I tried 6 different brands of ketchup, and prefer a cheaper classic over an artisanal-tasting option

I tried ketchup from the brands Annie’s, Sir Kensington’s, Heinz, O Organics, Huy Fong’s, and Primal Kitchen. Chelsea Davis I tried several grocery-store brands of ketchup — like Heinz and Annie’s — to find the best option. Sir Kensington’s tasted the most artisanal, and Primal Kitchen’s almost seemed overly “healthy.

” With the best flavor and consistency, Heinz’s ketchup is a delicious classic I’ll keep buying.   I compared six brands of ketchup you can find in many grocery stores. Each ketchup had a unique taste and consistency.

Chelsea DavisMost people I know typically grab a bottle of Heinz’s ketchup when they go shopping, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other contenders. I tried six brands of the condiment — Heinz, Primal Kitchen, Sir Kensington’s, O Organics, Annie’s, and Huy Fong’s Sriracha — and evaluated them on their consistency, sweetness, tartness, acidity, and overall flavor. I tasted each ketchup on its own and with a bite of a burger.

 I started with Heinz’s ketchup, which I consider to be a standard option. Heinz is a classic ketchup brand. Chelsea DavisI grew up with Heinz, so I started my taste test with it.

It had the perfect thickness and texture — smooth and glossy but thick enough to stick to anything you’re eating with it.  This iconic ketchup sported the perfect balance of acidity, vinegary-tartness, and sweetness. It didn’t taste too much like tomato and had a hearty flavor that was bold without being overpowering.

Primal Kitchen’s version was my least favorite. Primal Kitchen’s ketchup had a runny texture and overly “healthy” flavor. Chelsea DavisPrimal Kitchen’s ketchup is organic, unsweetened, and has the fewest calories out of all the options I tried.

But it tasted “healthy” in a way I didn’t enjoy. It was very tart — almost like a semi-fresh tomato sauce — but not quite umami. It also missed the mark on the classic sweet-meets-salty acidity most ketchup has.

This is also the only one I tried that uses balsamic instead of regular vinegar, which was apparent. Plus the texture was the runniest.  Sir Kensington’s classic ketchup had a unique taste.

Sir Kensington’s classic ketchup includes green bell pepper and lime. Chelsea DavisThis ketchup had the most unique flavor. The ingredients include green bell pepper, which isn’t found in any of the others.

It was very savory and the pepper taste was faint enough to not overpower the rest. It actually accentuated the acidic vinegary-tomato flavor. But it wasn’t overly sweet.

This ketchup also has lime, which created a tart brightness that balanced well with the sugar and spices. Sir Kensington’s tasted the most complex and artisanal. It also had a thicker texture but wasn’t super glossy like Heinz’s.

 Annie’s organic ketchup was simple but still tasty. Annie’s ketchup is organic. Chelsea DavisAnnie’s organic ketchup tasted pretty good.

It was similar to a pizza sauce, even down to its liquidy, smooth texture.   It wasn’t overwhelming in any way, but it was a little too sweet for me. O Organics’ ketchup tasted the most like Heinz’s.

O Organics brand ketchup was well-balanced. Chelsea DavisAn organic brand owned by Albertsons, O Organics sells ketchup that was super similar to Heinz’s in terms of taste and thickness. It was just a tad sweeter.

Overall, it was a well-balanced take. I lastly tried Huy Fong’s Sriracha ketchup since so many people love the spicy combo. Some people regularly mix Sriracha and ketchup.

Chelsea DavisI put Sriracha on almost everything, and sometimes I mix it with ketchup or other sauces. Though this option is in a category of its own. The spiciness wasn’t overwhelming.

Overall, it sported the perfect balance of everything that’s delicious about Sriracha — like the chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt — with traditional ketchup. I mostly appreciate the garlicky spice. It had some heat, but wouldn’t ruin your taste buds or make your dish too hot.

All in all, if I’m going to get store-bought ketchup, I’m buying a bottle of Heinz. There are some other good options in this lineup, too. Chelsea DavisHeinz’s ketchup is a classic for a reason.

In addition to its thick consistency, it was the best tasting, with a savory, umami flavor that also wasn’t too sweet or tart. Read the original article on Insider.