If you’re a regular around here you know that Italian comfort food takes place on the daily. Homemade pizza, a simple tomato sauce and we can’t forget the pastas. And many of these dishes couldn’t happen without something you likely have sitting in your pantry right now. Canned whole tomatoes.
The gold standard of canned Italian tomatoes with the best flavor are from San Marzano. But did you know that not all tomatoes labeled “San Marzano” are really from San Marzano?
My friend, you might not be using real San Marzano tomatoes.
This post contains links to affiliate websites including Amazon. I make a small commission for any purchases made using these links. Thank you!
How Italy protects its ingredients
Italy is a country that loves, elevates and protects its bounty. The food-centric country has an entire board dedicated to protect, guarantee and identify authentic home-grown Italian food ingredients used in brands.
It’s called DOP certification.
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Denominazione d’Origine Protetta (or protected designation of origin)
A certification for Italian food ingredients like parmesan, balsamic, prosciutto, olive oil and chianti to help consumers identify the real deal. DOP also helps consumers identify real San Marzano tomatoes.
-Josie + Nina
You gotta love a country where its food is as revered as its people.
Characteristics of San Marzano tomatoes
These top-rated tomatoes are grown in the town of San Marzano Sul Sarno which is located in the Campania region of Italy. San Marzano is typically referred to as being in “the shadow of Mount Vesuvius,” which is really important because the rich volcanic soils are the key to growing a San Marzano tomato.
Campania also is home to Naples, the Neapolitan pizza HQ of Italy so it should come as no surprise that this best seller of a tomato makes an amazing pizza sauce.
Why are San Marzano tomatoes so special?
Looking like a cousin or sibling of the widely-available Roma tomato, San Marzano tomatoes are longer and thinner with a stronger, sweeter flavor. And this type of tomato has other great characteristics that contribute to their celebrity status for red sauces and Italian cooking.
- Thick walled. Because of their extra-thick walls, San Marzano tomatoes are great paste tomatoes making them perfect to make a thick sauce with rich flavor.
- Lower acidity. San Marzano’s are known for their lower ph making them sweeter and reducing the need to balance the sauce with sugar.
- Fewer Seeds. A tomato with fewer seeds makes for a cleaner red sauce (and takes less work to prepare).
How to identify real San Marzano tomatoes
You think you have a can of San Marzano tomatoes in the pantry. Pull it out and you’ll know real quick if they’re authentic.
- San Marzano tomatoes are always whole peeled tomatoes. You won’t find them diced, crushed or any other way.
- DOP canned tomatoes will be always identified with a certification on the side of the can (seen above) authenticating that they native to San Marzano.
p.s. There’s even a very popular brand name called San Marzano and they’re grown in the U.S.!
Bottom line? READ THE LABEL!
Favorite canned tomato brands
The best place to buy DOP tomatoes is your local Italian grocer, Amazon or even Eataly if you’re in a large metropolitan market. Google is your friend here!
For local Chicagoans, I love Angelo Caputo’s Markets because their markets are sprinkled throughout the area and they literally have one whole aisle of Italian tomatoes and another whole aisle of Italian pasta!
Following are some links (affiliate) to my favorite San Marzano canned tomatoes.
La Valle San Marzano D.O.P. Italian Peeled Tomatoes
Recipes that use canned Italian tomatoes
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How to Tell if Your San Marzano Tomatoes are Real?
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Ingredients
- 1 can San Marzano tomatoes
Instructions
- Turn a can labeled "San Marzano" on its side.
- Look for the words "DOP" on the can and also two certification seals. WIthout these seals on the label, the tomatoes are not from the San Marzano region of Italy.
Hi Lori,
I wanted to let you know your posting on San Marzano tomatoes was outstanding. I knew about the DOCG certification process for Chianti wines (and have enjoyed many bottles of those wines through the years), but I didn’t realize there was a certification process for Italian tomatoes!
We have purchased many cans of “San Marzano tomatoes”, but now I have to wonder if we really bought the real thing as I have never looked for the certification seal on the can. Thanks to your post, I will definitely look at every brand to see if it’s there.
Keep up the great work! Five stars!!
Hi DR! Thank you so much for the wonderful comment…you made my day!😊 It is amazing that so many brands have us believing we are buying San Marzano tomatoes when a simple look at the label can confirm it. And nothing like a glass (or bottle!) of good Chianti! Thanks again!