Taste test: pizza sauce, Part 2
KATHY SAUNDERSTampa Bay TimesTuesday, September 18, 2012 2:22pm
|
|
|
|
| Serving size |
one-fourth cup |
one-fourth cup |
one-fourth cup |
| Calories |
40 |
40 |
35 |
| Fat/Fiber |
1.5g / 1g |
1.5g / 1g |
1g / 1g |
| Sugars/Sodium |
3g / 240mg |
3g / 240mg |
3g / 270mg |
| Carbs/Protein |
5g / 1g |
5g / 1g |
5g / 1g |
Our panelists tasted enough pizza sauce recently to open their own pizzeria. Last week, we shared the judges' comments on eight of 16 brands of jarred or canned pizza sauces found on grocery store shelves. Of the first batch, our tasters liked sauces by Rao's, Del Grosso and Classico for their acidity and ability to hold their flavor when topped with favorite pizza fare. This week, they found three more they would buy.
By Kathy Saunders, Times correspondent
Product/Score
(out of 100) | Publix 66 | Mama Mary's 60 | My Essentials 50 |
Judges'
comments | Judges said this store brand tasted more like spaghetti sauce than pizza sauce. But, they said, it would likely appeal to many pizza lovers who prefer those flavors. They described the taste as a combination of tomatoes and seasonings like oregano and basil. The color was an orange-red that reminded judges of comfort foods. "I think this is the most appealing of them all because of its natural taste and real herbs," said one panelist. "This would probably be really good for kids because it's not too spicy," said another. | Thin texture, bright red color and flecks of sweet and savory herbs made this sauce one of the top picks. Judges said it had a great sweet-to-tangy-to-salty balance that made it a good choice on a pizza crust. One panelist detected a pleasing hint of fennel. Another said it tasted familiar. "It reminds me of the sauce on frozen pizzas," he said. | Sweetbay's store brand was among the darkest of the sauces sampled. Judges said it was bold enough for a pizza and plain enough to work as a base for appetizers or bite-sized snacks. "You can definitely taste Italian flavors and seasonings," said one panelist. "The acidity is very good in this brand and it has a lively tomato flavor." |
Would
they buy? | Three of the four judges said yes. | Three of the four judges said yes. | Two of the four judges said yes. |
| Shopping information | $1.19 for a 14-ounce jar. | $1.59 for a 14-ounce jar from
Winn-Dixie. | 98 cents for a 14-ounce jar from Sweetbay. |
Also Sampled: Del Fratelli ($1.38 for a 15-ounce can from Walmart, 42 points); Contadina ($1.50 for a 15-ounce jar from Walmart, 30 points); MID's ($2.09 for a 16-ounce jar from Publix, 22 points); Ragu ($1.99 for a 14-ounce jar from Publix, 30 points); and Pastorelli ($1.99 for a 15-ounce can from Sweetbay, 19 points).
Panelists: Nan Jensen, registered dietitian; Patti Ewald, Times features editor-writer; John Hehn, foodie and owner of All Brite Lighting & Power Design Inc.; and Laura Reiley, Times food critic. All foods were tasted blind.
Send suggestions for product testing to: Taste section, Tampa Bay Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731 or email them to jkeeler@tampabay.com. Please put TEST SUGGESTION in the subject line. To read past Taster's Choice columns, go to food.tampabay.com.
Taste test: pizza sauce, Part 2 09/18/12
[Last modified: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 2:29pm]
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