Mom Money-Saving Tip 94

After years of tossing out half-used cans of tomato paste, I finally realized I had another option: tubes of tomato paste.  They offer the very useful option of squeezing out however much tomato paste you need.  

Naturally you are paying for convenience.  A 4 ½-ounce tube of Mutti Double Concentrated Tomato Paste, which contains about 8 tablespoons paste, is selling for about $7 on some websites.  A same-size tube of Amore Tomato Paste is $3.99 at my local supermarket, while a same-size tube of Napoleon Tomato Paste is $2.28.  Meanwhile, a 6-ounce can of store-brand tomato paste, costs 79 cents.

Wonder how that cost breaks down per tablespoon?

Mutti tube: 87 cents per tablespoon

Amore tube: 50 cents per tablespoon

Napoleon tube: 29 cents per tablespoon

Store brand tomato paste: 8 cents per tablespoon

Cost-wise, the best tomato paste to buy is the 6-ounce can.  If you can’t use up a can’s worth in a reasonable time, freeze tablespoons of tomato paste in a plastic bag.

                                                    See all my Money-Saving Tips!