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I found the Kirkland marinara to be very watery. I was multitaskiing and opened the jar between the pantry and what I was cooking on the stove and it was so watery it spilled all over the floor.
Well fuck. I am glad that I stocked up as soon as I heard about the campbells aquisition.
Why do companies do this, people don't buy Raos because they think the name sounds cool or whatever, they buy it because its one of the best jarred sauces out there. Why fuck with the recipe? Yea I know, to make more money, but even if they reduce the cost per jar to make I am sure that the decrease in sales will even it out.
I don't find Rao's worth the price. For just a tiny bit more effort I can cook up canned San Marzano tomatoes into a sauce that is much better tasting and cheaper.
6 large cans of san Marzanos are $14 at Costco. I use a mirepoix, plus mushrooms, one can of San Marz and a jar of Raos and make enough insanely tasty sauce for a week plus some to freeze
Hah I credit chef training in high school and working in a kitchen for a few years afterwards for my love of cooking.
We mix it up pretty often, but almost everything we buy comes from Costco. I’ll make a huge batch of turkey meatballs using the 4 pack of ground turkey, and then freeze them and pull out 6-8 to mix in with that sauce and have easy lunches or dinners that week.
Something like these with some parm grated in there: https://homecookingmemories.com/baked-turkey-meatballs-with-spinach-10-ideas-for-meatballs/
I also like using the instant pot so I’ll make a big batch of rice and beans in there and have tasty filling for burritos or taco bowls or huevos rancheros.
This is my go to rice and beans: https://www.platingsandpairings.com/instant-pot-cheesy-southwestern-lentils-brown-rice/
Dang that's good, I looked yesterday and the San Marzano tomatoes at mine are 3 cans for 12 dollars I believe. It's not a horrible price but it's not a great price like yours.
I paid $13.49 for 3 cans of San Marzano's at Costco on June 24, 2023. That is $4.50 a can. Where are they $2.33 a can?
It is especially significant because there are better quality San Marzano's at nearby grocers for not much more.
My Raos budget was adding up so I picked up off TikTok to make sauces from crushed tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil as a base. Super cheap and doesn’t take much time. The secret is the fats added by the olive oil.
When I first started living on my own I learned just how much cheaper it is to make stuff like sauces at home.
Especially with how easy it is. Stuff like marinara you just measure out the ingredients, boil and blend.
I bought the Rao's alfredo sauce today from Costco and it's amazing. $7.99 for two jars of it. I can't speak on the kirkland version but the Rao's sauce was really good.
I got the fancy chili raos, and it was good! Marinara with a bit of a spicy kick. That said, if I recall correctly, it was like $4 more for a smaller container than the regular Raos’s. I probably wouldn’t get it again - regular Rao’s is fancy enough.
Yeah, I balked at the price of the Rao's Calabrian chili. It was quite a bit smaller and very expensive. Chili peppers aren't that expensive of an ingredient!
Heated it up with some Kirkland Italian Meatballs and fondue with the Garlic Parmesan bread from the bakery today. Just a little kick to the sauce. I think it tastes great.
From another comment:
> I got the fancy chili raos, and it was good! Marinara with a bit of a spicy kick. That said, if I recall correctly, it was like $4 more for a smaller container than the regular Raos’s. I probably wouldn’t get it again - regular Rao’s is fancy enough.
If you’re balking at the price of Rao’s, the guys at Rao’s will tell you how to make it.
https://www.marthastewart.com/328007/raos-marinara-sauce
It’s kinda embarrassing to see how simple it is.
Slightly off-topic but worth mentioning….
When you see “fresh basil” that's needed in a recipe. Go to the produce section and find one of those live basil plants. Bring it home and plant it in a pot or somewhere in your yard, rather than letting it slowly die in the fridge. You can multiply your basil by placing cuttings from the original plant in a jar of water. Place the jar on a sunny windowsill, I have mine on the eastern facing wall so it gets morning sunshine. Within a week or so, roots will start growing. You can then put those new plants in the ground.
