Cooking Pizza Sauce - To Do or Not to Do ?

When it comes to making pizza, one of the most important decisions you'll make is whether or not to cook your pizza sauce. Some people swear by cooking their sauce, while others prefer to use it straight out of the can or jar. As a pizza lover, my personal preference is to use authentic tomato sauce of high quality whether it's ready made or I prepare it myself. So, what's the right way to do it?

First, let's talk about why you might want to cook your sauce. Cooking the sauce allows you to develop more complex flavors and can help to reduce the acidity of the tomatoes. This can be especially important if you're using a less expensive brand of canned tomatoes. By cooking the sauce, you can also eliminate any unwanted flavors or off-odors that might be present in the raw tomatoes.

On the other hand, some people prefer to use their sauce straight out of the can or jar. They argue that this method preserves the bright, fresh flavor of the tomatoes and that cooking the sauce can actually dull the flavors. Additionally, using a high-quality brand of canned tomatoes can eliminate the need to cook the sauce.

So, which method is the right one? The answer is, it depends. If you're using a lower quality brand of canned tomatoes, cooking the sauce can help to improve the flavor. However, if you're using a high-quality brand of canned tomatoes, you may be able to get away with using the sauce straight out of the can or jar.

And as mentioned, I always opt for high quality authentic tomato sauce, whether it's ready made or I prepare it myself. Ultimately, the best way to decide whether or not to cook your sauce is to try it both ways and see which method you prefer.

When you decide to cook your sauce, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, start with a small amount of sauce and add more as needed. You can always add more, but it's difficult to take away. Second, be sure to simmer the sauce gently. If the sauce is cooked too quickly or at too high a temperature, the flavors can become muted. Finally, be sure to season the sauce to your taste.

Whether or not to cook your pizza sauce is a matter of personal preference. Cooking the sauce can help to develop more complex flavors and reduce acidity, but it can also dull the flavors. While using a high-quality brand of canned tomatoes can eliminate the need to cook the sauce. Experiment with both methods and see which one you prefer, for me, I always opt for high-quality authentic tomato sauce, whether it's ready made or I prepare it myself.