whole canned tomatoes vs. diced

[laden]

When a recipe calls for a can of whole tomatoes, chopped...is there a difference in the same size can of diced tomatoes?

[Ralph]

If there's a difference, I've not found it. I'm a little lazy, so the ones pre-diced are quite a time saver. I do remember buying a can of whole tomatoes (15oz) a few years back in order to dice them as the recipe specified. There were all of three tomatoes in the can, somewhat large, but not quite enough! Have been buying the diced ones ever since!

[lindrusso]

I agree with Ralph. I almost never buy whole tomatoes anymore. Recipes almost always call for you to chop them or puree them - so I figure why not buy them already chopped or already pureed! They may cost more (I haven't checked), but paying a little more is sometimes worth the convenience, at least for me. I haven't noticed any difference either.

[lorilei]

You know, I don't think there is an ACTUAL difference in the tomatoes or the amounts. However, I'm very glad I have a choice. Some recipes just need BIG HONKING chunks of tomatoes. And in that case, I'd much prefer chopping my own. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Anne]

I agree that most of the time it doesn't seem to matter if I use diced or do the dicing myself. However, like Lorilei sometimes I like really big chunks of tomatoes, especially for jambalaya and some types of chili and soup. The brand I buy (Muir Glen organic) is the same price and weight for whole, diced, or pureed.

[Ed]

I don't know if there is any difference either, but I buy both Kinds. Whole and diced.

Many recipes call for a 28oz size of diced or crushed tomatoes, so I buy the 28oz size of whole tomatoes and use a kithen shears to get then the way I want them.

Other recipes call for a smaller can (14.5 oz)of diced tomatoes, so I buy that size already diced.

In one of the grocery stores I go to the 28 oz size is .79 and the smaller diced 14.5 oz size is .50

no big deal but interesting to me.

However this time of year, and a bit earlier, we are dicing up our own Italian Tomatoes and freezing them, (we had a real good crop this year, and they're still coming yet) So we won't need to buy too much canned tomatoes in the grocery store for a while.

Ed

[laden]

Thanks for the responses. I usually used the diced because they're easiest.

But it does seem like the whole tomatoes are packed in a watery juice and the diced tomatoes are in a juice more like tomato sauce.

[This message has been edited by laden (edited 09-08-2000).]