Tomato paste tubes stay fresh for weeks thanks to an airtight cap. Tubes let you squeeze small amounts, helping reduce food waste. Canned paste is more economical for recipes that use larger amounts.

Basically, tomato paste is what happens when you cook down tomatoes for a long time, removing as much water as possible, as well as their seeds and skin. It's just super concentrated tomato.

We’re not going to beat around the bush here: Tomato paste is kind of weird. The putty-like tomato gloop looks like something you’d find in a hobby shop or the dental care aisle of your drug store.