I am, overall, a Newman's Own gal, although I get the "Tomato Basil" or "Sockarooni" versions. Like he said, Prego in a pinch. I don't think I can get Rao's or Mezzetta and the price tag would probably deter me. For that price I'll make my own sauce and freeze it.

I was thinking, ”Rao's, of course,” but never expected them to agree. :D

I know opinions can vary, but I really do like Rao's. I always keep it on hand for a quickie marinara. I buy the 2-pack jars at Sam's Club for about $9. It's good on its own but I still doctor it a bit. Can't help myself. :-)

Over time I've tried maybe 7 or 8 of the brands in the link. My biggest issue is some are just overly sweet to me (hello, Ragu!) but some people like that. It's all about preference.

Rao's is my go to. I buy several jars at a time when it goes on sale. Just two of us. Usually only need 1/2 of it for a meal and I put the jar in the freezer for later. I love their pizza sauce, too...

I like to keep it simple. I buy canned tomatoes instead of marinara sauce. When I make pizza, I put the tomatoes in a blender and add some chili flakes, oregano, garlic, and olive oil. Usually, I do not add the garlic, but for a pasta sauce, I do. I think I make pizza more often than I make pasta, but it is probably a toss-up.

For jarred pasta sauce, I do like Rao's, but it is much more expensive than canned tomatoes.

I recently (and accidentally) bought 105 oz cans of 6 in 1 tomatoes (which have the best flavor), and so when I open a can, I have to freeze most of it. Rao's costs about five times as much as the canned tomatoes that I bought, and the canned tomatoes taste better. They used to be available in smaller cans, but I have not seen those lately.

Tonight I had to stop at the store for a few things and perused the marinara options. We did have Rao's, it was almost $6.00 for a jar. The Mezzetta was almost 8! Newman's own Sockarooni was on sale for about $2.50. They apparently have a new sugarless Ragu, which was $1.80. We tried it and it was OK, I almost always doll up commercial sauce anyway . . . I often buy the store brand, Meijers, which was not reviewed. Similar to Prego and cheaper.

There is a tomato shortage, but Rao's uses Italian tomatoes, which probably cost even more. They have published recipes, but I haven't tried them. I make my own for reals, but for a few spoons for snacks and quickies, I like Rao's. IMHO, there's a huge difference. Dave's was pretty high on the list, and they're not bad, not fab, probably pretty good, really. The only other one I have any knowledge of is Prego, which was a staple when I was in college, along with sad, brittle pasta. For no one in the house willing to cook food, it did the job. I don't have to doctor Rao's. I get it about not budget friendly, but I don't use enough to worry about the difference in price, which I find worth the quality. That's a luxury, and not for everyone.

"That's a luxury, and not for everyone."

You can say that again!! I have a philosophical aversion to paying over $5 for jarred pasta sauce! Just not gonna happen. I have tried Rao's and do not find it to be worthy of its far too high price tag.

Perhaps I do not have a very sophisticated palate but most prepared pasta sauces taste very similar to me and all are more or less mediocre. If I want a really good sauce, I'll make my own however as a single that is something I rarely do. I don't eat pasta all that frequently anyway but when I do, I tend to use the Safeway house brand, particularly their Arrabiata, which has a nicely satisfying kick.

A vote here for a local variety. Micucci’s is a italian grocery in Portland - a couple of hours from me. Luckily a local chain store called Reny’s carries it - think an odd mix of Carhartts, good boots, wool socks, gourmet food, no name toiletries and cheap toys. Where to shop on the way to camp.

I'm definitely a Rao's user. Another cooking friend recommended Vitoria and I was not impressed, certainly pricey but not worth it. When the kids were little I used Prego, once they grew up, I discovered Classico, but the four cheese variety. That worked for everyone. Now I buy Rao's unless I'm making something like stuffed shells where I'm adding so much cheese etc, that I can use a blend of less expensive sauces and no one cares. Like Seagrass, we're empty nesters and I freeze what I can't use in one meal. BTW the other thing Rao's has is a "Sensitive" Sauce for those who cannot eat onions and garlic. I find it too oily, but when I'm really sensitive, I mix it with the other Rao's so I'm not effected.

You just have to taste test to see what suits you. As you can see, preferences are all over the place. I pay $4.50 a jar for Rao's at Sam's. Not cheap but also not a frequent purchase. Worth the quality and convenience for me.

