Some of our tasters have a nifty phone app that gives a daily dinner recipe from Martha Stewart. One recent suggestion was sloppy joes. We figured if Martha Stewart eats sloppy joes, so can we. Local grocery stores sell plenty of dry mixes to flavor the meat. But we wanted to try the cans of sauce that make the meal even easier to prepare. We found five brands and added them all to cooked ground beef. Poured over a nice bun, these make a tasty and economical family dinner or lunch. Kathy Saunders, Times correspondent
Product/score
(out of 100)
Del Monte/57
Great Value/42
Hannaford/41
Serving size
1/4 cup
1/4 cup
1/4 cup
Calories
50
40
30
Fat/fiber
0g / 0g
0g / 2g
0g / 1g
Sugars/sodium
9g / 440mg
6g / 400mg
3g / 380mg
Carbs/protein
11g / 1g
8g / 1g
8g / 1g
Judges'
comments
Del Monte
Judges detected a smoky flavor in this mixture, similar to a liquid smoke or mesquite barbecue sauce taste. They enjoyed the tang. "This has a classic sloppy joe look with a hearty tomato taste and a hint of sweetness," said one judge. "It's yummy goodness," said another. "Sweet, tasty and saucy!"
Great Value
Panelists were divided on this mix. A couple enjoyed the spicy flavor, likening it to taco sauce. The others were looking for more seasoning. One described the sauce as "cheery," with nice red pepper flecks and a flavorful balance of sweet and tangy. "The ripe tomatoes in the sauce are a nice touch," he added.
Hannaford
Sweetbay's store brand of sloppy joe mix was compared by our judges to canned chili without the beans. A couple liked the juicy texture and the shiny appearance of the cooked sauce. "This would work just fine in a hurry," said one. Another noted onions in the mixture and would add a bit more salt.
Would
they buy?
Del Monte
Three of the four judges said yes.
Great Value
Two of the four judges said yes.
Hannaford
Two of the four judges said yes.
Shopping information
Del Monte
$1.49 for a 15-ounce can from Publix.
Great Value
88 cents for a 15.5-ounce can from Walmart.
Hannaford
$1.19 for a 15.5-ounce can from Sweetbay.
Also sampled: Hunt's Manwich ($1 for a 15.5-ounce can from Walmart, 30 points); and Winn-Dixie ($1 for a 15.5-ounce can, 18 points).
Panelists: Personal chef Kay Bell; Julie Overton, consumer and mother of four; Wayne Conery, manager of the R-Bar on Treasure Island; and Jeff Jensen, public information officer for the city of Treasure Island. All foods were tasted blind.
| Serving size | ¼ cup | ¼ cup | ¼ cup |
| Calories | 50 | 40 | 30 |
| Fat/Fiber | 0g / 0g | 0g / 2g | 0g / 1g |
| Sugars/Sodium | 9g / 440mg | 6g / 400mg | 3g / 380mg |
| Carbs/Protein | 11g / 1g | 8g / 1g | 8g / 1g |
Some of our tasters have a nifty phone app that gives a daily dinner recipe from Martha Stewart. One recent suggestion was sloppy joes. We figured if Martha Stewart eats sloppy joes, so can we. Local grocery stores sell plenty of dry mixes to flavor the meat. But we wanted to try the cans of sauce that make the meal even easier to prepare. We found five brands and added them all to cooked ground beef. Poured over a nice bun, these make a tasty and economical family dinner or lunch. Kathy Saunders, Times correspondent
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