We tested 12 supermarket marinara sauces. Only one was a clear winner.

[Nittersing]

I never heard of Rao's before... guess I'll try it.

https://wapo.st/40gSt3k (gift link to Wapo article)

12. Hunt’s Traditional
10. (tie) Ragu Old World Style Traditional Sauce
10. (tie) Classico Marinara with Plum Tomatoes and Olive Oil
9. Prego Traditional
8. Newman’s Own Marinara
7. Great Value Marinara (Walmart brand)
6. Mezzetta Marinara
5. Carbone Marinara
4. 365 Organic Marinara (Whole Foods brand)
3. Bertolli Traditional Marinara
2. Trader Joe’s Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce
1. Rao’s Homemade Marinara

"Some people might be lucky enough to spend a Sunday afternoon with a pot of pasta sauce simmering away on the stove (or have a nonna to do it for them). But for many of us, the route to pasta with red sauce goes through the grocery aisle.

Americans love marinara — to the tune of the $496 million they spent last year on the stuff, according to research firm NielsenIQ. And the shelves are overflowing with options, leaving shoppers with questions: Should they stick with childhood staples? (I know people who grew up in Prego Houses and others who considered themselves Ragu People.) Should they splurge on the proliferating number of upscale offerings?

To help solve those mid-aisle conundrums, we first identified the top-selling brands in the United States (we relied on Chicago-based research firm IRI, which compiled data from grocery, drug, mass-market, convenience, military, and select club and dollar retailers, and covered the year ending in December.) The list included “private label,” or store brands, so we scooped up a few popular choices from that category and pitted them all against one another in a big blind tasting."

[Scrivener7]

1. I have to say, I don't like Rao's.

Trader Joe's is good though. But when I make my own, I tend to go a little sweeter.

[efhmc]

4. Yuck. Sweet is why I do not like store brands.

I am in Texas and look for the brand with the least sugar if I buy store brands. I like the HEB brand. Total sugar 6mg and no added sugar for many of the choices.

[yellowdogintexas]

23. HEB brand is good! That is one of the HEB items sold at Central Market

and is very good!

We don't have a regular HEB near us (like 20 miles) but if I am in CM I grab some HEB items and of course stock up on spices from the bulk area.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

24. Raos?.. Used to add it to homemade sauce.

Now skip it, why bother? What happens to sauce when you put in jar?

To me, fresher the better. Only when there are good tomatoes tho. Salt, olive oil, maybe fresh basil. Or sprinkled on top since so strong changes flavor of sauce. Done . If you watch cooking shows in Italy that's what they do. Think they make the pasta and cheese the star. Now I need a pasta machine

[dweller]

2. I discovered it by accident

or actually by convenience … they make a small jar, perfect for 1 person.


✌🏻

[elleng]

9. That's important.

[Nittersing]

15. I've started freezing leftovers in an ice cube tray

And then dumping the tomato cubes in a large zip-lock bag. Two or three cubes are good for a single serving.

[Wingus Dingus]

3. I like Mezzetta. I add just a little pinch of sugar

and some hot pepper flakes or dried basil to it (I doctor up just about everything though). It's got a heavy/intense tomato-paste flavor that I prefer.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

25. Did you know that salt makes tomatoes sweeter?

[Wingus Dingus]

27. No! I assume processed foods are salty already, so I wouldn't think

to add salt to a jarred sauce, but if I was making my own, definitely add salt. Tomatoes are pretty bland without it. The pinch of sugar is to reduce acidity because Mezzetta doesn't add any kind of sugar.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

28. Oh I was thinking unprocessed tomatoes sorry.

Yes salt makes fresh tomatoes sweeter.

Tad of baking soda will reduce acidity too

[Wingus Dingus]

29. I might consider using a pinch of baking soda then. I don't

really want a sweet flavor in my tomato sauce.

[Siwsan]

5. I plant Marinara and San Marzano tomatoes and make my own sauce.

It's lovely.

[MontanaMama]

11. I tried growing San Marzano's last summer.

Our growing season just is not long enough….I know that tomato makes the best sauce so I was really disappointed.

[MANative]

6. I've used Rao's for a couple of years and really like it

It's on the pricey side, though, so I buy it at Costco where it's about 30% less than at my local supermarkets. The jars are slightly larger, too, (about 4 ounces more) so there's more sauce to love!

[Alexander Of Assyria]

7. Review of the worst rated one....LOL! Hunts Traditional...brutal.

… we all agreed. Another consensus? Bland, bland, bland. “This is not tomato sauce,” said one taster. “I refuse to implicate tomatoes in this tragedy.” (Price: $2.09/ 24 ounces at Giant)

[Deuxcents]

8. I use Publix brand Traditional sauce..I like it better than anything I've tried..

And it’s less expensive

[no_hypocrisy]

10. Vanessa Trump was able to divorce Jr. b/c

Of her inheritance derived from Rao’s.

[MontanaMama]

12. Our Costco carries Rao's.

I bought some but haven’t tried it yet.

[usonian]

13. From Mom's kitchen:

1 large can tomatoes, or puree, and 1 can tomato paste.
Oil -
1 clove garlic (whole)

• Heat oil in pan, add garlic, and cook a little while, and then discard garlic.
• Add tomato and paste and salt, to taste with a little pepper if you wish.
• Add dried parsley ( a pinch) or a large sprig of fresh parsley.
• Cook about 1/2 hour.

Some recipes recommend onions (I seem to recall onions) and some recommend basil (yum!), but we reserved oregano for pizza sauce.

"Store" sauce seems too thick for dishes like Cianfotta a.k.a. Giambotta, Italian vegetable stew.

To the point, Trader Joe's and 365 brand work ok for store-bought. I don't recall using the Bertolli recently. Simple is beautiful. Michael's of Brooklyn is on the pricey side ($11/32 oz.) and keeps it simple. I cook for one, and a jar lasts a while, so price is not a big deal.

[Jade Fox]

14. Bought a jar of Francis Ford Coppola marinara sauce once out of curiosity....

It was quite pricey, but delicious.

[XanaDUer2]

16. We eat Rao's nt

[gab13by13]

17. #1 Bertolli Organic Marinara.

None better.

[ProfessorGAC]

22. We Use Bertolli Too

For a quick dinner, dressing up the marinara or alfredo makes for a quick, hearty dinner.
They make a good product, though I admit I use it as a base Nit a finished product.

[Jirel]

18. All, including Rao's, are crap brands.

When you’re comparing crap supermarket brands, Rao’s might outdo done others. But I’d never use the stuff. It’s less artificial tasting than some, but that doesn’t make it actually good.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

26. Why does simple sauce get ruined in a jar? Always

Wondered that.

[cyclonefence]

19. A big can of Hunt's Crushed Tomatoes

plus a little olive oil. Delicious.

[rsdsharp]

20. Rao's is a restaurant in NYC. It's almost a private club, as their tables are "owned"

by long term clients. I’ve never tried the sauce, but Ina Garten recommends it, for whatever that may be worth.

[Unwind Your Mind]

21. We like the Trader Joe's vodka sauce

Fresh chunky tomato deliciousness