Why you don’t need to buy those expensive jars of pasta sauce

A jar of pasta sauce can be really convenient, but they can be a bit pricy. So we’re here with good news - you don’t need them.

Tinned tomatoes or passata are just as easy to cook and much, much cheaper.

A branded jar of pasta sauce can cost about £3 in the supermarket.

But tinned tomatoes only costs around 40p, while passata costs about 50p.

So if you enjoy pasta dishes regularly, like spaghetti bolognese and lasagna, making this simple swap could save you lots of money.

A healthier choice

As an added bonus, tinned tomatoes or passata are much healthier than ready-made pasta sauces.

Remember a few years ago when Dolmio said that some products should only be consumed once a week because of their high salt, sugar or fat content?

By contrast, tinned tomatoes and passata count as one of your five a day.

Easy to cook

The good news doesn’t end there.

You might think a jar of pasta sauce is easy because it’s low effort.

But it’s no more or less difficult to cook with tinned tomatoes or passata.

Instead of opening a jar, you just open the tin or carton and pour that into a pan instead.

Add your own flavour

Another way to keep costs down is to keep a few dried herbs and spices in your cupboard, such as basil, oregano, garlic granules and chilli flakes.

So instead of paying extra for a pasta sauce with added herbs, just get some tinned tomatoes or passata and add your own.

And since you’ve got jars of your favourite herbs and spices in your cupboard, you can use them again and again across lots of different meals, so it’s much more cost-effective.

A simple swap that makes a real difference

Sometimes, the easiest swaps are the ones that save the most.

And this certainly counts.

It’s cheaper, just as straightforward to cook and healthier than what you might normally get, so it’s a winner all round.