master-cooks | The Worst Store Bought Marinara Sauce, According To Our Taste Test

In a recent taste test aimed at identifying the least appealing store-bought marinara sauce, a panel of culinary enthusiasts sampled a range of popular brands. The evaluation focused on several key aspects including flavor, texture, aroma, and overall authenticity. Among the contenders, one particular sauce stood out for all the wrong reasons. This sauce was criticized for its overly acidic taste, which overwhelmed any subtle flavors of herbs or tomatoes. The texture was notably watery, lacking the rich, hearty consistency often associated with a good marinara. Additionally, the aroma was less than inviting, with a slightly metallic scent that detracted from the overall experience. The panel noted that the sauce seemed to rely heavily on artificial ingredients, which contributed to its lack of depth and complexity. Despite its convenient packaging and competitive price point, this marinara failed to meet the expectations set by its competitors. While some sauces managed to capture the essence of a homemade, slow-cooked Italian sauce, this particular offering missed the mark, making it a less desirable choice for those seeking an authentic marinara experience from a store-bought option. As a result, it was unanimously dubbed the worst in the lineup by the discerning taste testers.

Why you should skip Bertolli's marinara sauce

Bertolli is a well-known brand of Italian food products that has become a common presence in supermarkets. Originally starting as a family-owned grocery store that evolved into an artisan olive oil venture, the company has been owned and managed by various multinational corporations since the 1970s, with different product lines produced by separate manufacturers. This situation is typical for many famous food brands, but it may also shed light on why Bertolli Traditional Marinara Sauce tasted less like a comforting homemade Italian dish and more like a metallic, artificial mishap to our reviewer.

Michelle Bottalico remarked that the sauce had a chemical flavor, "as if unknown and unpleasant ingredients were masking the tomato taste." She pointed out that this was the only sauce in the ranking that included calcium chloride, a highly salty preservative that helps maintain the texture of canned vegetables. While Bottalico did appreciate the sauce's appealing appearance and its low price (under $4, depending on the retailer), its taste and aroma were so "strange" that she found it nearly inedible. Even for those on a budget, this is not a purchase worth considering.

The Worst Store-Bought Marinara Sauce, According To Our Taste Test

Why you should skip Bertolli's marinara sauce

Recommended

Next up