# Best store-bought spaghetti sauce? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999 "2008-02-17T18:40:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2008, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/41 "2008-02-18T21:41:02Z")
I like the “B” brands – Barilla and Bertolli and, um, Paul Newman. Here’s a hint to tomato-up the jarred sauces … thow in a half a can of petite diced tomatoes! If you have fresh basil or rosemary it really makes a huge difference. Barilla is very inexpensive and I think it’s pretty darn good. ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/42 "2008-02-19T16:26:10Z")
Classico, carmelized onion. Yum. I’d buy Rao’s but I think I would be wasting money on my 3 and 6 year olds. Anyone know a good jarred pesto sauce? My son loves pesto, but I need fresh basil, so he isn’t getting any homemade until the summer. We’ve tried Classico and it was awful. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/43 "2008-02-19T17:52:30Z")
To come back to this, I had forgotten about Rao’s and Muir Glen. Both are good but waaay too spendy for me. The best thing when looking for pasta sauce is to look at the ingredients. The lower down on the list tomato paste is, the better. The best sauces have none. The paste is what gives bad sacue the mtallic nasty taste whcih can be hidden by HFCS so that’s another negative indicator. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/44 "2008-02-19T17:54:06Z")
[QUOTE=Khadaji] No sense recommending that I make my own - it ain’t going to happen. [/QUOTE] Why not? There are easy ways to make your own. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/45 "2008-02-19T17:55:06Z")
Newman’s Own - the one with roasted peppers. The others are too sweet for me. ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/46 "2008-02-19T18:30:48Z")
I’m also looking for a good marinara to make my non-beef eating boyfriend dinner for his birthday. If a dish calls for beef we use ground turkey. I like smooth sauces (no chunks please) with a little zest. And I need to be able to find it at the grocery store, so Rao’s is out. Looks like everyone likes Newman’s Own? ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/47 "2008-02-19T18:32:34Z")
I’ll tell you what. . .I haven’t had all the ones mentioned in this thread, but I’d probably prefer any brand of “crushed tomatoes in puree” better than someone making sauce. Typically, those brands are going to have mushy vegetables, too much salt, and some kind of sweetener (high fructose corn syrup, e.g.). I’d take that tomato puree and probably add a little olive oil, black pepper, and sprinkle in a few herbs. That’s not mkaing sauce. It’s hardly more effort than opening a can of Ragu. There’s usually considerable salt in that already, but you might want to add your own. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/48 "2008-02-19T18:52:23Z")
I like Newman’s Own. I typically will buy that, plus a can of Hunt’s with mushrooms. Brown some ground beef, add onions and green peppers, and assorted seasonings like garlic, oregano and basil. Add the sauce, add a ton of sliced mushrooms and simmer at least an hour. My hubby insists on meatballs, too, so I make those and throw them in the pot. We like our sketti! ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/49 "2008-02-19T19:34:28Z")
Another vote for Newman’s Own Sockarooni. We stock up when it’s on sale and probably have about 15 cans of it. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/50 "2008-02-19T20:12:18Z")
I was amazed at how good the store-brand Whole Foods puttanesca sauce was that I bought recently. I typically dislike pre-made spaghetti sauces as they are too sweet or too vinegary or have way too many harsh herbs and spices, but the “365” brand stuff was damned good. It had little chunks of both black and green olives and capers and was just slightly spicy. I simmered a couple of sweet Italian sausages in it and ladled it over linguine and both of us adored it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/51 "2008-02-19T20:13:54Z")
[QUOTE=Trunk] I’ll tell you what. . .I haven’t had all the ones mentioned in this thread, but I’d probably prefer any brand of “crushed tomatoes in puree” better than someone making sauce. Typically, those brands are going to have mushy vegetables, too much salt, and some kind of sweetener (high fructose corn syrup, e.g.). [/QUOTE] Which is why I like Rao’s, although I’ve never bought it for myself, since I prefer making my own and it’s gobs cheaper. Rao’s ingredients (for the marinara) are imported Italian tomatoes, imported pure Italian olive oil, fresh onions, salt, fresh garlic, fresh basil, black pepper, oregano. No sugar, HFCS, or any weirdness to be found. It’s pretty similar to the recipe I use for making sauce, except I use extra virgin olive oil, no oregano, and I usually pick either garlic or onions, but not both. ---
