Just A Pinch Of This Ingredient Will Instantly Elevate Canned Tomato Soup

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There's no denying that a warm bowl of soup is one of the best comfort foods out there, and while there are endless recipes and flavors to choose from, canned tomato soup remains a firm favorite. Not only is it inexpensive, but it also has a long shelf life. Usually consisting of a smooth, creamy texture, a good tomato soup strikes just the right balance of sweet and sharp. But one simple ingredient can make this kitchen staple taste even better, and that's sugar. Adding just a pinch of granulated white or brown sugar to your tomato soup will cut through the tomatoes' acidity because sugar alters your tongue's perception of the ingredient's sourness.

Whether you're using a canned soup or making your own version, avoid adding too much sugar by starting off with small pinches. Try tasting your soup first and then adding a little bit of the sweetener at a time, stirring well, and then re-tasting after each addition until it balances out the acidity. Other additions can elevate your soup, too. Our 15-minute tomato soup recipe, for example, uses a can of whole tomatoes as the main ingredient, plus half-and-half, garlic powder, fresh basil, and seasonings like salt, black pepper, and oregano.

If you don't have time to make tomato soup from scratch, there are plenty of well-rated canned versions available — we've even ranked them from worst to best. One of the most popular is Organic Imagine Creamy Tomato Soup, which you can find at various grocery stories like Albertsons. According to shoppers on Amazon, fans of this soup like its strong, tomato-forward flavor and the creamy consistency, even though it doesn't use a drop of dairy. It does contain evaporated cane sugar, but you can always add more to taste.

Another canned tomato soup that comes highly recommended is Rao's Made For Home Creamy Tomato Soup. It may be pricier than other brands depending on where you buy it, but Amazon reviews describe it as "delicious and tasty," with one person calling it "the best tomato soup." The label lists 4 grams of added sugar per cup.

Of course, Campbell's Tomato Soup is a classic brand. It comes condensed, meaning a large portion of its water content has been removed. And while there are no chunks of tomato or hints of herb, this soup leaves plenty of room for sprucing up and pairs well with saltines or Goldfish crackers. One fan on Amazon wrote that this product "delivers consistent taste time after time," while another claimed it's "the best tomato soup hands down!" This condensed soup contains 12 grams of sugar per ½ cup.