Canned tomatoes, a justification

[nancylebov]

The reason I used canned tomatoes in that soup is that there's been scarcely a tomato that I've checked in the farmer's markets which smelled like anything. I'm guessing it's a result of a rather cool, damp summer in and near Philadelphia

I've also guessed without checking that if a tomato doesn't smell like much, it isn't going to taste like much. dcseain tells me that there's actually no correlation between flavor and smell for tomatoes, and I admit that I hadn't considered the possibility. I will say that insisting on tomatoes that smell good is a way of getting tomatoes that taste good.

Comments

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Canned tomatoes, in my opinion, are perfectly fine for soups and sauces. If it's a good fresh tomato, it'd be a shame to cook it, anyway.

[redbird]

I can't think of a reason not to use canned tomatoes in soup or stew.

Horse Manure tomatoes?

[bruce9999.livejournal.com]

I read somewhere the only way to get tasty tomatoes was to grow them in horse apples.

It must be true, it was in a John Sandford novel.

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

I agree with xiphias and redbird. But the heritage tomatoes at the Farmer's Market are nearly scentless till cut, ugly to the eye, and heavenly in the mouth.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

All of the heritage (heirloom?) tomatoes at that market, or a particular type?

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking of Fahnestock Farm, Landisdale Farm, Keystone Farm, and the Christophel Bros. Farm, at the regular markets in Clark Park. These are the produce farmers I normally buy from. We have a summer CSA with Landisdale and a winter one with Keystone. Basically, any produce from any of them is reliably good. I don't remember offhand which one has the heritage toms.; Landisdale, I think. I'm getting thirsty & mouthwatery just thinking about them. (And Fahnestocks peaches, OMG!...)

[bugsybanana.livejournal.com]

There was a widespread blight problem (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/opinion/09barber.html) in the Northeast US this year, so the tomato crop is iffy in any case.

[lysystratae.livejournal.com]

I do the same thing, if they don't smell like a tomato they won't taste like a tomato.

[cathyr19355.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine who lives in southern New Jersey and who grows tomatoes in her back yard says she didn't get any tomatoes this year; they all rotted on the vine. :-{