As a busy mother, comfort is essential on the subject of meals preparation at dwelling. As a registered dietitian, this implies stocking my pantry and freezer with nutritious meals that may convey nourishing meals collectively very quickly. One pantry staple that I’ve all the time had readily available is canned tomatoes. Not solely do they effortlessly add some freshness and taste to many recipes, in addition they provide quite a lot of vitamins and phytochemicals. What’s higher than that? Properly, as a extra environmentally pleasant possibility, steam peeled tomatoes take it to the subsequent stage! Since we’re so keen about sustainability right here at KJN, we have been excited to study the entire advantages of steam peeled tomatoes and have been stocking our pantries with the entire varieties since.
This submit is written in partnership with Pacific Coast Producers, a pacesetter in steam peeled tomato manufacturing. Because of them for making it potential to distribute this info! As all the time, I solely have interaction in partnerships with those that’s philosophies align with my very own.
Sustainability of Steam Peeled Tomatoes
For those who’re in any respect like me, figuring out that your meals decisions have a optimistic affect on folks and the planet makes consuming much more pleasing. In relation to Pacific Coast Producers’ steam peeled tomatoes, I like figuring out I’m getting a top quality USA grown and packed product.
Location is the place the sustainability begins, because the local weather is already very best for rising canned tomatoes in Woodland, CA. After being harvested in peak season, from August to October, the tomatoes are rinsed from the truck utilizing recycled water. On prime of that, 95% of Pacific Coast Producers’ tomato growers are inside 17 miles of the power, permitting them to can the tomatoes inside 5 hours of after they’re picked at peak freshness. The brief distance between the farms and the power cuts down on transportation and storage wants.
When the tomatoes are processed within the facility, the environment friendly steaming course of maximizes out there assets. What’s even higher is the meals waste concerns: 100% of the tomato is used! The peels are recovered for tomato paste and comparable merchandise, whereas the juice is recovered for related gadgets in our meals system. Evaporated tomato water is used for the steaming itself., and since no chemical substances are used within the course of, total water waste is decrease.
Apart from the advantages of steam peeling, buying canned tomatoes is a sustainable alternative, lowering meals waste and bettering recycling. 0% of tomatoes are wasted within the canning course of versus the 38% of recent wasted earlier than making it to the grocery retailer. Metal cans are additionally one of the crucial recycled merchandise in our meals system.
How Steam Peeled Tomatoes are Processed
Since I’ve all the time used canned tomatoes, it was a straightforward change to begin on the lookout for “steam peeled” on the label when purchasing. Once you purchase non-public label (retailer model) canned steam peeled tomatoes, likelihood is they have been harvested and processed by the Pacific Coast Producers agricultural cooperative, together with 17 tomato growers. When their tomatoes journey to the canning facility, they undergo a 3 step steaming course of earlier than they’re reduce or juiced, their peels pureed, seasonings are added they usually’re able to be packed in cans and sealed.
For the steaming course of itself, first, the varieties grown particularly for canning are steamed. A excessive warmth is utilized that loosens the tomato skins and creates a vapor inside. This shortly steam cooks the tomato flesh whereas retaining style and vitamin. Subsequent, a exact vacuum strain is utilized to softly separate the pores and skin from the tomatoes. Lastly, specialised gear removes the unfastened pores and skin from the entire tomato and, as talked about, is shipped for use in different merchandise. That is optimum peeling expertise to take care of a top quality texture and colour versus different abrasive peeling strategies!
Vitamins in Canned Tomatoes
Whereas steam peeled tomatoes retain optimum texture and colour and the Mediterranean local weather of California supplies fertile soil, canned tomatoes basically have some identified advantages.
As soon as tomatoes are harvested, they’re at their peak by way of nutrient density. By canning them in simply hours, these vitamins are locked in and maintained.
Canned tomatoes are wealthy in vitamin C and potassium whereas additionally providing iron, fiber, and beta-carotene, the plant type of Vitamin A. Moreover, they pack in 2.5 instances extra of the phytochemical lycopene than recent tomatoes!
Styles of Steam Peeled Tomatoes
After the steaming course of, tomatoes are both stored complete, diced, or sliced. Among the complete tomatoes are additionally made into sauces, paste, juice, pizza sauces, and lots of extra gadgets. Based mostly on the recipes we commonly rotate by way of, my private favourite varieties to maintain within the pantry are complete peeled, diced with green chiles, and petite diced. However, there’s many extra potentialities to suit your wants together with stewed, crushed, and sauce in addition to fireplace roasted, with basil, and chili prepared.
To study extra about steam peeled tomatoes and to seek out them close to you, click here! And take a look at my recipes with steam peeled tomatoes, together with this easy eggplant shakshuka, lentil tacos (coming quickly), and tomato polenta (coming quickly).
