Late-night cooks watching salt
A tin of tomatoes can form a quick supper base. Compare its salt figure, then account for any stock, sauce or seasoning added to the meal.
Who is this for?
People cooking for one or two
The amount you use tonight and the instructions for storing the rest can matter as much as the tin size.
Cooks choosing between plain and flavoured tomatoes
Plain chopped tomatoes let you choose the herbs and seasoning. A herbed or finer-cut product changes the preparation, texture and salt figure to check.
What should you check?
Start with salt per 100g, then choose a texture and pack format that fit the supper you are making.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Salt in the meal | Compare salt per 100g on the current labels, then check the amount for the portion used. Account separately for salt in stock, sauces and other additions. | I want to control the salt added by the tomato base without overlooking the rest of supper. |
| Preparation | Check the tin’s heating instructions and whether its chopped texture suits the dish. ASDA Groceries and Tesco list 3–4 minutes of hob heating for their specified chopped-tomato products. | If the rest of my meal is nearly ready, I want to know how long the tomatoes need on the hob. |
| Seasoning control | Read the ingredients as well as the nutrition panel. Compare a plain tin with a herbed variant on its own label rather than assuming they have the same salt content. | Some nights I would rather add my own herbs; on others, a ready-herbed base saves a step. |
| Leftovers | Check pack size and the opened-tin storage instructions for the exact product. Plan when you will use any remainder. | Cooking for one, I need a workable plan for tomatoes left after tonight’s portion. |
What can catch you out?
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Treating every lower-salt-looking tin as equivalent
Declared salt differs between the specific products: ASDA Groceries lists 0.01g per 100g for its 400g chopped tomatoes, while the ASDA listing for Mutti Polpa gives 0.30g per 100g. A lower figure alone does not establish a formal “reduced salt” claim.
Compare the current salt figures per 100g first, then check how much tomato you will use.
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Checking the tin but not the finished supper
Stock, sauces, cheese and added salt can change the salt content of a tomato-based meal.
Check those ingredients separately and taste before adding salt.
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Opening more tomatoes than you can use
Storage windows differ by product: M&S says to eat its Chopped Italian Tomatoes within three days of opening, while Sainsbury’s gives two days for its basil-and-oregano tomatoes.
Follow the exact tin’s refrigeration instructions and plan another use for the remainder.
Unused tomatoes may need to be discarded once their stated storage window has passed.
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Relying on an older product listing
The label on the tin is the practical point of reference when choosing a recipe, salt figure or storage instruction.
Recheck the ingredients, nutrition panel and storage directions on the product you buy.
Relevant brand examples
These figures describe the named products, not every tin made by each brand.
ASDA
ASDA Chopped Tomatoes 400g is a plain chopped-tomato option.
- ASDA Groceries lists 0.01g salt per 100g for this product.
- Choose herbs and other seasonings separately if you want a flavoured sauce.
M&S
M&S Chopped Italian Tomatoes is a plain 400g tomato-in-juice product.
- M&S lists 0.02g salt per 100g for this tin.
- M&S says to refrigerate and eat the contents within three days after opening.
Sainsbury’s
The named plain and basil-and-oregano chopped tomatoes offer different seasoning choices.
- Sainsbury’s lists 0.07g salt per 100g for its plain 400g tin and 0.09g per 100g for the 390g herbed product.
- The herbed product’s instructions say to use it within two days after opening.
Tesco
Tesco Italian Chopped Tomatoes is listed as four 400g tins.
- Tesco Groceries lists 0.09g salt per 100g and 3–4 minutes of hob heating for this product.
- A four-tin pack calls for space and a plan to use the remaining tins.
Napolina
Napolina describes its chopped tomatoes as chunky.
- The manufacturer lists 0.10g salt per 100g for its chopped tomatoes.
- Consider whether the chunkier texture suits the sauce you intend to make.
Mutti
Mutti Polpa is a finely chopped tomato option.
- Its fine cut may suit a dish where larger tomato pieces are unwanted.
- ASDA Groceries lists 0.30g salt per 100g for the specified 400g product, compared with 0.01g for its own 400g chopped tomatoes.
Joybuy tomato options
These plain chopped-tomato tins offer a base you can season yourself for a late supper. Compare their current labels with your salt and pack-size needs.
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Napolina Chopped Tomatoes 4 x 400g
Four separate tins suit a plan to make more than one tomato-based meal. Napolina lists 0.10g salt per 100g for its chopped tomatoes and describes their texture as chunky; check the current pack label for preparation and opened-tin storage directions.
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KTC Chopped Tomatoes 400g
A single 400g tin is an option when you do not need a multipack. Check its current salt figure per 100g, heating directions and opened-tin storage instructions against your supper plan.
Common questions
How do I compare salt across different tin sizes?
Use the salt figure per 100g as the common comparison, then work out how much of the tin your meal uses. Check the current product label rather than comparing one tin’s per-serving figure with another’s per-100g figure.
Does a low salt figure mean a tin is labelled “reduced salt”?
No. NHS Inform describes 0.3g salt or less per 100g as low, but “reduced salt” is a different claim that needs its own comparison basis. Use the stated per-100g figure to choose between the tins discussed here without assuming they make that claim.
How long can I keep tomatoes after opening the tin?
Follow the instructions for the exact product. M&S says to refrigerate and eat its Chopped Italian Tomatoes within three days; Sainsbury’s says to use its basil-and-oregano tomatoes within two days.
What if there is no traffic-light label on the front?
Use the nutrition table to find salt per 100g. Food Standards Agency guidance says some manufacturers and supermarkets display front-of-pack traffic-light labels, so their absence need not prevent a comparison.