**Author:** ![pmwgreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@pmwgreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pmwgreen)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/52 "2008-02-19T20:20:58Z")
[QUOTE=Khadaji] No sense recommending that I make my own - it ain’t going to happen. [/QUOTE] Would you consider using a packet mix? Takes about 20 minutes. I like McCormick’s Thick and Zesty with Contadina flavored Tomato Paste (roast garlic or pesto). You can use ground turkey if you want. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/53 "2008-02-19T20:35:33Z")
Its a highly personal question. Do you like chunks of tomato, or do you like a puree? Do you think sauce should be sweet, or just enough sugar to cut the bitter? Do you want to taste tomatos, or do you want to taste something else (garlic, basil). Do you want your sauce to have kick? Should there be stuff in the sauce (mushrooms, peppers, meat) and if so, how chunky should that stuff be? Do you care if its organic? Do you have a price point? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/54 "2008-02-19T20:36:21Z")
[QUOTE=pmwgreen] Would you consider using a packet mix? Takes about 20 minutes. I like McCormick’s Thick and Zesty with Contadina flavored Tomato Paste (roast garlic or pesto). [/QUOTE] Which is exactly what I was referring to, although we use tomato sauce along with the paste. ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/55 "2008-02-19T23:55:49Z")
What are these packets you speak of? I want a good, smooth, zesty (as opposed to sweet) marinara. And I can’t afford to go buy every sauce and try it out, so I will trust Dopers’ personal experiences. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/56 "2008-02-20T00:31:18Z")
_Cook’s Illustrated_ compared jarred pasta sauces in their Sept-Oct 2004 issue. They’re usually pretty good at giving a fair evaluation on these sorts of things. #1 was Patsy’s Marinara – probably not available in your location (it’s NY, apparently), and 3x as expensive as the runners-up. #2 was Bertolli Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce (had the “freshest flavor”) #3 was Barilla Marinara (fresh, but heavily seasoned with oregano) Personally, I’ve found a fabulous slow cooker recipie that freezes beautifully. My freezer is well-stocked with sauce, and As God Is My Witness, I’ll never buy store bought again! 'Cause it took me ~30 minutes prep time, cooked on its own for a day, and I’ve got dozens of meals out of that. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/57 "2008-02-20T02:36:56Z")
[QUOTE=Lightray] Personally, I’ve found a fabulous slow cooker recipie that freezes beautifully. My freezer is well-stocked with sauce, and As God Is My Witness, I’ll never buy store bought again! 'Cause it took me ~30 minutes prep time, cooked on its own for a day, and I’ve got dozens of meals out of that. [/QUOTE] You realize you have to share the recipe, right? Pretty please? ---
**Author:** ![supervenusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@supervenusfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supervenusfreak)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/58 "2008-02-20T03:29:26Z")
Another vote here for Trader Joes. We love their marinara sauce here. No added sugar is a big plus in my household. Unfortunately there is no store close to where **Jayjay** and I live. Giant Foods has a new line of products called [Simply Enjoy](http://www.giantfood.com/brands/simply_enjoy.htm). Their Fra Diavolo sauce is very tasty. ---
**Author:** ![diku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@diku](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diku)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/59 "2008-02-20T15:43:30Z")
I’ll vote for Newman’s Own Sockarooni. We use it weekly. Add ground beef, crushed red pepper, and onions and peppers. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999/60 "2008-02-20T15:48:24Z")
[QUOTE=myskepticsight] What are these packets you speak of? [/QUOTE] [This sort of thing.](http://www.mccormick.com/productdetail.cfm?id=6301) Hmm, never knew it said to mix with water. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-store-bought-spaghetti-sauce/437999.md?page=4)