Is Heinz Really the Best Ketchup Brand From the Supermarket?

Tasting expert Jack Bishop challenges host Julia Collin Davison to a tasting of ketchup.

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[MosheFeder]

An interesting test. Like most Americans, for me Heinz=ketchup, but the version I prefer is neither the regular nor the organic, but the “Simply Heinz.” It’s just the regular Heinz with the high fructose corn syrup replaced with cane sugar (sucrose), turning it back into ORIGINAL Heinz as it was before HFCS began its dominance of the processed food industry. You might not think that a mere change of sweetener could make a big difference, but it does, one equivalent to a gustatory time machine. The moment I first tasted it, I was transported back to my childhood in the 50s and remembered that *this* is what ketchup is supposed to taste like. Regular Heinz is certainly not bad, but Simply Heinz is brighter and cleaner and clearer. It’s now the only ketchup I buy, and it costs less than the organic.

[hightde]

I agree with the tasting folks. I prefer either the organic or 'simply' heinz which has sugar instead of corn syrup.

[ps]

I've bought sugarless catchup and it tastes great. Tomatoes have natural sugars and don't need any added sugars.

[michaelv]

Does anyone else feel disappointed when eating out and a restaurant brings you a bottle of the cheapest oddball foodservice brand ketchup that tastes nasty?

[DarkReaper]

Tried out French's since Heinz closed their Canadian plant. I actually ended up enjoying the taste of French's more. It doesn't taste as vinegary as Heinz.

[ReggyRay]

Interesting how pallets and perspectives change, a few years ago they did the same test and picked Hunt's

[njt]

I didn't realize Del Monte still made ketchup. I haven't seen it in years. My recent go-to is Hunt's 100% Natural No High Fructose Corn Syrup Ketchup. Costco had it in 3-packs.

[JReyes]

I've actually been buying the Hunts that is advertised as thicker and their "best ever" and it's very comparable to Heinz. It's got a nice consistency and I believe it's made with sugar and not HFCS.

[caburg]

Why wasn't Hunt's included in the blind test? I have also tried some store brands that weren't bad :)

[brt]

Red Gold. More depth of flavor than the typical brands but still really ketchup without any questionable additions

[Larry]

Fun Fact: Heinz changes the reciepe of their tomato ketchup for each country it's sold in. For instance there's far less sugar in the British version.

[clairressagoad]

Heinz is the ketchup for me for sure but it’s interesting that Hunts wasn’t up there…

[standupp]

Del Monte was what my mom always bought and it was good. I used to buy Heinz but now they have 57 varieties of ketchup and I don't feel like spending 30 minutes searching through ketchup aisle to find the original. Now I just buy Whataburger ketchup.

[shwmehvn]

As I've gotten older it's all about HUNT'S no corn syrup.

[hamie]

I used to only eat Heinz until they closed their Canadian plant after that I switched to French's. I recently tried Heinz again and couldn't stand it I don't know if it's the vinegar content I just find it too strong.

[scoxocs]

About 10+ years ago they did the same exact test with Christopher Kimball and Hunt's was declared the winner.

[sigh_anna]

I switched to French's, like many Canadians did when Heinz shut down here. French's is much better tasting. I can't go back to heinz.

[charleswise]

I'm born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I can see the Heinz Plant right across the Allegheny River. In what's called the Nor Side. There is no other Ketchup but Heinz! That's just the way it is!
A couple of years ago, our local amusement park, Kennywood, stopped buying Heinz Ketchup, and started buying a cheaper brand. People weren't having it! Sales went way down, and they realized very quickly, the ills of their way.

[jackwyatt]

Aldi's organic ketchup is good and less than $2

[Blakehx]

I’m no great taste tester but Mom absolutely insists on Heinz! We usually have Whataburger Spicy Ketchup too (my favorite)!