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Fire-roasted diced tomatoes

2 years ago

So I am making a stuffed pepper recipe for the first time. It called for fire-roasted diced tomatoes. I bought organic by Cento.


I never have used Fire-roasted diced tomatoes (suspicious of mass produced roasted/grilled anything ... eg the stripes on Sysco chicken breast, eww).


The can is good until 2028, no dents or bulges. But when I opened it up and (alas) poured it in, it smelled like ... bandaids? bathing caps? Hard to place. They look normal.


Do fire-roasted diced tomatoes have an unusual smell in your experience? Found nothing on Google.

Comments (21)

  • 2 years ago

    I use the Muir Glen fire roasted diced tomatoes all the time and really like them in recipes. I have never noticed anything off about them.

  • 2 years ago

    Ditto.

  • 2 years ago

    Hmm. I added more garlic and more spices. I added parm. I added a pinch of baking soda, a pinch of sugar, and a splash of balsmaic. I no longer have any idea what I am making here.


    I don't think they are baaaad. But I have been too close to this situation and my judgement is impaired. May need to bring in a tester.

  • 2 years ago

    I took a cooking class with a friend last night. One of the dishes was an artichoke dip and my friend was telling the instructor that she had made an artichoke dip once that smelled so bad, people at the gathering were blaming the dog. 🤣 The instructor asked if she had used marinated artichokes, since you should use only plain (these were canned). I thought that was interesting/strange…and now we have band-aid scented canned tomatoes. Weird.

  • 2 years ago

    Like sas95 I usually use Muir Glen fire roasted diced tomatoes and they never sell strange to me. They are quite good.


    Sueb20 that's interesting! I've only made artichoke dip once, now I'm wondering if I used marinated or plain!

  • 2 years ago

    Only tried fire roasted once a long time ago. They had a weird taste and smell. I don't remember what brand. I've avoided them ever since.

    I've bought fire roasted red peppers and don have any issues with those. I have a nose like a bloodhound though.

  • 2 years ago

    Cento came in #2 of 14 here, and #1 I did not see at my store.https://www.mashed.com/736313/canned-tomato-brands-ranked-worst-to-best/

  • 2 years ago

    I have a nose like a bloodhound though.


    LOL me too.

  • 2 years ago

    I prefer fire roasted for most dishes and I haven't encountered anything bad.

  • 2 years ago

    I have been using canned artichoke hearts (i.e., not marinated) in my dips and artichoke squares, the latter being a little meh lately. A friend of mine brought some artichoke squares over to my house and they were a million times better than mine. Asked for her recipe. It was identical to mine, except she used marinated hearts.

  • 2 years ago

    I‘ve used the muir glen roasted tomatoes but never get the punch of flavor that i hope for. i detest canned artichoke hearts & rosted peppers thinking they just taste like the can. Frozen artichoke hearts or baby chokes should be more available.

  • 2 years ago

    Whole Foods carries Bianco DiNapoli. I've tried it a couple times, but keep going back to Cento.

  • 2 years ago

    I'm a long time Muir Glen user too. No issues with them ever - including scent that I've perceived. If what you've used offends you, you can always substitute regular tomatoes and add a pinch of smoked paprika to your dish for a not-the-same but similar flavor.

  • 2 years ago

    I’ve never used fire roasted tomatoes for anything. WhenI want a punch of i tense to ato flavor I use either sundried tomatoes (reconstituted in stock or wine depending on the recipe, or the olive oil packed ones, drained) or my own ”tomato jam,” i.e. roasted tomatoes with garlic and evoo and a tiny drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

  • 2 years ago

    I had a cocktail once, and I didn't like it. And the waiter noticed I wasn't drinking it and asked why and I said "It tastes like the drawer in my parents' bathroom where the ace bandages and heating pad were kept, smelled. It's not a terrible smell, but I don't want to drink it."

    He smelled it and said "I can see that."

    mtnrdredux_gw thanked palimpsest
  • 2 years ago

    I bought a sheepskin last fall and forgot to send it back on time but it smelled terrible and I kept it out on the screened in porch over the winter and it looked great. I recently brought it in and sniffed it and as I was sniffing it in the kitchen, my dog jumped into the air, sniffed it and ran back into the bedroom for the rest of the day.

    Haha

  • 2 years ago

    Pal, you need to enter that description in Proust spoof competion (since they do Hemmingway and Joyce I’m hopeful that a Proust one exists also).

  • 2 years ago

    I've used them plenty of times - thinking it was likely Muir Glen, or a store brand - always organic. They do have an odd aroma, I agree - it's not smoky, and I don't really care for the hard blackened bits (peels?) in there either.

    Sometimes they include chilis or basil - did yours?

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    When I use diced tomatoes, I just use the Hunts with no seasoning. I suspect the "fire roasted" uses something like liquid smoke, that I hate, to make it seem like it is grilled.

    I like the petite diced.

  • 2 years ago

    Too funny, Pal.


    Sherry, I also detest liquid smoke and wondered if that might be it. I am buying another can just out of curiosity. If it has the same smell, I can stop worrying. If it does not, I will let the mfr know. I kept the can; even empty I am getting bandaid.


    Meanwhile my DS loved them. He took a picture of them (?) because he said he might want to make them. LOL. I didn't mention bandaids and it did not come up. Maybe it is like people who think cilantro=soap.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    It's funny the things we can associate with unfamiliar smells. For instance, the other day Hubby said something smelled like tar after I'd just finished using Method bathroom cleaner 😀

    P.S. Fire-roasted is not smoky. I suspect it's a gas flame like that used for 'flame-broiled' burgers - which also have a sort of strange plastic-y smell to me.