We put it to the test: Food & Dining taste-tests national brands

Tasters soured to the taste of this bright orange-red sauce labeled under the name of the celebrity chef. One thought it metallic and overcooked. Another dissed it as having "little depth. One note." $5.99 for 24 ounces.

Onion and garlic notes dominated this dark red sauce, which tasters faulted for being too sweet. "Cloying as time goes on," one panelist wrote. "Acrid garlic," wrote another. $2.18 for 24 ounces.

The top-scorer that outscored the pack by a considerable margin, this all-purpose tomato sauce tasted like the classic, old-school spaghetti sauce so many of us grew up with. Smelled like it too. The red sauce, flecked with an occasional bit of herb, had a savory, meaty quality many tasters appreciated. "Tastes most like a Sunday gravy to me," one taster wrote. This brand, a product of Italy, came closest to the homemade sauce of one's dreams. $6.99 for 24 ounces (sale price at Target).

Tied for 10th place with Muir Glen, this smooth, dark red sauce had a tart tomato nose, but the flavor was too herbal and over-processed. "Like Chef Boyardee crossed with ketchup," one panelist wrote. But another, noting the flavors of "carrots and veggies," said it "tastes healthy." $1.17 for 24 ounces.

Paul Newman's sauce is labeled "industrial strength," but most tasters thought it sweet. "Stupid sweet," grumbled one critic. Another found the sauce herbal, with an almost floral note. But a fan of the late movie star's product wrote, "Flavors more integrated into the whole than others. Tastes of tomato paste." $2.99 for 24 ounces.

The tasting panel had a divided opinion on this sauce but those who liked it scored the sauce high enough to push it into second place. A house brand found at Jewel-Osco and Safeway, among other supermarket chains, this sauce won kudos for its chunky texture and a warm spice note that offset its sweetness to a degree. Critics complained of too much many dried herbs. "Still exceedingly sweet," one wrote. $2 for 25 ounces.

Trader Joe's labels this sauce as "Nonna's Traditional Recipe" and playfully claims Nonna "finally hit it" on the 99th try. One taster agreed: "Hey! This tastes of tomatoes. Like an ideal marinara." Others on the panel were less impressed with this chunky red sauce. "Insipid and salty," wrote one. "Just bland," wrote another. Tied with Ragu and Prego sauces for sixth place. $1.39 for 18 ounces.

Panelists thought this smooth orange-red sauce was too sweet. "Nonna is turning in her grave," one taster grumbled. But others thought the sauce, if a bit boring, tasted like tomato. In sixth place, tied with Trader Giotto and Ragu sauces. $2.12 for 24 ounces

This dark red sauce had a bold, earthy tomato flavor. "I would buy it in a pinch," wrote one taster, who still complained of seeing herb leaves in the sauce but not tasting them. Another taster, however, thought the dried herbs "give some depth" but still considered the sauce too sweet. $4.49 for 24 ounces.

This brick-red sauce, a Whole Foods brand, had chunks of tomato that gave it a homemade look. Some tasters noted a deep savoriness to the sauce, but others complained of an acrid quality and overpowering herbal notes. "Weird aftertaste," one sampler wrote. "Bitter end," commented another. $2.79 for 25 ounces.

This smooth, very sweet sauce is bright and pleasant but doesn't have a lot of depth. "Vague tomato," one panelist wrote. "Reminds me of pizza Lunchables," wrote another. Tied sixth with Trader Giotto's and Ragu sauces. $2.19 for 14 ounces.