Canned tomatoes

Canned tomatoes are tomatoes that have been canned to preserve their shelf life.

They are often available in with different levels of prepreation:

Whole peeled tomatoes

A versatile form of storage that allows for the flexibility to chop or dice later when used in a recipie. There is some beliefe that a higher grade of tomato is used for the whole tomatoes with the lower grade tomatoes used for the other canned tomatoes.

Stewed tomatoes

At one time, these were used as a side dish, though this is no longer as common as it once was. They are called for in stews, lasagna, pasta dishes and soups.

Diced tomatoes

The classic canned tomato product, diced tomatoes are used where you'd typically use fresh diced tomatoes. Soups, stews, chili, etc.

Crushed tomatoes

The pieces are smaller than diced tomatoes, but not necessarily smooth and blended in a pureed way. If you use these instead of diced in a recipe that calls for diced, it can make the dish too acidic.

Tomato sauce

Not to be confused with pasta sauce, which usually contains other produce and is sold as a finished product. Tomato sauce is thinner than tomato puree, and often has seasonings added. It's used as a base for many other sauces.

Tomato puree

A very thick liquid, though not as thick as paste. Made with tomatoes that are cooked and strained.

Tomato paste

The most concentrated canned tomato product. It is cooked for hours to reduce its liquid content. It's a thick paste with a concentrated flavor. Because it's often used in very small amounts, you may only need a tablespoon or three in a recipe.