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I was that kid who put ketchup on everything, from fries to french toast, and if my parents wanted me to eat vegetables, they’d have to cover them in the stuff (the sugar cravings of my youth have subsided, but I still love ketchup mixed into peas). So I was pleasantly surprised by this test group, because even the most economical sauces performed well.

Tomato content varied greatly (though not always in line with price), with the most tomato-heavy products containing almost twice as much fruit as the least. This information is presented in two ways: the first is the amount of raw tomato used before the sauce is cooked down into puree (more than 200g per 100g of finished product is high, less than 150g is low); the second is a straight percentage of tomato puree used, which is a more transparent measure (above 50% is high, while less than that I’d consider low, so check the label if you want more fruit in your sauce). Products made with fewer tomatoes are sometimes thickened with modified maize starch. I’ve also listed the total sugar content.

Ultimately, every product did “what it says on the tin”, and while not necessarily delicious straight from the spoon, all were great with chips. Some of the top-end sauces suit a more mature palate, with a richer, spiced flavour, but they still have that classic burst of umami-sweet-sour tang.

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The best supermarket tomato ketchups

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Best overall:
Rubies in the Rubble Ketchup but Gooder

★★★★☆

A squeezy bottle of vivid red sauce with a sweet and complex aroma. Contains a high percentage of fruit – 242g per 100g (tomatoes, plus surplus pears/apples) – which adds sweetness and a fruity depth layered with spice. Contains the preservative potassium sorbate and 20% total sugars.

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Best bargain:
Bramwells Original tomato ketchup

★★★☆☆

A squeezy bottle of thin and smooth puree, with a classic, inoffensive and unremarkable flavour profile (sweet-sour, tomato), making it perfect for kids. A simple, additive-free formula with 16.4% total sugars.

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And the rest …

Co-op On the Side tomato ketchup

★★★☆☆

A squeezy bottle of thick, deep red sauce that’s sharp on the nose but with a tempting, savoury aroma. Sweet and easy on the palate, too, with a slightly higher total sugar content of 22% and a ratio of 167g tomatoes per 100g sauce. Contains modified maize starch.

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Sainsbury’s So Organic tomato ketchup

★★★☆☆

A squeezy bottle with a clean tomato puree aroma, rich colour and that classic, sharp-yet-sweet umami flavour. Total sugars stand at 20.9%, plus, at 38%, a relatively low percentage of tomato puree. Certified organic.

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Mr Organic Italian organic tomato ketchup

★★★☆☆

A glass bottle of very thick, smooth ketchup with the comforting and uncomplicated aroma of cooked tomatoes. Lively on the tongue yet classic and simply flavoured, with a dominant sweet-and-sour tomato flavour. A high percentage (80%) of tomato, too, and 16% total sugars.

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M&S Only 8 Ingredients tomato ketchup

★★★☆☆

A thick puree with a little separation that’s sharp and lively on the palate with a subtle, spicy complexity. The sweetest sauce in the test, with 23.9% total sugars (it’s sweetened with agave syrup). It also has a high tomato content, with 281g of tomatoes per 100g.

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Heinz tomato ketchup

★★★☆☆

The classic, fire-brick-red ketchup is a thick yet very smooth puree with a spiced, acidic, tomatoey aroma. Candy-sweet with a sour twang and good depth, but with 22.8% total sugars and a low 148g of tomatoes per 100g sauce. A simple, additive-free formula, though.

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Essential Waitrose & Partners tomato ketchup

★★☆☆☆

A squeezy bottle with a thick, mousse-like texture, a classic sweet taste, and a clear sharpness. At 75%, a high percentage of tomato puree. Contains modified maize starch and 21.5% total sugars.

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Asda Classic tomato ketchup

★★☆☆☆

A squeezy bottle of Venetian-red, perfectly smooth and thick puree. A mousse-like texture and a plain, sweet-forward flavour with that classic sour twang. Sugar is at 21%, and the tomato ratio is on the low side (148g per 100g ketchup). Contains modified maize starch.

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Tesco tomato ketchup

★★☆☆☆

Sweet on the nose, with a thin consistency and a slimy texture from the modified maize starch. Low in total sugars (17.9%), while 148g tomatoes per 100g sauce is also on the low side.

For more, read the best supermarket mayonnaise and the best supermarket English mustard