How many times have you placed a can of half-used tomato paste in your fridge, only to find it months later in the back corner, hiding behind a bottle of ketchup, completely unusable thanks to the thick layer of black mold that has formed atop? Be honest. There's no reason to be ashamed. The truth is, it happens to all of us. And it's not really our fault, either. Often times, when you open a can of tomato paste, you really only need one to two tablespoons, but there is so much more in the can.
Whether you're enhancing your tomato sauce or making a tomato-based soup, most of us open that small can of paste fully intending to finish it up later on in the week in another recipe. And then it happens. We forget. It gets lost in the fridge, only to resurface once it's too late. And while it isn't a major financial loss -- most cans of tomato paste cost under a buck -- it's frustrating in its wastefulness.
But alas, there's a solution -- and it doesn't require that you eat tomato-based meals every day. It's much simpler than that. It's tomato paste in a tube instead of a can. I know. This isn't revolutionary. You've probably passed by this item at the grocery store numerous times. But in a way, it'll change your life. If you spend an extra couple of bucks on a tube you'll have a supply of tomato paste at the ready -- and one that will sustain for a much longer period of time.
If you are not convinced about converting to the tube, watch the video below for another solution.