Brand V. Generic: Barbecue Sauce
Author: indianapoliseater | Filed under: Brand V. Generic
In our next installment of our Brand V. Generic series, we tested generic barbecue sauces against name brand sauces. All generic brands ranged in price from 80¢ to $1.50. The brand name sauces ranged in price from $1.50 to $2.50 (note: all sauces were bought at sale prices at various stores, so these are ballpark prices of the regular retail cost).
Generic sauces tested:
Kroger Original, Traditional Flavor
Food Club (product of Marsh Supermarkets), Traditional Flavor
Meijer Thick Blazin’, Traditional Flavor
Brand sauces tested:
Sweet Baby Ray’s Award Winning Barbecue Sauce
Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce
For the purposes of this test, we tested the sauces on barbecue pork ribs, beef brisket, pork loin and pork tenderloin (yes, I got a little crazy on the smoker for the Fourth of July). The general premise of the test was obviously taste and we combined the rankings (first, second, etc.) of three different testers.
Results (lowest points wins):
1st: Meijer – 5 points
2nd: Kroger – 6 points
3rd: Sweet Baby Ray’s – 9 points
4th: Food Club – 10 points
5th: Kraft – 15 points
Other Notes:
- All sauces, with the exception of the Kroger sauce, had high fructose corn syrup as the first ingredient listed.
- The Kroger sauce had a main ingredient of Tomato Puree and it was noticeable as this was the one flavor that stood out. Tomato Puree, or a reasonable facsimile, was the number two ingredient on all the other sauces.
- The Meijer sauce had a distinct flavor to it, almost as if it was a thicker version of A-1 steak sauce.
- The Kraft sauce finished last in every single ranking. Truly awful.
- Sweet Baby’s Ray’s had an interesting pineapple juice and sugar mixture in its sauce. One would assume this is where it gets its unique taste.
Summary:
Meijer is going to start to get a big head if they read these summaries. We’ve had two of these Brand V. Generic challenges and Meijer has won both of them. Regardless, what both of these have proven is that you are just as well, if not better, buying a house brand sauce at the supermarket as opposed to buying the expensive name brand sauces. For the sake of a fair comparison, we left out the gourmet brands.
I will also say that up until this competition, I had always personally rated Sweet Baby Ray’s as the best sauce out there, but lining it up side-by-side against these other sauces has made me re-consider (I rated Sweet Baby’s Ray’s third). It looks like I’ll have to start changing my personal sauce buying habits now.
-indianapoliseater
Awwww, I actually like Kraft! I think Sweet Baby Ray’s is pretty darned good, too. I’m surprised to see Meijer come out on top, but I believe it. I’ve had store brand products that were great before. Nice comparison review
We went into this thinking that SBR would easily win. We had beef and pork and we like the Meijer one the best. If you despise A1 sauce, you would probably like Kroger better.
Not a bit A1 fan, but it’s OK. I’ve had Kroger bbq sauce on numerous occasions, and it’s fine for me. I do like Cattlemen’s barbecue sauce quite a bit. Ever had it?
Never tried that one, but I may have to give it a shot. I almost always buy the store brands unless Sweet Baby Ray’s is on sale. Although, sale prices might not matter anymore after this. It might be Meijer sauce all the way for me in the future.
Dang! That’s surprising. I too am a fan of Sweet Baby Ray’s and not much of an A1 supporter.
Also, I’m 99.9% sure you’ve had Cattleman’s….it’s more often than not what’s used at any restaurant you go to…unless of course they’re making their own. How about KC BBQ Sauce?
Sweet Baby Ray’s is used in my beloved BK Rodeo Cheeseburger but the last 2 times I’ve ordered it, no BBQ sauce…it had been replaced with steak sauce!!! Blech! Hoping it was just a two time mistake.
Do they still have that on the menu?
I’ve had KC Masterpiece before and nearly bought it for this test, but figured that five sauces was enough to test. Based on my recollections of what it tasted like, I remember it being as just middle of the road but it has been quite a while since I’ve had it.
Kraft’s Hickory Smoke flavor is okay but their traditional flavor (the one used in this test) is just bad.
In the next couple of weeks, I will be seeing if I can live without high fructose corn syrup in my BBQ sauce. Isn’t natural sugar better? Trader Joe’s BBQ is coming up.
If you want to try a sauce without hi-fructose, go with Buckeye. It’s the only one my husband and I can both agree on.
@EatHSE – That’s awesome and ambitious. I actually do eat that way. It’s not as hard as it might seem once you break away from certain habits. It takes a little preparation and preparedness but if you can spare a few extra minutes you can do it easily. Cheers to you!
You know what’s funny, just seeing the photo I said outloud “MEIJER!! That thick blazin stuff is awesome!” and ta-daaaa…what do you know…we agree.
You know what else is good BBQ sauce…Shoup’s!
http://www.shoupscountry.com/productDetail.asp?CategoryID=5
I got it as a gift and it is soooo good.
Thanks for the heads up, we will have to try Shoups. The brand v generic has been an eye opener, no doubt about it.
We were always a Kraft kind of family until we bought a pack of Sweet Baby Ray’s for a birthday cookout at Costco. We still have a whole bottle left [they were large in a three pack] and all agree SBR’s is better.
I wish we could try Meijer’s brand but, alas, we don’t have that store here.
Bull’s Eye BBQ Sauce is good also – America’s Test Kitchen did a test similar to yours and they preferred it. Here’s a link to their survey:
http://www.cookscountry.com/tasting/results.asp?did=686
Nice honest comparison. Now how a bout starting up a camparison between various private label or upscale sauces ? Count us in!!
You can check us out at http://www.wildmountaingourmet.com
Sweet Baby Rays is the best I have had. BUT..I haven’t played the field. I do know Krafts BBQ sauce SUX!