sugar if a good base product is used.

The best tomato sauce should contain about 7% sugar or less. Here, too, you should pay attention to the list of ingredients and choose sauces that are sugar-free or contain only minimal amounts of sugar. Ideally, the ingredients of a good tomato sauce should be simple: tomatoes, olive oil, salt and spices.

How to choose tomato sauce/Pixabay

Percentage of tomatoes

Having a high tomato content is one of the most important tips that experts emphasise. The value should be as high as possible, as it is an indicator of the amount of real tomatoes used to make the product. Read labels carefully and look for sauces that contain at least 80% tomatoes. This ensures that the sauce has a solid tomato base and has not been diluted with water or starch.

Salt content

Salt is a flavour enhancer, but commercially available tomato sauces often contain too much salt, so it is advisable to pay attention to the nutrition label and choose sauces with a moderate salt content, ideally no more than 1 gram per 100 grams of product. Many commercial brands are looking for healthy ways to enhance the flavour of the sauce and compensate for the lack of salt by using fresh aromatic herbs such as basil, oregano or thyme.

Oil type

Oil is another important ingredient in tomato sauce. Nutritionists generally recommend using extra virgin olive oil instead of lower quality oils such as sunflower oil or hydrogenated vegetable fats. These types of sauces made with olive oil are slightly more expensive, but their antioxidant properties and taste are incomparable.

Homemade tomato sauce is the healthiest and tastiest option/Pixabay

Industrial vs. homemade sauces – which is the best option

Industrial sauces may be convenient, but many chefs and nutritionists agree that homemade tomato sauce is the healthiest and tastiest option. Whenever possible, homemade recipes should be preferred, as this gives you full control over the ingredients and avoids the use of unnecessary preservatives or additives.

It is very easy to make a simple homemade tomato sauce. You only need 3 ingredients: ripe tomatoes, oil and salt. Simmer for 20-30 minutes. If you don’t have time to make your own tomato sauce, be sure to buy products from trusted brands that are made using traditional methods and whose ingredients are as natural as possible.

Choosing a good tomato sauce not only improves the taste of our dishes, but also affects our health. Whenever possible, you should give preference to sauces with a high tomato content, no added sugar, extra virgin olive oil and a moderate amount of salt, or make your own sauce – it’s time to tie on your apron!

As a reminder, the price of beetroot continues to be at a record high in Ukraine.