Surprising ketchup ratings

The America's Test Kitchen 2007 companion cookbook listed ketchups thusly:

Recommended

1. Hunt's Ketchup
2. Heinz Organic Ketchup
3. Annie's Naturals Organic Ketchup

Recommended with Reservations

1. Del Monte Ketchup
2. Heinz Ketchup
3. Muir Glen Organic Ketchup

Not Recommended

1. World's Best Ketchup
2. Westbrae Natural Fruit Sweetened Ketchup

Don't agree with the tasters. We use Del Monte for the sweetened one, and Westbrae unsweeted, and enjoy both over their competitors.

When I was a kid, Heinz made something called Spicy Ketchup that I loved. Smooth like ketchup, but had a tiny little hint of heat. It vanished from stores just about the time I started to really appreciate chiles.

I tried it when I lived in Minnesota. Try as I could (even with my eyes closed), I could not detect even the slightest bit of heat.

I recently bought a bottle of Melinda's Habanero Ketchup. Haven't have the occasion to try it yet, but I really like Melinda's hot sauces in general.

I tried it when I lived in Minnesota. Try as I could (even with my eyes closed), I could not detect even the slightest bit of heat.

I was something like 8 years old, in a family from Upstate NY, with basically a non-spice cooking style (since my mother usually cooked). It was a revelation. Probably started me down the chile head path.

The America's Test Kitchen 2007 companion cookbook listed ketchups thusly:

Recommended

1. Hunt's Ketchup
2. Heinz Organic Ketchup
3. Annie's Naturals Organic Ketchup

Recommended with Reservations

1. Del Monte Ketchup
2. Heinz Ketchup
3. Muir Glen Organic Ketchup

Not Recommended
I'm curious, did they say what criteria they used for making these choices? And is there really any difference in taste between organic and non-organic?
1. World's Best Ketchup
2. Westbrae Natural Fruit Sweetened Ketchup

For those who like a little heat:

Ketchapeno and Ketchipotle

http://www.newtaste.com/id1.html

They (whomever they may be) say that one of the most popular ways of committing suicide in Japan is by dining on the delicious liver of the fugu. I think they would agree that a fine way of committing suicide in France is to walk into any of the restaurants of Guy Savoy, Joel Robuchon or Alain Ducasse and asking for ketchup.

With regard to ketchup which I adore, I always make my own.

Chuckling.

Rogov

Heinz house here.

...fugu.

Oh my.

When I was a kid, Heinz made something called Spicy Ketchup that I loved. Smooth like ketchup, but had a tiny little hint of heat. It vanished from stores just about the time I started to really appreciate chiles.

Is that what they call "chili sauce" now? It's like a slightly spicy ketchup and is the secret ingredient in my ma-po tofu.

No, I meant to say that above. It is not chili sauce. It was quite different.

[Robin Garr]

Is that what they call "chili sauce" now? It's like a slightly spicy ketchup and is the secret ingredient in my ma-po tofu.

Me, too, and quite a few other Sichuan dishes. Saaaaaay ... haven't we had this conversation before? (It's also more textured than ketchup, in my opinion ... )

Is that what they call "chili sauce" now? It's like a slightly spicy ketchup and is the secret ingredient in my ma-po tofu.

Me, too, and quite a few other Sichuan dishes.

Not so secret ingredient anymore, gents.

Used to buy it by the case - six no. ten cans to a case. "Secret" ingredient in Louis dressing.

I'm surprised to learn that so many foodies consider catsup/ketchup to be food.

Of course, it's food. It's a thick, sweet, tomato sauce. Its culinary place is akin to others of its ilk (e.g., barbecue sauce). It suffers from a bad rep because it is over-used by many folks; but that's not really its fault, eh?

I'm surprised to learn that so many foodies consider catsup/ketchup to be food.

That doesn't surprise me at all.

Is that what they call "chili sauce" now? It's like a slightly spicy ketchup and is the secret ingredient in my ma-po tofu.

It was Heinz Ketchup. The label said "Heinz Spicy Ketchup" and it came in a ketchup bottle shaped just like their other ketchup. The spice was in undetectable, homeopathic quantities, and the ketchup didn't last very long on the market.

Not Recommended
I'm curious, did they say what criteria they used for making these choices? And is there really any difference in taste between organic and non-organic?
1. World's Best Ketchup
2. Westbrae Natural Fruit Sweetened Ketchup

I'm sure there's little if any difference between organic and non-organic and was just coincidental.

Twenty-nine Test Kitchen members tasted the ketchups on spoons and on french fries. They measured pH and used a Bostwick consistometer to rate thickness. A local lab tested for total solids. Ranking was based on the two tastings.

Hunt's ketchup: Inviting, smooth texture and tangy, fresh flavor.
Heinz Organic Ketchup: vinegary tang, color and texture were perfect, not too heavy consistency.
Annie's Natural Organic Ketchup: sweetened with sugar instead of corn syrup, rich, hearty and tangy flavor; some detected odd smokey taste.

Del Monte ketchup: average marks, some said a little watery, some said a little cooked.
Heinz Ketchup: middle of pack with bland and too sweet taste; good fry-dipping texture and smooth consistency.
Muir Glen Organic Ketchup: some said nice texture; others said too pasty and way too thick.

World's Best Ketchup: most un-ketchup-like ketchup; too chunky; too sweet.
Westbrae Natural Fruit Sweetened Ketchup: strong, negative comments--molasses and tomato train wreck, sour, too vinegary.

I'm not sure where I heard or read this, but I believe the history of catsup (ketchup) began with folks pickling tomatoes as a means of preserving them. The two essential ingredients are tomatoes and vinegar.
Daniel - Last year I made my own catsup and posted it HERE.

Actually, it was derived from the old Indonesian sauce called kecap, which had no tomatoes.

Doesn't really surprise me. I grew up with Heinz and thought that was the best until someone I used to work with told me about a thesis he did in college. Can't remember his major, but he tested different ketchups for worm content
(sorry. ). Heinz had the highest. After I heard that I switched to Hunts and decided that it tasted better anyway.

We need a barfing emoticon for that last post.

Doesn't really surprise me. I grew up with Heinz and thought that was the best until someone I used to work with told me about a thesis he did in college. Can't remember his major, but he tested different ketchups for worm content
(sorry. ). Heinz had the highest. After I heard that I switched to Hunts and decided that it tasted better anyway.

Perhaps they did that to boost the protein count, like the Chinese did with melamine in milk.