# You feel like spaghetti...however you must use a canned/jarred sauce. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 3, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378 "2013-05-03T01:27:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/41 "2013-05-03T17:30:26Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > And, without _battre un cheval mort_, even simple meals can be cheaper and tastier by substituting a little bit of acquired skill for unwrapping and nuking effort. And often made in about the same amount of time. > > But then, I’m slowly growing accustomed to the notion that, for an increasing number of people, “eating” has little or nothing to do with “cooking” any more. (Accustomed, but not understanding.) Yummm…battered dead horse. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/42 "2013-05-03T17:41:03Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Pasta is just the vehicle for the sauce, much like a bun is a vehicle for a burger. “It’s just spaghetti”? Really? Pasta dishes can be as complex or as simple as any other dish. If your idea of spaghetti is to just splork a jug of Ragu on top of overcooked noodles, then you’ve missed out on some of life’s best eating. The difference between spaghetti with a finely crafted home-made sauce, and spaghetti with a fairly decent jarred sauce would probably be lost on me; it’s just spaghetti. I’m sorry I feel this way. I’ll try to be a better person in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/43 "2013-05-03T17:46:14Z")
Vodka sauce, I don’t care what brand. Aldi’s cheap house brand sauce is just as delicious as Ragu, to my undiscerning palate at least! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/44 "2013-05-03T18:38:05Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > The difference between spaghetti with a finely crafted home-made sauce, and spaghetti with a fairly decent jarred sauce would probably be lost on me; it’s just spaghetti. I’m sorry I feel this way. I’ll try to be a better person in the future. No need to be sorry; I think Chefguy and I are sorry that you don’t get more pleasure from your food. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/45 "2013-05-03T18:41:12Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Pasta is just the vehicle for the sauce, much like a bun is a vehicle for a burger. Until quite recently, I would have agreed. Then I had some absolutely deadly grilled shrimp in a sauce over some simple, thick circles of pasta… and I damn near asked for more of the pasta discs. I don’t think they were anything but freshly made, but they blew away every bite of pasta I’ve ever had in my life. _Lavagna_, in southeast DC. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/46 "2013-05-03T18:44:16Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > No need to be sorry; I think Chefguy and I are sorry that you don’t get more pleasure from your food. Oh, no need to worry about me; I like food just fine. I especially like Indian and Asian food, particularly on the spicy side. I didn’t really mean to derail the thread here. I guess I see pasta as being similar to pizza. It’s a perfectly serviceable food, but not something to really get excited about. My opinion only, and I get that we’re all different. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/47 "2013-05-03T18:46:06Z")
I’ve never quite been a “the sauce is boss” kind of person. Now, there is a lot of pasta that is just the background element in a dish, and it’s really the sauce you’re eating it for, but there’s also a lot of pasta where I’m eating the dish for the flavor of the pasta itself, not the sauce. I like to make fresh pappardelle and spaetzle from time to time (the latter quite regularly, actually), and the enjoyment of eating them is at least as much the fresh pasta as the sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/48 "2013-05-03T18:46:12Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > You feel like spaghetti… That’s what she said. (sorry) mmm ---
**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:** [May 3, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/49 "2013-05-03T18:48:33Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Oh, no need to worry about me; I like food just fine. I especially like Indian and Asian food, particularly on the spicy side. > > I didn’t really mean to derail the thread here. I guess I see pasta as being similar to pizza. It’s a perfectly serviceable food, but not something to really get excited about. My opinion only, and I get that we’re all different. Yeah, we are all different, as pizza is also one of those things for me that is really exciting when done exceptionally well. I will drive 50+ miles for a great pizza. Even here in Chicago, if I’m feeling like eating out and eating pizza, there’s only a handful of places I will go to, depending on what kind of pizza I want. Most of it doesn’t interest me. I’m certainly not one of these “pizza is like sex; even if it’s bad it’s pretty good” guys, both in regards to pizza and sex. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/50 "2013-05-03T18:50:24Z")
I’m not picky, so I go for whatever’s cheap. I haven’t noticed a huge difference between most brands. Most often, it’s Safeway Select or Classico. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/51 "2013-05-03T18:54:00Z")
Classico pesto sauce for me. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/52 "2013-05-03T19:12:24Z")
2/3 Newman"s Own Sockarooni mixed with 1/3 Newman’s Own Vodka. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/53 "2013-05-03T19:16:06Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > 2/3 Newman"s Own Sockarooni mixed with 1/3 Newman’s Own Vodka. Okay, when you get to MIXING jar sauces you should be condemned to living on NG milkshakes for a month. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/54 "2013-05-03T19:19:28Z")
What’s an “NG milkshake”? Googling is not helping me here. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/55 "2013-05-03T19:24:31Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > What’s an “NG milkshake”? Googling is not helping me here. The grayish goo they pump down a nasogastric tube for people unable to feed themselves. I’m leaning towards interpreting “only able to heat up prepared food” as “being unable to feed oneself.” Yes, :). ---
**Author:** ![FrancisCastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b4bc9f/32.png) [@FrancisCastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrancisCastle)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/56 "2013-05-03T19:33:34Z")
I like my sauce a little thicker and Classico seems to be the thickest without traveling into the over $5 a jar range. ---
**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:** [May 6, 2013, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/57 "2013-05-06T12:43:24Z")
Hunt’s Traditional. ---
**Author:** ![vd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b19c9b/32.png) [@vd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vd)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/58 "2013-05-06T13:03:45Z")
A lot of them are way too sweet for us, so I always look for something without added sugar. Most of the Classico’s work for that. I’ll buy a few to have on hand when they go on sale. But I don’t often use them just straight on pasta. They might end up as a quick base for something else like shepherd’s pie. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/59 "2013-05-06T13:08:59Z")
I forget if it’s Classico or Via Roma that makes the variety with very little sugar in it (I have to check the labels each time,) but I’m not answering the poll because it is very watery. I admit, I grew up on thick sauces. So, the next time I pick it up I am also going to get some corn starch to thicken it with. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378/60 "2013-05-06T18:25:30Z")
Lordy, that swill Prego is in the lead? I can’t think of any reason you’d have to use an unadulterated premade sauce. Just cook up a little ground beef, garlic and spices, throw them in and the sauce would go from ecch to tolerable. If you’re going to use the straight canned sauce or gunk out of a jar, you might as well buy a frozen spaghetti dinner and just thaw it out for supper. :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-feel-like-spaghetti-however-you-must-use-a-canned-jarred-sauce/657378.md?page=2)