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One benefit is reduced cooking time since you need to evaporate all the juices before the tomatoes start caramelizing. On the other hand, wont these juices contain flavor you might waste if thrown away?

How much flavor will I miss out on if I throw the juices?

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  • As a side suggestion, only partially related: blending tomatoes will add a lot of air (also noticeable by the change in color), making everything lighter but with less flavour. Using a vegetable "mill" will leave it with a bit more texture but also more flavour (and more colour).
    – ChatterOne
    Nov 28, 2018 at 21:16

3 Answers 3

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I would not throw any part away. There is flavor in all parts of the tomato, particularly the interior (see my comments under an alternate response below). Plus, if you are pureeing first, don't you think the flavors are being mixed, resulting in the loss of at least some flavor if you remove some part of the mixture? Simmering does indeed allow water to evaporate, but, in doing so, it concentrates flavor. How much flavor is gained or lost? I am sure this will depend on the variety, seasonality, and ripeness of your tomatoes.

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I would not throw it out! Season it and freeze the extra into ice cube trays and pop them out when frozen and place in any freezer container. When you need a punch of flavor to anything you make in the future you will have a nice addition! I use these "broth" cubes to season rice, soups or sauces that I make all year long. Just an idea.

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The watery juice on the inside of the tomato doesn't have much flavor once cooked down, the good stuff is the flesh. When making a tomato sauce the recommended process is to scoop out and discard the seeds and juice.

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  • 5
    Beg to differ...Get a quality tomato, in season. Taste the flesh only. Then, taste the seeds and interior "juice" / gel separately. I think you may find the opposite to be true. There is a great deal of flavor in the interior of the tomato. Also, tomato water (crush a few ripe tomatoes, let them hang in cheesecloth over a container) is highly flavorful.
    – moscafj
    Nov 28, 2018 at 14:22
  • I agree with you @moscafj, it's why I grow tomatoes, however that juice doesn't cook down into a good sauce.
    – GdD
    Nov 28, 2018 at 14:43

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