We tried 12 ketchup brands to perfect your picnic or backyard barbecue

June 02,2024

Tomato ketchup is so ubiquitous that it’s easy to dismiss it as a simple sauce to be paired with french fries, meatloaf, scrambled eggs and, if you’re far away from Chicago, a hot dog. (On that, we do judge: Don’t!) But there’s a deceptive complexity to ketchup.

Chef Christopher Prosperi, my longtime friend in Connecticut, always said ketchup combined all five basic tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami. The Food & Dining staff sampled 12 brands of ketchup, searching for that idyllic flavor profile.

I was curious to see how all the ketchups would rate tasted side-by-side with no accompaniment. Although the brands sampled were regular tomato ketchup, there was a surprising variation in color, texture and flavor. A few tasted like cocktail sauce or canned tomato sauce. Some were sweet and some spicy. Textures ranged from a smooth paste to much more coarse. Clearly, not all ketchup is alike.

This was a blind tasting, meaning tasters didn’t know which ketchup was which. Each participant in the tasting was asked to rate each brand on appearance, aroma, texture and flavor.

I did not buy membership-only club brands because I wanted ketchup the general public had a reasonable chance of buying. Prices have been updated for 2021 based on listed prices at Chicago-area Jewel-Osco stores, Marianos, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market.

(Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune; Shannon Kinsella/food styling)

Heinz Ketchup, Sweet Relish and Yellow Mustard Picnic Pack (4 pk.) - Sam's Club

Hunts Best Ever Tomato Ketchup Case

8 Top Bottled Barbecue Sauces - Best BBQ Sauce for Ribs

The Best Ketchup Brands for 2023

This classic ketchup is made only from sweet - juicy - red ripe tomatoes for the signature thick and rich taste of America's favorite ketchup.

Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Jalapeno - 14 oz

The 18 Best Hot Dog Brands, Ranked - PureWow

The Step2 Sizzle and Smoke Barbecue (BBQ) Grill is a great kids toy for boys and girls that will make dad jealous! This great indoor or outdoor kids grill will turn every boy or girl into a little grill master or aspiring backyard barbeque chef.

Step2 Sizzle & Smoke BBQ Grill

We tried 12 ketchup brands to perfect your picnic or backyard barbecue

REVIEW: Best and Worst Ketchup to Buy at Store + Photos

The 20 Best Ketchup Brands, Blind Taste Tested And Ranked

Here Are the Best (and Worst) Brands of Ketchup, Ranked

This Is the Best-Tasting Ketchup — Eat This Not That