8

I used some canned tomatoes to make chili, which normally works fine, but today it has a really strong metallic flavor. From what I can tell, this is just because they're probably low-quality, so I won't be using this brand again.

Anyway, is there anything I can do to save this chili? I didn't notice the flavor until I added everything else.

Improve this question
1
  • Agree to Walter, the metallic taste told you something and you should throw it out. I'd try to avoid eating canned things at all. You can boil fresh tomatoes instead, couldn't you?
    – Tomas
    Commented Oct 18, 2011 at 10:21

8 Answers 8

Reset to default
7

Metallic taste is due to the tannins in the tomato pomace and skins. A pinch of baking soda will alleviate the problem.

Improve this answer
3
  • Interesting! Can you link to a source?
    – Jolenealaska ♦
    Commented Sep 6, 2014 at 21:51
  • Been making marinara sauce with canned tomatoes for years - first time I used a tiny bit if baking soda so it would be quick. Amazed - it is perfect. Thanks for the tip!
    – user39748
    Commented Oct 2, 2015 at 22:23
  • Too much baking soda, though, will likely cause a metallic taste :)
    – rackandboneman
    Commented Nov 23, 2015 at 9:52
5

the strong metallic taste is telling you something. This something is don't eat me. I suggest you listen. No, seriously, if it tastes like metal it is probably because some of the can material leached into the tomatoes. Although it might not hurt you, I still would not eat it.

Improve this answer
1
  • A bit unscientific, but I tend to agree. Listen to your gut, failing that, your nose!
    – mahalie
    Commented Oct 20, 2011 at 18:05
2

I've tried the baking soda and ruined the entire dish.. I would not suggest that.. I find a bit of brown sugar. and extra spices,, and cooking it like mad will reduce it.. I wont buy canned again as using fresh is the only answer here.. but those of us with cans in the pantry still want to use them up somehow..

Improve this answer
3
  • 1
    The sugar and spices suggestion does sound reasonable. But I wouldn't say this means you should never buy canned - it just means you've probably found a brand to avoid. I've never had any problems with metallic tastes from cans.
    – Cascabel ♦
    Commented Oct 27, 2014 at 17:10
  • Fresh tomatoes will likely be even more acidic since they are rarely as ripe as good quality canned brands. Given that you want acidity in most tomato based dishes, but want it in a balance, sugar (balances) will be better than soda (neutralizes). Watch Alton Brown's episode on tomato sauces and marvel at the boatload of sugar he adds! Btw, if something is BITTER in a dish - and some bitter tastes might be described as "metallic" ... the other "metallics" are alkaline (baking soda will make it worse), or actual metal (use a magnet idk) - SALT is what you want.
    – rackandboneman
    Commented Nov 23, 2015 at 10:00
  • 1
    I find it hard to believe you could ruin an entire dish with a pinch of baking soda.
    – Johannes
    Commented Sep 28, 2016 at 19:21
1

A little bit of baking soda will offset the pH of the tomatoes. Check out the relative pH of baking soda versus tomatoes and it should give you an idea of how much to use. Salt may also work. But in my experience, to get canned tomatoes tasting nice, you need to reduce them like crazy to break down the pectins and get the original flavor.

Improve this answer
3
  • 1
    So the metallic taste is due to acid?
    – Dr. belisarius
    Commented Oct 17, 2011 at 23:41
  • 1
    I think most people here are well aware of the acidity of tomatoes, but I don't see how that's relevant to this particular issue.
    – Aaronut
    Commented Oct 18, 2011 at 0:11
  • 1
    I am quite sure that this is not the issue. A metal is alkalic in itself. Metal taste is actually created when a metal reacts with more complex organic molecules, but no acid is involved at any point.
    – rumtscho ♦
    Commented Oct 18, 2011 at 18:42
1

I was making green chili, I used oregano, onions, garlic, cumin, pork, fresh jalapeno, salt and pepper. I decided to add a little tomato puree (Hunts brand) and that is when the problem appeared, the metallic taste. I added sugar which did not solve the issue, I then added some chili powder which didn't change the taste. I really don't want to toss it. Maybe I will try a little vinegar. Thanks for all the tips.

Improve this answer
1
  • While this is not a direct answer telling us what to do, I think it does contain valuable information for the readers: the answerer tried two more or less obvious ideas and they did not work. So I think we can leave it undeleted as a partial answer.
    – rumtscho ♦
    Commented Mar 25, 2015 at 10:37
0

I agree with the "don't eat" answers.

But if you still want to save your chili and eat it, you can add some sugar, and cook for at least 20 mins more.

Improve this answer
-1

If you are using tomato paste, you absolutely have to let it cook for about 3-5 minutes before or for forever after you add the liquid. Tomato paste will, no matter how fresh, have a tinny/metallic taste to it. You have to cook that taste out before you add broth, tomato sauce, or water to it. At least that is what Rachel Ray says.

Improve this answer
3
  • Generally accepted lore with tomato paste is that cooking it for about a minute will remove the sharpness. I have no experience of metallic taste myself. Making such bold claims without backing them up will earn peoploe downvotes around here.
    – Richard ten Brink
    Commented Jun 25, 2015 at 7:02
  • Thanks for the answer, but I was asking about (whole) canned tomatoes, not tomato paste. I think the tomato paste flavor is something different than this metallic taste.
    – Brendan Long
    Commented Jun 25, 2015 at 7:13
  • If anything, the version of that piece of lore that I am aware of is that you should not just cook, but fry the tomato paste with the aromatics.
    – rackandboneman
    Commented Nov 23, 2015 at 9:54
-1

I got that "tinney" taste from a pasta sauce that came out of a glass JAR! Usually a pinch of sugar does the trick but not today. After reading some of the above suggestions i decided on a pinch or two of baking soda and it worked like magic. Delicioso!!!

BTW: if canned tomato sauce tastes "tinney" it doesn't mean its gone bad. Canned food has been known to last over a hundred years.

http://www.prepper-resources.com/canned-food-expiration-date-myth/

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    Canned food has been known to turn bad, too. That canned food can last long, does not mean that a specific can cannot turn bad. Also, this answer does not provide anything new, baking soda was already suggested.
    – John Hammond
    Commented Oct 31, 2015 at 12:15

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.