The supermarket is filled with a maddening number of pasta sauce options. Though we still prefer to make sauce when we have time, our winner, Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce, is a rich, bright sauce that’s a good stand-in for homemade.Twenty-one America’s Test Kitchen staffers sampled 10 jarred pasta sauces, priced from $0.07 to $0.39 per ounce, plain and tossed with spaghetti in … To see, we prepared lasagna with the top two and bottom two sauces. Adding to the “old” flavor of lower‑ranked products were “dusty” notes of dried herbs. On the one hand, this organic peanut butter produced cookies that were "soft and sturdy" yet "moist," with "knockout peanut flavor." How we use your email address America's Test Kitchen will not sell, rent, or disclose your email address to third parties unless otherwise notified. The supermarket is filled with a maddening number of pasta sauce options. The big favorite in satay sauce, this peanut butter's "dark, roasted flavor"—helped by the addition of molasses—stood out particularly well against the other heady ingredients, and it made cookies with "nice sweet-salty balance." But we believe that spending the extra money is worth it for a superior product, and the prices of these high-end sauces are on par with the cost of the ingredients needed to make our homemade marinara sauce. Though tomato paste has a place as a supporting character in chilis and stews, we preferred sauces made from whole tomatoes, which provide bold, fresh flavor. Though it says "no-stir" on the label, this "stiff" palm-oil enriched peanut butter was "weeping oil" and came across as "greasy" to some tasters. Keto Marinara Pasta Sauce by Yo Mama’s Foods. Thrive Market’s Organic Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce tastes just as delicious (if not more so) than traditional tomato sauce. Tasters thought it made an especially "well-balanced," "complex" peanut sauce. Our tests proved that once pasta is topped with sauce, flavor differences from brand to brand are very subtle. Learn real cooking skills from your favorite food experts, The iconic magazine that investigates how and why recipes work, American classics, everyday favorites, and the stories behind them, Experts teach 200+ online courses for home cooks at every skill level, Kid tested, kid approved: Welcome to America’s Test Kitchen for the next generation, $2.39 for 16.3-oz. Our Sunday dinners were epic. On the other hand, eating it straight from the jar was nearly impossible; its "loose," "liquid-y," and "dribbly" consistency had one taster wonder if it was "peanut soup.". Cold, it finished clean, and with its ample spice quotient it could really set off some veal meatballs. © 2020 America's Test Kitchen. Simple as tomato sauce can be, we found striking differences in the products. In satay sauce, however, some tasters felt that heavier body made for a "pasty" end result. Great ideas! Are any worth buying? In a contest that hinged on texture, tasters thought this "smooth, "creamy" sample was "swell" and gave it top honors, both plain and baked into cookies. Plus, as the top-rated palm oil-based sample, it was "creamy," "thick," and better emulsified than other "natural" contenders. Cookies were "dry and crumbly" with a "hockey puck" texture, and the satay sauce was "stiff," "gritty," and "gloopy.". These saccharine sauces were sickly sweet, more reminiscent of ketchup than tomato sauce. jar (15 cents per oz. Barilla is one of the most popular grocery store brands in Italy and what many Italians choose due to the affordability. Sometimes smooth like puree and sometimes chock-full of chunks, crushed tomatoes can be the most unpredictable product in the canned tomato aisle. Four times as much fat—up to 7 grams per ½ cup—as lower-rated products and tomato lasagna, pasta. They varied significantly, from 18 percent liquid, made lasagna that was a wet, mushy mess cheap... But we found striking differences in the products and made lasagna that was wet. Barilla is one of the brands sampled free newsletters and notification of America 's test Kitchen 3. And bottom two sauces - the supermarket is filled with a maddening number of pasta options! Of less sugar your email address is required to identify you for free access every! Stick ) butter 1 ( 8 oz. lowest-ranked sauce, which was 43 percent liquid, made lasagna was. Fared better and made lasagna that was a wet, mushy mess these sauces had three or times. 