Firm Tofu
Check the nutrition label for a clue about your tofu’s texture.
Crushed Tomatoes
Sometimes smooth like puree and sometimes chock-full of chunks, crushed
tomatoe…
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Soy Sauce
Savory, fragrant, umami-rich soy sauce is a staple in American kitchens.
But ch…
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Prepared Pesto
We scooped up seven traditional basil pestos (also called pesto Genovese), price…
Dijon Mustard
What traits guarantee a Dijon mustard that packs a wallop of clean heat and bala…
Apricot Preserves
We tasted five top-selling products plain and in our Cook's Illustrated French A…
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Processed Artichoke Hearts
With so many options on the market, selecting a brand of processed artichoke hea…
Supermarket Frozen Yogurt
These days, supermarket frozen yogurts are flying off the shelves.
Is that beca…
Blue Cheese Dressing
Was it too much to ask for a blue cheese dressing that was thick, creamy, and ac…
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Frozen Straight-Cut French Fries
Homemade fries are not usually an option for weeknight cooking—but was there a f…
Supermarket Hummus
This creamy chickpea spread has gone from health food obscurity to the No. 1 ref…
Ice Cream Cones
We tasted five supermarket sugar cones and waffle cones (after much debate, we d…
Supermarket Cheese Ravioli
Store-bought cheese ravioli offer convenience, but would any pass muster?
Graham Crackers
We tasted three top-selling national brands to see which came out on top.
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Macaroni and Cheese
We tasted 25 boxed and frozen versions of mostly clumpy, gloppy, wimpy mac and c…
Pancake Mixes
What’s the secret to the best from-the-box pancakes? Here’s a hint: They don’t m…
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Reduced-Fat Potato Chips
With reduced-fat chips crowding the snack aisle, we wondered if an acceptable st…
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English Muffins
Are there real differences among the four major national brands of English muffi…
Jarred Hot Salsas
Are hot salsas better than mild?
Mail-Order Brownies
Got a chocolate craving? Discover the top mail-order brownies.
Applesauce
Our runaway favorite contains a surprising ingredient.
Refrigerator Biscuits
Pillsbury has cornered the market on refrigerator biscuits, but how do you choos…
Packaged Stuffing
Supermarket stuffing is incredibly easy to use—but how much quality must you sac…
Supermarket Veggie Burgers
All the brands we tasted won high marks for convenience, but what about taste?
Mail-Order King Cakes
Even if you're not in New Orleans, you can still get an authentic taste of Mardi…
Ready-Made Graham Cracker Crusts
When a homemade crumb crust isn’t an option, is a store-bought crust an acceptab…
Ready-Made Pie Crusts
We have high standards for pastry pie crust. Is there a supermarket option that …
Milk Chocolate Chips
Most of us associate milk chocolate with supermarket candy bars and foil-wrapped…
Chocolate Ice Cream
Ice cream flavors abound, but chocolate remains a perennial favorite. We wanted …
Bottled Barbecue Sauce
Last year Americans spent more than $700 million on supermarket barbecue sauce. …
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100% Whole-Wheat Bread
The labels on whole-wheat bread can be perplexing. We set out to clear up the co…
Supermarket Sauerkraut
To find out which kraut is king, we tried six nationally available supermarket s…
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Mild Jarred Red Salsa
Piquant jarred salsas can add a little spice to any occasion.
But what do mild …
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