I used to buy TJ's Organic Marinara. Not bad and not overly sweet. Also kind of chunky if that appeals.

My MIL had a friend who was "famous" for her spaghetti sauce. It was basically a marinara and everyone raved about it. To me it was nothing special at all...kind of blah. Just shows how tastes can differ. If you like it. it's good. :-)

I prefer my own homemade marinara to anything in a jar, but Aldi has organic jarred marinara I buy for when I want something quick. Sweetness hasn't been an issue for me with jarred sauces - saltiness has.

DD loves Rao's Marinara. I prefer my own homemade. Recently I discovered Mutti Simple Sugo Tomato Sauce - Basil. I love this fresh tasting, thin, light sauce on pasta. The basil makes it a tad sweet but with sausage it is darn good. It is a nice light alternative to a heavier marinara.

Do any of you make the real "sailor's" sauce marinara with the ocean bits in it?

I only make really simple vegan marinara---simple in the eating, that is. I have a recipe for making it from canned, but if I can get good ripe romas, I like to roast them first (not to charred!).

Re the nothing special marinara, what makes it really great is when it caramelizes on the edges. The things that make people take notice besides that bit of yumminess, or the quality of the tomatoes themselves, is either an assertive amount of salt or a goodly amount of very good (as in lots of so fragrant solids) EVOO, or both. Especially somewhat older people tend to rave about food that has more salt, possibly because their senses are dulling, possibly because they're so used to salt they need more, or perhaps if they're generally watching their salt intake, their tastebuds perk up to a little more than they'd use at home.

What are ocean bits?

Fish and stuff...

Marinara sauce doesn't contain fish..."real" or not. marinara with seafood is "alla Pescatori"...or A la Pescatori...not sure how it's spelled.

Which reminds me of a very old joke but it might me booted off the forum....evil grin....where's EJ when she is needed?

Kate, thanks for the idea to buy some of those "souper cubes" for freezing the extra sauce. I've broken a glass jar in the freezer and clean up wasn't fun! Pillog-- Never ever heard of fish bits in a marinara sauce!

Rao's Marinara Sauce

This great marinara sauce recipe is from "Rao's Cookbook," by Frank Pellegrino. It's delicious atop penne, angel hair, and even eggplant parmesan.

Yield:Makes 7 cups

Ingredients

Four 28-ounce cans whole tomatoes with basil, preferably from San Marzano
1/2 cup olive oil
6 tablespoons minced onion
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
12 leaves fresh basil, torn (optional)
Pinch of dried oregano

Directions
Instructions Checklist
Step 1Remove tomatoes from can and place in a large bowl, reserving juices. Crush tomatoes using your hands; remove and discard the hard core from stem end, and any skin and tough membrane; set aside.
Step 2Place oil in a large, nonreactive saucepan over medium-low heat. Add onion, and cook until soft and just beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic, and cook until softened, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes and reserved juices; season with salt. Increase heat and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to low and simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 hour.
Step 3Stir in basil, if using, oregano, and season with pepper; continue cooking 1 minute more. Remove from heat and serve.

Bumblebeez, reading this thread, I was just going to Google Rao's sauce and you did the work for me! Thanks!

It's funny, but I make my own marinara with carrots, onions, celery, garlic, parsley and bay leaves - no basil, no oregano. I checked out recipes online, and some are tomatoes, onions, garlic, basil/oregano and not a lot else, and Giada Di Laurentiis has one that's most like my own, making me wonder what is a 'true' marinara sauce?

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/marinara-sauce-recipe-2103577

I just ordered some small freezer containers so I can freeze some marinara sauce. I made some seasoned tomato sauce that I canned in the boiling water bath, but it has to boil a long time, not very cost effective for small batches, particularly when they have boiled down for three hours . . . easier to freeze and you can vary the ingredients. I haven't found a way to easily pressure can yet. I have a pressure canner but it does not work on my pulsing electric stove and I haven't had time to fiddle with it on the outside gas grill to see if that will work, and my camp stove needs a new gasket, so I'm basically stuck going BWB right now. I'll be freezing any excess I think . . . Made tomato soup last night with the extra juice and tomatoes that didn't fit in the canner, boy was it good! I didn't season it much, but if I had, it would have been the base of a vegetal marinara, (carrot, celery, onion and garlic were added). But it would have had to cook at least an hour more to thicken it enough . . .

