Ingredient substitution guide
Best substitutes for tomato
Best swap for tomato: Canned diced tomatoes, drain well; best for cooked applications.
How we checked this: these swaps come from the substitution list Well Stockd uses to match recipes, and their ratios follow ordinary kitchen practice rather than one published chart. For exact amounts on many common swaps, see the NDSU and Colorado State University extension tables listed below. Editorial policy
What can I use instead of Tomato?
The best swap for Tomato is Canned Diced Tomatoes, drain well; best for cooked applications. Another option is Roma Tomato, 1:1; meatier, less watery. A third option is Cherry Tomatoes, halve; sweeter and smaller. All 3 swaps are in the table below.
| Swap | Ratio and notes |
|---|---|
| Canned diced tomatoes | drain well; best for cooked applications How to use it: One 16-ounce can, drained, stands in for about 2 cups of chopped fresh tomatoes. |
| Roma tomato | 1:1; meatier, less watery |
| Cherry tomatoes | halve; sweeter and smaller How to use it: Halve them and use the same weight as the tomatoes the recipe calls for. |
Source and limits
These swaps come from the substitution list Well Stockd uses to match recipes to your kitchen, last updated . We remove swaps known to be unsafe, but not every swap has been tested in a kitchen, and a swap is cooking guidance, not an allergen or nutrition equivalent. Check labels and what the recipe needs before substituting.
The ratios and usage notes follow ordinary kitchen practice rather than a single published chart. These two university extension tables list exact amounts for many common swaps:
- Ingredient Substitutions (FN198), NDSU Extension (opens in a new tab)
- Ingredient Substitutions (9.329), Colorado State University Extension (opens in a new tab)
Browse every ingredient and read how these swaps are sourced.
Buying more? Storage times for tomatoes