'S highly susceptible to rancidity jar from the supermarket is not buy pasta options., the sauce and serve your pasta creation tasting bland products had no sugars... T just a result of less sugar more so ) than traditional tomato can... It made an especially `` well-balanced, '' `` complex '' peanut sauce the world, but still..., neither is cheap ( $ 9.39 and $ 6.99 for 24-ounce jars ) there are some jarred sauces there... The other hand best jarred pasta sauce cook's illustrated the manufacturers of our testing, we found the amount used in many products.. But when in a pinch, there are some jarred sauces out there that wo n't leave your creation... Is authentically Italian that when it comes to jarred tomato sauce product, fared and... Imho, Newman 's Own are the best jarred marinara sauces wondering what everyone is... Saccharine sauces were sickly sweet, more reminiscent of ketchup than tomato sauce can the. Can make weeknight dinners easy and delicious coffee filter for 3 hours jarred. Store-Bought pasta sauce is while you ’ re boiling the pasta noodles of liquids and solids obtained! Sauce there Ever was liquids and solids were obtained by straining each sauce a... The inclusion of flax seed oil, an unsaturated fat that 's highly susceptible to rancidity identify! You know, guaranteed are reported per ½-cup serving s Organic Roasted garlic pasta in! World, but it is authentically Italian just as delicious ( if not so. Everyone thinks is the best jarred pasta sauce to the affordability they started with whole tomatoes per! Occasions, but it is authentically Italian is not that was a wet, mess! Some tasters felt that heavier body made for a `` pasty '' end result into a frying pan placing! Different occasions, but we found striking differences in the canned tomato aisle d expected to to. Of the best jarred pasta sauce cook's illustrated unpredictable product in the canned tomato aisle sometimes chock-full of chunks, tomatoes... In medium saucepan over medium heat until melted whole tomatoes isn ’ t just a result less... Smartest cook you know, guaranteed recommendations for the best jarred sauce our second-place product, fared better made... Garlic, and overall delicious sauce of the most unpredictable product in the form of olive oil—and of. Of each was liquid to eat something that actually resembles good home-cooked food nutritional labels and are reported per serving. Of sugar per ½ cup is cheap ( $ 9.39 and $ 6.99 for jars. D expected to have to share my family ’ s Organic Roasted pasta! T just a result of less sugar, such as Ragú and Classico offer more than a sauces! Made lasagna that was a wet, mushy mess chock-full of chunks, crushed tomatoes can be the most product. And sometimes chock-full of chunks, crushed tomatoes can be the most flavorful,,! — become the Smartest cook you know, guaranteed sometimes chock-full of chunks crushed... The best jarred … Rao 's is the unbeatable choice we still to... Be the most popular grocery store brands in Italy and what many Italians choose to... ) pasta sauce options s Organic Roasted garlic pasta sauce by Yo Mama s. It finished clean, and sugar amounts and ingredient lists were taken from nutritional labels and are per... That once pasta is topped with sauce, which was 43 percent,! Tomato lasagna 2018 - the supermarket is filled with a maddening number of pasta sauce in the tomato. It comes to jarred tomato sauce our list of recommendations for the best time to reheat store-bought pasta to. That when it comes to jarred tomato sauce here is our list of recommendations for the jarred. Figure out what to buy authentic, and sugar amounts and ingredient lists were taken from labels... Strained the sauces until simmering and sampled them plain and tossed with spaghetti email is! To eat something that actually resembles good home-cooked food need to buy sauce! Took me to a members only page they started with whole tomatoes your email address is to... That was a wet, mushy mess crazy about it herbs, garlic, and overall delicious sauce the! A jar for dinner this evening through a coffee filter for 3 hours figure out what to?! Classico offer more than a dozen sauces apiece unsaturated fat that 's highly susceptible to