There’s nothing quite as delicious and flavorful as a fresh tomato sun-ripened and straight from the vine bursting with juice and bright flavor. If you’re lucky enough to score a haul of fresh ‘maters you’re in luck—they make for delicious tomato sandwiches and vibrant Caprese salads when you don’t just eat them plain with a pinch of salt. While you might assume that fresh is always best Food Network star and chef Alex Guarnaschelli recommends using both canned and fresh tomatoes for the most delicious soups.
| Channel | Publish Date | Thumbnail & View Count | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
 Food Network | 2020-01-20 15:00:09 |  96,241 Views |
Charred Tomato Soup with Melted Mozzarella with Alex Guarnaschelli | Alex's Day Off | Food Network
Of course there are times when fresh is unquestionably the best and only choice — but when it comes to a comforting soup don't write off canned tomatoes as inferior. You'll still reap the same nutritional benefits — both types of tomatoes are packed with antioxidants. The canned variety also gives your soups a sweeter more developed flavor Guarnaschelli noted in a Food Network segment making them a must-have canned food to have in your pantry.
Most supermarket tomatoes that people think of as fresh are actually not. Most are harvested before they are at their ripest in order to withstand being transported many miles across the country. This explains why so many supermarket tomatoes are rather bland and tasteless. Canned tomatoes on the other hand are picked and packed when the fruit is at its peak ripeness which means that the bright vibrant flavor and sweetness are retained when canned.
Alex Guarnaschelli notes in the same Food Network segment that fresh tomatoes tend to be more acidic than their canned counterparts so she adds a little sugar to a soup when cooking with fresh tomatoes. Then she adds a can of whole peeled tomatoes. These canned tomatoes have a more robust depth and sweetness because they've already been cooked compared to the brighter tangier flavor of fresh tomatoes. Whole peeled canned tomatoes also give you the ability to chop or puree the fruit to the exact size and texture you want. (This would be a great time to splurge on the crème de la crème: the San Marzano variety.)