According to many sources, ”Mariner’s Sauce” has food from the ocean. Currently, on the ”net, they say thst's from the antipodes. As I said, I make mine vegan (fish allergy).

One of the Rao brothers said in a TV interview that their mother would remove any ingredient she thought wasn't necessary to the sauce. That, and not compromising on the quality of the ingredients, even if it means importing tomatoes to get the specific flavor, is their secret.

Raos is a no brainer in my pantry. It is a simple clean quality basic marinara that pairs well with anything. No added sugars or overly salted then citric acid, then more unnecessary ingredient to balance all the added sugars and salts/preservatives....

Raos is full of simple vibrant flavors, straight from the glass jar, i use less. A costco 32 oz jar on sale is 4.50$. Regular price is 5.50$. A jar for the two of us is about 12 servings. 50cents.

I do make my own garden tomato sauces three-four ways...smoked, roasted, etc. And do purchase big 10lb cans of redpack crushed for giant chili for a crowd....my chili is sooo molé rich , Raos would be lost in the mix.

2020 braised some short ribs...next night short rib ragu using a 1/4 cup Raos...braised meatballs, 1/4 cup Raos with a miso glaze. Open a jar, use a pint, then freeze the rest. Add ac vinegar and a bit of olive oil, mustard powder, etc, to the near empty jar, shake....killer salad dressing. Stir into a couple tBsps of greek yogurt. Horseradish and add to potato salad. It is that good.

My 2019 garden stash tom salses, 4 ways, ran out early Lock-down ya know. When Costco eventually had

t-p and a Raos sale price...i jumped.

I do not have a food budget but i do care about waste. And quality.

6 meals, 10 dollars. Including avocado, ramen eggs...salads.

Miles cheaper than a McD kids happy meal.

If you don't have a Costco or complain it is not for you, ask a neighbor or family member to help out. We have a neighborly text group...just the ten of us..."hey, i have an open Costco cart ...do you need anything?"....(a few neighbors are not members).

AmeicanTestKitchen, etc all puts Raos above all others. Use it fresh and enjoy. Such a quick meal.

Use cans for chili and heavily miropoix based stewed sauces.

Nice to have the pantry option of a great one.

Regarding McDonald's Happy meals I befriend two little girls who are so picky they will not eat about 99% of the food in the world except lunchables, SpaghettiOs, eggs, Cheez-Its and Happy meals.

Sleevendog, thanks for the RAO's use suggestions. Good ideas!

Another Rao’s fan. I used to wait for it to go on sale and stock up. Then I joined Costco and their regular price is as good as a good sale price elsewhere. When it’s on sale there, all the better but they tend to limit quantities. Anyway I now keep a couple cases around at all times. Pound of spaghetti, frozen meatballs also from Costco, a jar of sauce, and I’m feeding a family of four for the price of one McDonalds meal. So I use it in a pinch, often.

I opened a jar last night without hesitation. I just needed a 1/4 cup for a hatch chili stuffing. It is so good straight from the glass jar it is a no-brainer quickie. (like i've said a dozen times, yawn-on-me, a win-win would be the sauce in quart ball jars)...so much jar waste. I would list my extra jars on free-cycle if they were Ball brand.

I'm using a pint of that jar tonight for an easy meal...the rest will go into 1/2 freezer pints. I can't waste a spit of that goodness.

My stash is from a Costco sale. My local mom and pop Italian market matches the Costco price. It has been end of isle across from the three tiny checkouts for a dozen years. I'm sure they got tired of the Italian nannas pronouncing..."Costco is cheaper!". 😂. Hilarious market. Gramps on the loudspeaker singing...then shouting sale items. A Fellini movie experience. I always take out-of-town guests. It is, i believe, an old A&P from the 70's. The automatic door has never worked but they have a DwnsSydrome faimily member adult as a door welcomer and opener. Four generations work the store. True butcher but the sausage is too salty, bummer. They have 2lb bags of bones for stock in the small freezer section. Two bucks. "these used to be free!"....everyone laughs. In good humor. Nanna, daughter, grands, (daughter and sons), shopping together and learning from Nanna.

(the ladies room in the back, through the meat packing and loading dock is a hoot...gilded mirrors, a fainting couch, velvet, lots of lotions and hand creams, evian, 😂, perfumes...nail polish)

While I'd rather make my own, I'm content with Rao's when I'm just too busy to care.