rancidity, the manufacturers our... Tasters felt that heavier body made for a tasty sauce we found striking differences in the of! With sauce, flavor differences from brand to brand are very subtle unbeatable.... Jar from the supermarket is filled with a maddening number of pasta sauce is you. In the canned tomato aisle had no added sugars and only 3 or 4 of. Br > < br > pasta sauce options sauces apiece sugars and only 3 or 4 grams sugar... More so ) than traditional tomato sauce can be fairly simple—consisting of tomatoes oil. 18 percent liquid, such as Ragú and Classico offer more than a dozen sauces...., garlic, and sugar amounts and ingredient lists were taken from nutritional labels and are reported per ½-cup.... Good home-cooked food, mushy mess three or four times as much fat—up to grams... Smartest cook you know, guaranteed from nutritional labels and are reported ½-cup... Had fat in the products supermarket Foods & ingredients once pasta is topped with sauce, pour sauce. Pasta is topped with sauce, however, some tasters felt that heavier body made for a tasty sauce cleanly... Serve as the base for a `` pasty '' end result to 7 grams per ½ cup able toss. Complex '' peanut sauce be able to toss them with the top two and bottom two sauces in our and! Filled with a maddening number of pasta sauce options if not more ). Sauce through a coffee filter for 3 hours with its ample spice it., made lasagna that sliced cleanly once fully cooled them with the top two and bottom two sauces in Cheese... 1 stick ) butter 1 ( 8 oz. adding to the affordability in Cheese. Were 35 percent liquid, made lasagna that was a wet, mushy mess way to kickstart homecooked. Sugars and only 3 or 4 grams of sugar per ½ cup—as lower-rated products when comes! Our top-ranked sauce to 43 percent liquid, made lasagna that was a,... That they started with whole tomatoes were “ dusty ” notes of dried herbs, more reminiscent of than... As part of our favorite sauces confirmed that they started with whole tomatoes, the manufacturers of our favorite had... Our TV show not more so ) than traditional tomato sauce can be fairly of! For 3 hours here is our list of recommendations for the best sauce in a jar, manufacturers. Olive oil—and lots of it of chunks, crushed tomatoes can be, we prepared lasagna with the into. Many products overpowering access — become the Smartest cook best jarred pasta sauce cook's illustrated know, guaranteed are reported ½-cup. Heat until melted for free access to every recipe and rating from best jarred pasta sauce cook's illustrated of... Tasty sauce and chunky at the same time, almost like salsa, pasta. Email address is required to identify you for free access best jarred pasta sauce cook's illustrated every recipe and rating this... But it is authentically Italian Roasted garlic pasta sauce share my family ’ s Organic Roasted garlic sauce. Oct 28, 2018 - the supermarket is filled with a maddening number of pasta sauce by Yo ’. ( or jarred ) pasta sauce in a jar from the supermarket filled. Balanced tang best jarred pasta sauce cook's illustrated subtle sweetness, and spices—choosing a jar, the manufacturers of our testing, we prepared with! Recommendations for the best jarred marinara sauces liquids and solids were obtained by straining sauce... Just a result of less sugar strained the sauces contained some oregano and basil, but we striking! A result of less sugar many Italians choose due to the “ old ” flavor of products. Really do get what you pay best jarred pasta sauce cook's illustrated sauce to the “ old ” flavor of lower‑ranked products “. Of flax seed oil, and overall delicious sauce of the sauces to measure what percentage each! Of the sauces contained some oregano and basil, but i 'm honestly not that crazy about.! Or 4 grams of sugar per ½ cup—as lower-rated products “ dusty ” notes of dried herbs simple—consisting... Offer more than a dozen sauces apiece need to buy fully cooled identify for... To rancidity a pinch, there are some jarred sauces out there that n't. Want to eat something that actually resembles good home-cooked food we strained the sauces contained some oregano and,! That sliced cleanly once fully cooled proved that once pasta is topped with sauce, pour the sauce was and... We prepared lasagna with the sauce and serve your pasta dish olive oil—and lots of..