Value for money: Tinned tomatoes

This week Conor Popetakes a look at tinned tomatoes

Tesco Value Tomatoes

0.26 for 400g, €0.65 per kg

Highs:These are the cheapest tinned tomatoes we were able to source and they are just about grand. The juice has what might be described as a delicate flavour and the four full-sized tomatoes and two bitty little pieces have a fairly robust texture. Like all the others they were harvested and canned in Italy.

Lows:While the juice might be described as having a delicate flavour, it might also be considered a little tasteless. Tesco has managed to source the only tomatoes in Italy that look like tomatoes but taste like air. Of course, tinned tomatoes like this are generally destined to end up in a sauce rather than be eaten unaccompanied. We weighed the contents of the tin and there seemed to be just 350g, rather than 400g.

Verdict:Very cheap and taste-free

Star rating: ***

Fratelli Longobardi Pomodori Pelati

1.60 for 400g, €4 per kg

Highs:This tin contains six of the most ridiculously juicy tomatoes Pricewatch has ever encountered - just poking one to test it for texture sent a stream of tomato juice flying across the room. They also taste very good and despite having spent God knows how long in a tin, they have a freshness about them that the competition lacks. This can has the simplest and shortest ingredient list and is without a doubt a fine product.

Lows:It is, however, way too dear. Admittedly this was the only brand not bought in a big supermarket, which probably added a few bob to its price, but even still there is no way we could justify spending 1.60 on a can when so many cheaper - and almost as good - tomatoes are on the market.

Verdict:Very good but very dear

Star rating: ***

Roma Organic Whole Peeled Plum Tomatoes

€0.96 for 400g, €2.40 per kg

Highs:This organic tin of tomatoes costs six cent more than Roma's non-organic equivalent which seems like a price worth paying for a product free from pesticides and chemicals. There are seven full-sized tomatoes in the tin and it was the only brand to exceed the 400g promised, albeit by a tiny margin. The tomatoes are juicy and filled with flavour and the juice has nice fresh flavour to it. It is also the most widely available brand out there.

Lows:While it is mid-priced, you still have to wonder why it costs 70 cent more than the cheapest brand on the market.

Verdict:A juicy eco-friendly option

Star rating:****

Carlini Peeled Plum Tomatoes from Aldi

€0.29 for 400g, €0.72 per kg

Highs:Like the Tesco Value tomatoes, these really are remarkably cheap and certainly present a viable low-cost alternative to the more recognisable brands on the market. The tin we opened contained just four tomatoes, one of which was absolutely enormous and fit to burst. The juice was also very thick and rich looking.

Lows:While the juice was thick there was also a touch of tin about it too. While this metallic flavour was quite subtle and something you'd hardly notice unless you actually spooned it into you, as we had to do for the purposes of this taste test, we were still mightily unimpressed. Add to that the fairly acidic aftertaste and we were left struggling to find any tomato flavours at all.

Verdict:Just a little too tinny

Star rating: **

Dunnes Stores Peeled Plum Tomatoes

€0.63 for 400g, €1.57 per kg

Highs:Dunnes has managed to get the balance of price and taste about right here. These tomatoes taste nearly as good as the more upmarket brands and there is no trace of the metallic and acidic flavours that are to be found in some of the cheaper options. The eight small tomatoes are swimming in a thick, gloopy juice which has a nice sharp and tangy flavour actually reminiscent of tomatoes.

Lows:Unlike the Roma brand which is available everywhere, these are limited to Dunnes Stores outlets which might not be entirely convenient. While all the tomatoes retain their shape when poured into a bowl, they completely fell apart when they were picked up, although to be fair this didn't make a blind bit of difference to the taste.

Verdict:Good value

Star rating: ****