I tried every flavor of Rao's tomato sauce I could find and ranked them from worst to best

Lizzy BriskinNov 16, 2024, 01:23 IST

I tried 14 flavors of Rao's Homemade tomato sauce.Lizzy Briskin<ul class="summary-list"><li>I tried 14 flavors of <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-and-worst-jarred-tomato-sauce-to-buy-reviewed-photos-2021-10">Rao's Homemade tomato sauce</a> and ranked them from worst to best.</li><li>I wasn't a fan of Rao's four-cheese or sensitive-marinara sauce.</li></ul>Rao's is a major name in the sauce business throughout the United States and Canada.But before the brand's sauces were jarred, Rao's started as a family-owned <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-things-italian-restaurant-dishes-to-skip-bad-value-chefs">Italian restaurant</a> in the late 1890s in New York City. Today, the company that makes Rao's jarred sauces is <a target="_blank" class href="https://apnews.com/article/campbell-soup-raos-purchase-59b701d13b30b1386fc05faea3e50bac">owned by Campbell Soup</a>.Rao's also sells more varieties of <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ways-to-upgrade-jarred-tomato-sauce-chef-tips">jarred sauce</a> than some shoppers realize. To find out which versions were best, I tried every flavor of tomato-based pasta sauce I could find.Here's how they <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tim-hortons-doughnut-flavors-ranked-worst-to-best-review">ranked from worst to best</a>.

Rao's four-cheese sauce was my least favorite.

Rao's four-cheese tomato sauce had an oddly tangy flavor.Lizzy Briskin

I thought Rao's sensitive marinara was a little bland.

Rao's sensitive marinara doesn't contain onions or garlic. Lizzy Briskin

The flavor in the roasted-garlic sauce was way too strong.

Rao's roasted-garlic sauce was packed with minced garlic. Lizzy Briskin

Rao's tomato-basil sauce certainly lived up to its name.

Rao's tomato-basil sauce reminded me of a soup. Lizzy Briskin

Rao's marinara sauce is a safe option.

Although I love Rao's marinara sauce, the brand offers more exciting options. Lizzy Briskin

The Italian-sausage-and-mushroom sauce was disappointing.

I thought the mushrooms in Rao's Italian-sausage-and-mushroom sauce were a little rubbery.Lizzy Briskin

The mushroom-and-bell-pepper sauce wasn't bad.

Rao's mushroom-and-bell-pepper sauce was both sweet and savory.Lizzy Briskin

Rao's caramelized-onion sauce reminded me of a canned soup.

Rao's caramelized-onion sauce was a little more watery than the others I tried.Lizzy Briskin

I enjoyed the arrabbiata's subtle heat.

Rao's arrabbiata gets its heat from crushed-red-pepper flakes.Lizzy Briskin

Rao's vodka-arrabbiata was a little more creamy than the standard version.

Rao's vodka-arrabbiata sauce is made with Parmesan and Romano cheeses. Lizzy Briskin

The tomato-herb version was sweeter than I expected it to be.

I think Rao's tomato-herb sauce would make a great alternative to marinara.Lizzy Briskin

I enjoyed Rao's Bolognese sauce.

Rao's Bolognese sauce was full of meaty flavor.Lizzy Briskin

The roasted-red-pepper sauce had a nice herby finish.

Rao's roasted-red-pepper sauce was sweet.Lizzy Briskin

Rao's fire-grilled-vegetable sauce was my favorite.

Rao's fire-grilled vegetable sauce had the perfect umami flavor. Lizzy Briskin

I tried baked mac-and-cheese recipes by Ina Garten, Ree Drummond, and Martha Stewart. The best used butternut squash.

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