I Made Julia Child's Famous Tomato Sauce Recipe—and I May Never Buy Store-Bought Sauce Again (2024)

FAQs

Why is homemade tomato sauce better than store bought? ›

Homemade sauce offers the advantages of quality control, customization, and fresh ingredients, but it requires time and effort. Store-bought sauce provides convenience and consistency, yet you may need to accept compromises in terms of ingredients and cost. You might also consider combining both approaches.

There are multiple reasons, some of which are obvious, some of which are not. Jarred pasta sauce is typically made with bulk ingredients bought on the wholesale market, while a good restaurant will typically reject any produce that doesn't meet the standards of the kitchen when the delivery arrives.

There are other reasons that someone might want to avoid tomatoes and sauce made from them. Tomatoes are acidic and can trigger heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux and promote inflammation so on top of hidden sugars, you might want to stay away from traditional tomato sauces for other health reasons.

Your spaghetti sauce may taste bland due to insufficient seasoning. Try adding more salt, herbs (like basil, oregano, or thyme), and other flavor enhancers like garlic, onion, or red pepper flakes. Also, a dash of sugar can balance flavors and bring out the natural sweetness of tomatoes.

Starting with good quality tomatoes and crushing them by hand offers great flavor and texture later on. The combination of butter and oil releases fat-soluble aromatics and gives the sauce a creamy texture. Slowly cooking the sauce in the oven creates rich caramelization without burning.

At $8 per jar, Rao's sauces come at a much higher price point than fellow Campbell's brand Prego. Despite the premium price tag, the brand has gained a cult following thanks to its inclusion of high quality ingredients and successful word-of-mouth marketing.

The question of whether or not you should make or buy depends on your lifestyle, preferences and dietary needs. The beauty of making your own pasta sauce is the ability to customize to your preferences, so long as you have the basic ingredients.

Canned tomato sauce is generally less expensive than jarred sauce, but there is a difference in freshness and flavor. It is also more portable and easier to store, as it does not require refrigeration until it is opened. Both options can be tasty and convenient choices for adding flavor to your meals.

"Among pasta sauces on the grocery store shelves, Prego Homestyle Alfredo Sauce deserves a spot on the list of the worst offenders," says Steph Magill, MS, RD, CD, FAND, owner of Soccer Mom Nutrition. Every quarter-cup serving has 80 calories, 16% of the DV of saturated fat, and 17% of the DV for sodium.

Many marinara sauces use inflammatory vegetable oil, like Prego, which uses canola oil. For this reason, a no-sugar added marinara like Rao's is a much more blood-sugar friendly and nutrient-dense option. Rao's uses seven simple ingredients, one of which is olive oil, contributing 7g of healthy fats per ½ cup serving.

Is it true that the FDA allows tomato sauces to be sold in stores as long as it has less than five fruit fly eggs or one maggot per 100 ml? ›

Up to one maggot (or five fly eggs) per 250 milliliters of canned fruit juice is also allowed. For tomato juice, the FDA limits up to five fly eggs and one maggot per 100 grams, the equivalent of a small juice glass. Up to 15 fly eggs and one maggot per 100 grams is allowed for tomato paste and other pizza sauces.

Tomato sauce should be consumed sparingly. Despite being low in calories, with around 15 calories per tablespoon, a serving of tomato sauce will usually contain 160mg of sodium of the recommended 920mg per day. Many also come with various kinds of salts, vinegar and onion powder to make it even tastier.

A tomato intolerance or sensitivity occurs when your digestive system reacts adversely after eating tomatoes. There are different types of food sensitivities when it comes to tomatoes: chemical sensitivities to the alkaloids, reactions to the acid content, and IgG reactions to the proteins in tomatoes.

Nutmeg. Nutmeg is the key to boosting earthiness and adding a touch of nuttiness to your spaghetti sauce. Nutmeg also has a slightly sweet flavor, which we know goes great with acidic canned tomatoes. Overall, it accentuates the other ingredients in the sauce and adds complexity.

The one area where homemade tomato sauce really shines, however, is in the flavor department. Even when using canned tomatoes instead of garden-fresh ones, a homemade tomato sauce made with onions I sautéed myself and spices from my cupboard always tastes richer and more balanced to me than what comes from a jar.

Sure, it's convenient to purchase ready-made tomato sauce at the grocery store, but one look at the label will show you that many brands are high in sodium and added sugars. This easy made-from-scratch tomato sauce uses fresh ingredients and has no added sugar.

Healthy tomato sauce is made from scratch with only a few simple, high quality ingredients! Crushed tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, fresh basil, and simple seasonings come together to make a fragrant, flavorful, sweet, and balanced sauce. Plus it is low sodium, low sugar, and can be ready in under 30 minutes!