What is tomato paste

The questions we will answer in this article:

• What is tomato paste?
• How is tomato paste cooked in our factories?
• What are tomato paste health benefits?
• How to use it?

Tomato paste… that amazing red substance that we have seen being used in the most amazing dishes… but what is it?

• What is tomato paste?

Tomato paste is concentrated tomatoes. If you take tomatoes and cook them down, strain the skin and seeds from the mixture and continue to cook the sauce down until it forms a thick consistency, you get tomato paste. It is used to impart an intense tomato flavor to a variety of dishes, such as pasta, soups and braised meat. It is used heavily in Turkish and Italian cultured food.

• How is tomato paste cooked in our factories?

1.Selection and sorting: The first step for the production of tomato paste is the selection of tomatoes. Ripe and healthy tomatoes are selected and sorted from other tomatoes.

2.Washing and drying:  Chosen tomatoes are washed and dried carefully by our top notch machines.

3.Crushing: After washing and drying, the tomatoes are transferred to a tomato crusher to be crushed into 3-5 mm particles. After that, the crushed tomatoes are transferred to a mixer to be chopped more until smooth.

4.Cold Break: Tomato paste is preheated to 65-75°C for Cool break (CH) processing for 10-15 minutes. CH paste is used for concentrate paste at aseptic tomato paste brix 36-38° Brix.

5.Removing water: In this stage, the tomato pulp, which includes the fiber of tomato, juice, and seeds, is sieved through a purifier. Consequently, tomato paste becomes smoother and softer. Normally, 95% of the tomato paste passes through two sieves. And the remaining five percent, which consists of seed fiber and tomato skin, is considered waste.

6.Evaporation: The evaporation stage is the most important stage of the tomato paste production process. The tomato paste juice evaporates until the paste reaches the desired concentration and density that increases continuously. The complete process of concentration and evaporation is in vacuum conditions at a temperature of less than 100°C.

7.Aseptic filling: Tomato paste is transported directly to the aseptic container, then transferred through the sterilizer cooler in pre-sterilized packages. After packaging, the concentrate can be stored for up to two years.

• What are tomato paste health benefits?

A 1-tbsp. serving of tomato paste contains just 13 calories and no fat. It also provides 244 international units of vitamin A, which is important to eye sight health, reproduction and fetal development. Although not as rich in vitamin C as fresh tomatoes, tomato paste still provides 3.5 mg of this antioxidant that improves immunity and tissue repair. It is also a source of vitamin K and several of the B vitamins. Tomato paste, per tablespoon, features 0.5 mg of iron as well, to help with proper red blood cell function. Tomato paste provides 162 mg of potassium per tablespoon to help your body regulate fluid and mineral stores.

Tomatoes are one of the most concentrated sources of lycopene, an antioxidant that belongs to the family of carotenoids, which includes beta-carotene and lutein. This phytochemical gives tomatoes their bright red color.

• How to use it?

Manufacturers use tomato paste as a base for some juices and ketchup. You can add tomato paste to marinara or meat sauce for pasta to intensify the flavors and provide a thick texture. Tomato paste is also an ingredient in many recipes for chili and beef stock.

Tomato paste is often called the red gold and now you know why. One spoon of fresh goodness enough to lighten your day.