What Is Barbecue Sauce Made Out of

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Summer officially kicks off in late June, but for most Americans, Memorial Day weekend is when things actually start to heat up, especially on the grill. And as any barbecue aficionado knows, a bare burger won't take you far—half the fun is dressing up your food in savory sauces. But with so many condiments to choose from, how do you know what makes the cut? To keep you from aimlessly wandering supermarket aisles, WomansDay.com rounded up a bevy of popular ketchups, mustards and barbecue sauces and put them to the test. Our method: a blind taste-test among editors, sampling the condiments alone as well as with hot dogs (beef, turkey and tofu), soft pretzels and french fries. Read on for our reviews and get ready to grill!

Ketchup

Heinz Tomato Ketchup

Score: 3.9 out of 5

What WD had to say: Heinz remains top dog. Maybe it's the bad stuff that makes it so good (it's still made with high fructose corn syrup), but that didn't deter testers. They said it "had the best pairing possibilities," had a "great texture" and "nice tang" and "wasn't too sweet."

Photo courtesy of Heinz.com

Hunt's Tomato Ketchup

Score: 3.8 out of 5

What WD had to say: Hunt's is the latest product to steer clear of high fructose corn syrup, which may be the reason this ketchup scored well with testers, who deemed it more "tomato-y" and "classic-flavored" than the others. It didn't rate very high or low, but was a pleasing fit for most palates.

Photo courtesy of Hunts.com

Henry's Grandma's Catsup

Product, Brown, Yellow, Green, Bottle, Red, Photograph, White, Line, Amber,

Score: 3.6 out of 5

What WD had to say: This all-natural, Montana-made "catsup" caused quite a stir among testers. Some raved about its unique, homemade flavor and grownup appeal—it was the only ketchup to garner two perfect scores—while others found it too dark, thin and "more like a dipping sauce" or "barbecue sauce" than ketchup.

Photo courtesy of HenrysCatsup.com

Muir Glen Organic Tomato Ketchup

Score: 3.3 out of 5

What WD had to say: Taste testers were mixed on this version, which skips the artificial flavors and colors (good) but has nearly double the sodium of other brands (not-so-good). While one tester liked the "classic favor," others were put off by its "gloppy" and "chunky" consistency.

Photo courtesy of MuirGlen.com

Beaver Gourmet Ketchup with Honey Mustard

Score: 2.5 out of 5

What WD had to say: This ketchup was the biggest departure from the norm, with a fruit mixture that includes peach purée and pineapple syrup. While one taster enjoyed the sweetness, others found it a little too overpowering and without "enough ketchup flavor." Its dark color was also a deterrent to some, appearing to be "more like cocktail sauce than ketchup."

Photo courtesy of BeavertonFoods.com

Mustard

Annie's Naturals Organic Dijon Mustard

Blue, Product, Yellow, Liquid, Bottle, Fluid, Purple, Violet, Lavender, Electric blue,

Score: 4 out of 5

What WD had to say: Despite its wan color, which had some testers nervous at first glance, this mustard was the overall winner. Gluten-free and organic, it was praised for its "perfect blend of spices," "great flavor" and "creamy" texture that's more like mayonnaise than typical mustards.

Photo courtesy of AnniesNaturals.com

Mustard Girl Stoneground Deli Mustard

Blue, Product, Yellow, Brown, Bottle, Plastic bottle, Line, Liquid, Aqua, Bottle cap,

Score: 3.6 out of 5

What WD had to say: This creation took second place, with a grainy texture that most of us enjoyed, even those who aren't "seedy" mustard types. Testers found it "really delicious" and "unique," with two uttering the L-word (the only time it appeared during testing). However, it was a little sweet for some, especially considering that it's labeled "deli-style" mustard.

Photo courtesy of MustardGirl.com

Product, Yellow, Bottle, Ingredient, Red, Amber, Bottle cap, Orange, Condiment, Beige,

Gulden's Spicy Brown Mustard

Score: 3.5 out of 5

What WD had to say: This slightly spicy mustard was an overall pleaser, ranking smack dab in the middle. Garnering average numbers, it didn't surprise testers, but neither did it disappoint. Testers found it tasty enough, with a "nice kick" and "smooth" texture.

Photo courtesy of ConAgraFoods.com

French's Classic Yellow Mustard

Score: 3 out of 5

What WD had to say: With its distinctive yellow color, French's is easy to pick out of a "blind" taste test. As such, tasters were divided on old-standing biases, rating it at the two extremes of the spectrum. Some loved the "traditional" and "classic" vinegar-packed flavor and bright hue; others found it "gross" and "flat," declaring themselves "unfit" to judge because of a distaste for yellow mustard.

Photo courtesy of Frenchs.com

Inglehoffer Honey Mustard

Score: 2.8 out of 5

What WD had to say: The likability of this mustard rested on one factor: sweetness. Our testers were a bit unsure, giving it middling scores across the board. One found the flavor was "overwhelmed by the sugar" (which ranks No. 2 on the ingredient list), while others liked the honey taste and found it to be "well-balanced," even if it was "slightly on the sweet side."

Photo courtesy of BeavertonFoods.com

Barbecue Sauce

KC Masterpiece Hot 'n Spicy BBQ Sauce

Score: 3.6 out of 5

What WD had to say: This sauce was unanimously deemed to have the "classic BBQ flavor," with a smoky kick, sweet taste (though too sweet for some), "nice dark color" and silky texture. One tester particularly liked its "peppery kick balanced by a smoky sweetness." Another added: "This one is perfect for barbecuing chicken, pork or ribs…definitely use this one on the grill."

Photo courtesy of KCMasterpiece.com

Annie's Naturals Organic Original BBQ Sauce

Score: 3.6 out of 5

What WD had to say: The only vegan product of the bunch—with unique ingredients such as cloves, tamari soy sauce and brown rice syrup—this sauce tied for first, thanks to its "different" and "excellent" use of spices. Some testers found it to have a "watery" consistency and "weird" aftertaste, but overall, tasters thought it'd be a great option for chicken or as a marinade, but not for hamburgers or hot dogs.

Photo courtesy of AnniesNaturals.com

Kraft Hickory Smoke Barbecue Sauce

Score: 3.2 out of 5

What WD had to say: Despite some mixed reviews, this sauce was well liked, with a "good color" and "traditional" flavor that was smoky and not too sweet. Testers thought it could have had more "kick," but overall, it was deemed a reliable sauce to have on hand.

Photo courtesy of KraftFoods.com

Bone Suckin' Sauce, Hot and Thicker Style

Product, Text, Red, Ingredient, Mason jar, Line, Font, Magenta, Food storage containers, Maroon,

Score: 3 out of 5

What WD had to say: A Western North Carolina–style concoction, this all-natural and gluten-free sauce was a modest hit with testers, who liked its reddish-tinged color and "smoky" profile. However, none of the testers found this "hot" BBQ sauce spicy; rather, most found it to be "sweet" and some were deterred by its thin consistency.

Photo courtesy of BoneSuckin.com

Sweet Baby Ray's Honey Barbecue Sauce

Score: 2.8 out of 5

What WD had to say: Fans of sweet barbecue sauce should look no further: This one packs a certifiable punch. It's darker and thicker than the rest, and several testers enjoyed its "sweet and smoky" flavor. But more found it to be "too sweet," rating it as a sauce that's best used for grilling, rather than a straight-on-the-food condiment.

Photo courtesy of SweetBabyRays.com

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What Is Barbecue Sauce Made Out of

Source: https://www.womansday.com/food-recipes/food-drinks/a5132/wd-reviews-bbq-condiments-107612/