Consumer Reports' Highest-Rated Italian Sauces Aren't Rao's

Look in almost every kitchen cupboard, and a jar of tomato-based pasta sauce will be inside, either as a go-to ingredient or an emergency back-up. We've all got our favorites, whether it's a generic grocery jar or a big-name brand, but the one most people probably know is Rao's. It's among Ina Garten's pantry staples (and those of her many home cook stans), however, a ranking of more than 40 popular jarred sauces by Consumer Reports could take a little shine off Rao's, as the much-loved brand did not take the top spot. While it achieved a commendably high score, it was beaten by rival brands, with the top spots going to low-sodium jarred marinara from Silver Palate and Victoria.

The Consumer Reports team considered several factors when putting together the final rankings, weighting their decisions slightly more in favor of nutrition than taste. The health benefits of each sauce were assessed, including how much salt, sugar, and saturated fat a serving contained, before the testers' attention turned to flavor and, finally, value for money. In what has to be good news for anyone who feels a little guilty about grabbing a jar, almost half the sauces were recommended because of how good they tasted and for their nutritional properties. 

The Consumer Reports' rankings reflect a long-term shift among consumers toward foods or ingredients that are better for us and don't empty our pocketbooks, including sauces that take it easy on the salt. For anyone who is skeptical that low-sodium jarred sauces aren't as tasty as their full-bore counterparts, the rankings and reviews prove that some brands really aren't cutting any flavor corners. Furthermore, store-bought Italian pasta sauces are traditionally among the foods that have more sugar than we might think, but more than half the sauces tested didn't have any extra sweet stuff.

The Consumer Reports' team also highlighted the fact that numerous, high-ranking jarred sauces tasted almost as good as ones made from scratch. Marinara made up the majority of the ranked and rated sauces, and while there are lots of subs for this classic, it's great to know that saving time on your weeknight pasta dinner doesn't mean compromising on taste. Instead of spending time chopping and simmering, we can throw a jar in the pan and still end up with a delicious plate of food.

Of course, for many home cooks, that jar of pasta sauce is just a starting point. To a jar of herby, tomatoey sauce, I love to add a little leftover roast chicken, air-fried veggies, or a can of anchovies if I fancy an omega-3 boost, and then pour the lot over pasta for a quick and filling lunch. If you want to gussy up dinner, jarred sauces can easily take a slug of alcohol (vodka or red wine work brilliantly), as well as a handful of herbs, to round out their flavor.