San Marzano Tomatoes – All You Need to Know | Instacart Guide to Fresh Produce

What are San Marzano tomatoes?

San Marzano tomatoes are an heirloom tomato variety, and due to their unique origin, there is often confusion about these tomatoes. These tomatoes are sweet, juicy, and low in acidity, which is great for pasta and pizza sauces. In fact, these tomatoes are just one of 2 kinds that are allowed to be used for true Neapolitan pizza.

The original San Marzano tomatoes are from Italy, but seeds have made it worldwide, and San Marzano-style tomatoes are grown in many countries, including the United States. While the seeds and fruit are exactly the same, only tomatoes grown in the San Marzano region of Italy can claim to be authentic San Marzano tomatoes.

Fresh imported tomatoes are expensive, and you may not be able to find San Marzano tomatoes near you. However, finding authentic canned San Marzano tomatoes is easier since there’s little worry about spoilage. The tomatoes from Italy are labeled with the acronym “DOP,” which comes from the Italian phrase that translates to “protected designation of origin.”

Where did San Marzano tomatoes originate from?

San Marzano tomatoes are grown in San Marzano sol Sarno, Italy. It is believed that the first seeds were brought to the area in 1770 by the Viceroyalty of Peru as a gift to Naples. The tomatoes are grown in the volcanic ash of Mt. Vesuvius, which contributes to their unique flavor.

What is the nutritional value of San Marzano tomatoes?

Like other tomatoes, San Marzano tomatoes are low in calories and fat and rich in vitamins and nutrients. A half-cup serving gives you:

• 48 calories
• 0.2g fat
• 2.2g protein
• 2g fiber
• 8g carbohydrates

They contain 10% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C and 10% of the recommended daily value of vitamin A, plus trace amounts of potassium and iron. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that may help reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.

How are San Marzano tomatoes grown?

San Marzano tomatoes can be grown anywhere tomatoes grow, though they are not considered the authentic variety. Home gardeners can start these heirloom tomatoes from seed or find young plants at a garden store.

They grow best in well-fertilized soil with good drainage, as the soil should neither be too wet nor too dry. Plant them in an area that gets 6 to 8 hours a day of sunlight and regularly fertilize the soil. You will need to put cages around them as they grow to help support the plants as the fruit grows to full maturity.

San Marzano tomatoes take about 78 days to grow before they’re ready for harvest.  Keep them stored in a cool place, out of direct sunlight to keep them from spoiling.

When are San Marzano tomatoes in season?

San Marzano tomatoes are ripe in late summer, or about mid-August to mid-September. This depends on the climate of the area and when they were planted. Since authentic San Marzano tomatoes can only be grown in Italy, finding fresh ones during the winter months is unlikely.

How do you pick San Marzano tomatoes at the grocery store?

When you buy San Marzano tomatoes, you want to select a tomato that has even coloring and avoid those with green spots. They should feel heavy and be firm. They should have an aromatic smell, especially in the stem area. Avoid any tomatoes with noticeable blemishes such as soft spots, dark spots, and punctures in the skin.

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for San Marzano tomatoes via Instacart. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products. Shop for San Marzano tomatoes.

How to store San Marzano tomatoes

Ideally, tomatoes should be stored at room temperature. Keep them out of direct sunlight and in a single layer, stem side down, to preserve freshness. Cut tomatoes don’t last very long. Store washed and cut or sliced tomatoes in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days.

For those times when you have extra or won’t be able to use them before they go bad, you can wash, cut, and store tomatoes in a ziplock bag in the freezer. They won’t be tasty on a salad, but you can use them for tomato-based soups, casseroles, spaghetti, or tomato sauce.

When you have an abundance of tomatoes, canning them in glass jars is a great option. You can cook them into a sauce or can them whole.

How to tell if San Marzano tomatoes are bad

The best way to know if your San Marzano tomatoes have gone bad is to look at their appearance. Do you see spots? Are they moldy? Spots that are dark green or black can be the start of mold. White, fuzzy mold is also common on tomatoes when they go bad. Wrinkling skin, cuts, and bruises are also signs of a rotten tomato.

What can I substitute for San Marzano tomatoes?

When there are no San Marzano tomatoes in the fresh produce near you, the imported canned ones will make a nice substitute.

Domestically grown San Marzano tomatoes will work nicely, as will plum tomatoes, a hybrid developed from San Marzano tomatoes.

Add San Marzano tomatoes to your meals

Whether you want authentic straight-from-Italy San Marzano tomatoes or locally-grown San Marzano tomatoes, they are a great addition to your meals. Cooked up, they make wonderful tomato sauces for pizza, spaghetti, and dozens of other dishes.
Is your mouth watering for a plate of pasta? You can order San Marzano tomatoes and all the other ingredients for your meal online. Your Instacart shopper will have them ready for pick-up in 2 hours or less, or you can get same-day delivery right to your door.

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