How much tomato paste equals tomato sauce?

Tomato sauce and tomato paste are both versatile, tomato-based ingredients used in cooking. While they share some similarities, there are important differences between the two in terms of concentration, uses, and substitution ratios. Understanding how they compare allows you to better utilize them in recipes.

Tomato Sauce Basics

Tomato sauce is made from tomatoes that have been cooked down into a thick, rich liquid. It has a deep red color and full tomato flavor. The texture can range from smooth to chunky, depending on whether the tomato skins and seeds have been removed. Here are some key facts about tomato sauce:

• Made from cooked, pureed tomatoes
• Contains tomato solids and liquids
• Typically seasoned with onions, garlic, and herbs
• Used as a base for stews, pasta sauces, and soups
• Available canned or homemade

Homemade tomato sauce is easy to prepare by simmering fresh tomatoes with olive oil, onions, and garlic until softened. Then puree the mixture until smooth. Canned tomato sauce provides convenience and consistent flavor. Nutritionally, tomato sauce provides vitamins A and C, potassium, lycopene, and antioxidants.

Tomato Paste Basics

Tomato paste is a thick, concentrated tomato product made by cooking tomatoes down to remove almost all moisture. The cooking process caramelizes the natural sugars, resulting in deep umami flavor. Here are some characteristics of tomato paste:

• Very thick, dense consistency
• Intense tomato taste
• Reddish-brown color
• Used to add rich tomato flavor
• Found canned or in tubes
• Lasts several months refrigerated or frozen

The concentrating process gives tomato paste a much more potent tomato presence than regular tomato sauce. Just a spoonful can provide huge tomato impact. Tomato paste contains higher levels of nutrients compared to sauce, including vitamin C, iron, and niacin.

Tomato Sauce vs Tomato Paste

Here’s a quick overview of how tomato sauce and paste stack up against each other:

Tomato Sauce	Tomato Paste
Made from cooked, pureed tomatoes	Made from cooked tomatoes concentrated into a paste
Smooth, pourable consistency	Very thick, almost solid consistency
Provides fresh tomato flavor	Provides concentrated, caramelized tomato flavor
Used as a sauce base or for simmering	Used as a flavoring agent

As you can see, the main differences come down to concentration and uses. Tomato paste acts as a tomato flavor booster, while tomato sauce provides the body and bulk. With this in mind, substituting between them requires diluting the paste or reducing the sauce.

Tomato Paste to Tomato Sauce Conversion

When a recipe calls for tomato sauce, you can substitute tomato paste by thinning it out with water or other liquids. Here are two simple methods for converting tomato paste to tomato sauce:

By Volume

Use this formula for a direct volume-to-volume conversion:

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste + 1/4 cup water = 1/4 cup tomato sauce
• 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) tomato paste + 1 cup water = 1 cup tomato sauce

For every tablespoon of tomato paste, add 1/4 cup water or broth to achieve the consistency of tomato sauce. Stir to thoroughly combine. You may also need to add pinches of salt, sugar, or other seasonings to achieve the right tomato sauce flavor.

By Recipe Amounts

For a recipe-based conversion, substitute as follows:

• If a recipe calls for 1 cup tomato sauce, use 4 tablespoons tomato paste + 1 cup water or broth
• If a recipe needs 28 ounces tomato sauce, use 1 cup (16 tablespoons) tomato paste + 3 cups water

Replace the full amount of tomato sauce in the recipe with your tomato paste thinned down with 3-4 times as much liquid. This achieves the correct dilution ratio to match the texture and body of tomato sauce.

Tomato Sauce to Tomato Paste Conversion

Converting tomato sauce to tomato paste relies on cooking the sauce down to remove moisture and concentrate the tomato flavor. Here are two methods for making this reduction:

On the Stovetop

Simmer tomato sauce in a saucepan over medium heat, uncovered. Cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring frequently, until reduced down to a thick, paste-like texture. The sauce will change to a deeper red-brown hue as it concentrates. You’ll need to reduce sauce volumes down by about 3/4 to get the appropriate paste consistency.

In the Oven

For an oven method, spread tomato sauce on a rimmed baking sheet in an even layer. Bake at 400°F for 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes, until thick and pasty. The sauce will caramelize and intensify in flavor. Again, reduce sauce amounts by about 3/4.

Here are some substitution ratios to go from tomato sauce to paste:

• 1 cup tomato sauce reduces to about 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 28 ounces tomato sauce reduces to around 7 ounces tomato paste

The cooking reduction methods remove moisture, concentrate flavor, and transform the texture into a thick paste. Keep coating the pan or baking sheet to prevent burning.

Tips for Converting Tomato Paste and Sauce

Here are some top tips when substituting tomato paste and sauce:

• Season to taste – Add herbs, sugar, salt, pepper, etc to match the flavor profile you need.
• Watch the thickness – For paste to sauce, thin gradually with liquid until the right consistency is reached.
• Stir frequently – Prevent burning and evenly concentrate when reducing sauce to paste.
• Use water or broth – The liquid used to thin paste to sauce adds extra flavor.
• Simmer uncovered – This allows moisture to evaporate when cooking sauce down into paste.

With these tips in mind, you can easily substitute between tomato paste and sauce in recipes with just a few simple ratio adjustments and cooking techniques. Understanding how to convert and replace them gives you more flexibility in the kitchen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are tomato paste and tomato sauce used differently in cooking?

Tomato paste and tomato sauce have different uses based on their drastically different concentrations. Tomato sauce provides tomato flavor, moisture, and bulk to dishes like stews, pasta sauces, soups, etc. Tomato paste acts as a flavor enhancer thanks to its dense, concentrated tomato taste. Just a bit can add big tomato impact without watering anything down.

Can I make a substitute for tomato sauce using fresh tomatoes?

Yes, you can make tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes. Simply chop and cook fresh tomatoes in olive oil over medium heat until soft and broken down, 10-15 minutes. Then puree the tomatoes into a smooth sauce. Add salt, pepper, herbs, garlic, etc to taste.

How long does homemade tomato paste last in the refrigerator or freezer?

Properly stored, tomato paste will last:

• Refrigerator: Up to 1 week
• Freezer: 6-8 months

Keep tomato paste in an airtight container. Freeze for extended storage.

What’s the easiest way to thicken tomato or pasta sauce?

Simmering the sauce uncovered is the easiest way to thicken it slightly. For bigger thickening power, blend in a spoonful of tomato paste or mascarpone cheese. Thickened sauce will coat pasta better and have a richer texture.

Conclusion

Understanding the differences between tomato sauce and tomato paste allows you to use them for their best purpose in recipes. While tomato sauce provides bulk tomato flavor, tomato paste is concentrated and used for an intense tomato boost. With the right conversion ratios and cooking methods, you can easily substitute between tomato paste and sauce.