Pantry Staples
Tomato Paste Conversion
Tomato Paste weighs 262g per US cup.
| Amount | Grams | Ounces |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cup | 262.0 g | 9.24 oz |
| 1/2 cup | 131.0 g | 4.62 oz |
| 1/4 cup | 65.5 g | 2.31 oz |
| 1 tbsp | 16.4 g | 0.58 oz |
| 1 tsp | 5.5 g | 0.19 oz |
| 100 g | 100.0 g | 3.53 oz |
Need a different amount? Use the full Ingredient Converter tool.
Tomato paste weighs 262 grams per cup, meaningfully heavier than tomato sauce or diced tomatoes, since paste is tomatoes cooked down for hours to remove nearly all their water content, concentrating both the flavor and the density into a thick, deep-red product.
Because it's used in small quantities almost universally — a tablespoon or two to deepen a sauce's flavor and color, rarely a full cup — this site's cup-weight figure functions mainly as a reference for scaling a recipe or converting a bulk-size can, not as a realistic single-recipe quantity, similar to how a spice's cup weight is more mathematical reference than practical measurement.
A common kitchen frustration with tomato paste is having most of a can left over after a recipe uses only a spoonful — freezing the remainder in tablespoon-sized portions (an ice cube tray works well) is the standard fix, since paste freezes cleanly and thaws quickly given how little water content it has left to form disruptive ice crystals.
A tightly resealed tube or a can transferred to a small airtight container both help limit air exposure, extending how long a partially used portion stays good.
A small spoonful stirred into a vinaigrette or marinade adds real umami depth and a subtle tang, a less common but genuinely useful application beyond its typical role in a simmered sauce.
Browning tomato paste briefly in oil or fat before adding liquid to a dish, a technique sometimes called blooming, deepens its flavor considerably through caramelization, a step many braises and curries specifically call for rather than just stirring paste directly into a liquid.
Sun-dried tomato paste, made from dried rather than fresh tomatoes, is a distinct, more concentrated and tangier product from standard tomato paste, worth distinguishing when a recipe specifies one or the other.
How long does it last?
Storage & shelf life →
Frequently asked questions
Why is tomato paste so much heavier per cup than tomato sauce?
It's been cooked down for an extended time to remove nearly all its water content, concentrating the remaining tomato solids into a much denser product than a more diluted tomato sauce or puree.
How much tomato paste equals a can of tomato sauce?
Roughly ⅓ cup tomato paste whisked with about ¾ cup water approximates 1 cup of tomato sauce — a useful reverse-substitution if you have paste on hand but not sauce.
Why do most recipes only call for a tablespoon or two of tomato paste?
Its concentrated flavor is powerful in small amounts — a spoonful adds real depth and color to a sauce or braise without needing anywhere near a full cup, which is part of why leftover paste is such a common kitchen situation.
Does tomato paste in a tube behave differently than canned paste?
Not in terms of density or flavor — tube-packaged paste is the same concentrated product, just packaged for easier portion control and resealing, which avoids the common problem of a mostly-unused can going to waste.
Can tomato paste be frozen?
Yes, and it freezes especially well given how little water content is left to disrupt with ice crystals — portioning it into tablespoon-sized amounts (an ice cube tray works well) before freezing makes it easy to use just what a recipe needs later.