GONE are the days where you can throw a cheap tin of tomatoes into your curry or pasta sauce for dinner.
As the cost of living crisis takes hold of the UK, some 400g tins will set you back 60p and prices continue to rise.
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You don’t have to spend a fortune though and some supermarkets sell tins which are great value and taste just as good.
We asked mum-of-three Lynsey Hope to try out some own brand chopped tomatoes to see how they compare to market leader Napolina. Here’s what happened.
Sainsbury’s Hubbard’s Foodstore Chopped Tomatoes – 28p
Lynsey says: “I Loved these chunky Sainsbury’s tomatoes which are perfect for cooking and I tried them in a variety of dishes. They have a lovely consistency and are not at all watery.
“They are an absolutely bargain at 28p, cheaper than both Aldi and Lidl, and I can’t see why anyone would want to pay more for a named brand.
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“You do have to use a tin opener which is a bit of a faff. I prefer a ring pull top.”
- TASTE: 10/10
- VALUE: 10/10
- OVERALL RATING: 10/10
Napolina Chopped Tomatoes – 60p
Lynsey says: “I had high hopes for this top brand as Napolina claim to be ‘the UK’s No.1 tomatoes brand’.
“Actually, I found them quite acidic. They are pricey too – costing more than double my winning tin from Sainsbury’s.
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“If you buy two tins a week, swapping to the Sainsbury’s tomatoes could save you £33.28 on your shopping bill a year. You’ll barely notice the difference.”
- TASTE: 7/10
- VALUE: 3/10
- OVERALL RATING: 4/10
*All prices for 400g tin
Lidl Freshona Chopped Tomatoes – 38p
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Lynsey says: “There was quite a lot of basil in this tin, which I liked, but it might not be for everyone.
“The tomatoes were small and there was quite a bit of pulp and skin.
“They tasted nice though not to acidic or watery. I thought this was a great budget option for Lidl.”
- TASTE: 4/10
- VALUE: 8/10
- OVERALL RATING: 7/10
Aldi Cucina Chopped Tomatoes – 38p
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Lynsey says: “Basic tin of tomatoes from Aldi. The tomatoes looked paler than the others but they smelt nice and sweet.
“There was a good amount of tomatoes in the tin but the consistency was a bit watery. Not sure I’d go back for these given there are cheaper options out there.”
- TASTE: 3/10
- VALUE: 5/10
- OVERALL RATING: 3/10
Tesco Italian Finely Chopped Tomatoes – 45p
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Lynsey says: “As it says on the Tesco tin, these are ‘finely’ chopped tomatoes so are much smaller than other options.
“The taste was good when I used them in pasta sauce and in casseroles.
“There were hardly cores or bits of skin as you sometimes get. Perhaps a little on the watery side, but not much to complain about here.”
- TASTE: 6/10
- VALUE: 5/10
- OVERALL RATING: 6/10
Morrisons Chopped Tomatoes – 49p
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Lynsey says: “Great tasting tomatoes from Morrisons with a ring pull for convenience. They were quite chunky with a lovely consistency, inviting aroma and a nice taste.
“I was impressed. They are however still quite pricey – cheaper only than Waitrose and Napolina – so using these won’t save you as much on your shopping bill. Delicious though.”
- TASTE: 9/10
- VALUE: 7/10
- OVERALL RATING: 8/10
Asda Chopped Tomatoes – 38p
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Lynsey says: “A great quality product from Asda that does exactly what it says on the tin. Nice flavour, not too watery.
“Nothing at all to complain about and they are the same price as tomatoes from Aldi and Lidl. Great value option from Asda.”
- TASTE: 8/10
- VALUE: 9/10
- OVERALL RATING: 9/10
Waitrose and Partners Chopped Tomatoes – 55p
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Lynsey says: “Lots of lovely tomatoes in this tin from Waitrose and not too much juice.
“None of the horrible skin or pulp you get in cheaper tins.
“I’d definitely use these again in bolognese or curry sauces and whilst there are cheaper options out there, these will save you a few pennies if you usually buy a branded tin and small savings add up.”
- TASTE: 9/10
- VALUE: 7/10
- OVERALL RATING: 8/10
Meanwhile we tasted fish fingers to find the best – here are the results.
And we dipped in to supermarket hummus and there was one clear winner to take to your next picnic.