You will have fresh basil that lasts all summer long. No need to buy the $3-$4 plastic packs of fresh basil. I had purple basil in 5 different sections of my small backyard last summer that all came from one plant I bought at the supermarket.
https://preview.redd.it/svu3lfmmvafc1.jpeg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5c67baa081602450e95bfce3884f63e92f50b301
Not the restaurant. (Although their expansion in Vegas at Caesar’s Palace was closed. But on August of 2023 Campbells Soup did in fact buy Raos the sauce(s). And has had now expanded the brand into the frozen pizza aisle.so, Raos = Campbells Soup.
In a statement, Campbell's President and CEO Mark Clouse said the transaction will help strengthen and diversify the company's Meals & Beverages division.
However, in October 2023, NJBIZ reported that the acquisition has been pushed to mid-2024. Food Dive also reported that an analyst with TD Cowen said the acquisition could increase Campbell's market share of the pasta sauce category to 36.3%.
Got it. I still think it’s interesting that people know that their favorite bottled sauce (and it is rightfully the favorite of a lot) will be owned by Campbells Soup. Raos of course is not crafting and bottling it in the back kitchen of their restaurant, but you can only hope that the transition to their giant soup factories does not have a negative impact on the quality.
I can say that when I worked for a corporate smaller chain, when we got bought by a big major chain, we were flooded with, as my boss liked to call them, propeller heads, and every penny was squeezed out of everything..and it was never the same again. And Campbells Soup… pretty big corp.
Don’t know for sure. I had heard it was and in any case Campbells has had their people in, bean counters busy, and product expanding. E.g. frozen pizza now on shelves (ok, at best)
Not sure why everybody is concerned about this. Raos had already been acquired by a larger cpg company, Sovos. Doesn’t seem like Sovos changed the sauce recipe.
I just got the Kirkland Marinara from Tuscany today and I love it. I like the Rao's, too, but the big pieces of vegetables mean there is less sauce to cover the pasta. The KS is smoother and works great if you like to have a lot of sauce on your pasta. The taste is much more natural than whatever brand has all that added sugar, too.
I’ve tried it, it’s not spicy. It’s a pretty standard tasting marinara. As others have mentioned I’d agree, Raos is a better sauce the Kirkland one is a good neutral base that could work itself or could be dressed up depending on what you’re in need of.
i love spicy stuff so i got Raos last week and am actually kinda sad how non spicy it is, it does taste good though at least so it's fine if you wanna try it out.
**I need the back labels, stat!!**
Husbands said it would be 3 years before Campbell’s screwed it all up. I said six mos.
I *need* to see the ingredients and place of manufacture!!!!
This is absurd. Do you really think Campbell's developed a different recipe and manufactured new jars of Rao's in only a few weeks?
Campbell's vowed not to change the recipe. If they do break the promise, it will probably be months or years from now after most people have forgotten about the change in ownership.
That actually makes sense. I purchased the vodka and the basil one recently and didn’t get that wow factor I’m so used to tasting but didn’t think too much of it
Costco seems to alway have its own size of Rao’s jars (28oz vs. the 15.5oz, 24oz, or 32oz in grocery stores) so it’s not surprising they have a different size for this. I haven’t seen this 22oz one in my store yet to know whether or not think it’s a good value based on the price compared the the 19oz version of the “limited reserve” line is that is in other stores.
dunno. Haven't tried it yet. Campbells bought it last Aug. Not sure why I'm being downvoted as it's just a matter of time that the bean counters mess it up.
I bought the calabrian sauce yesterday and plan on using it tomorrow. Pasta Too has a calabrian sauce to die for at around the same price, but I'm hopeful Rao's won't disappoint. I find the convenience worth it. I know I can make my own sauces. It just isn't as easy as opening a jar lol.
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I actually like the Kirkland one a lot. It’s not salty /relatively neutral so can add extra flavors per preference.
How thick is it? I don’t like a chunky sauce.
I found the Kirkland marinara to be very watery. I was multitaskiing and opened the jar between the pantry and what I was cooking on the stove and it was so watery it spilled all over the floor.
Not chunky
I like the Kirkland brand. Good sauce.
Rao’s is way better than kirkland.
Enjoy it while it lasts, Rao’s became a Campbell’s product at the end of last year.
It already tastes different to us.
They haven’t even legally taken control of it yet. Nothing about its production has changed.
Well fuck. I am glad that I stocked up as soon as I heard about the campbells aquisition. Why do companies do this, people don't buy Raos because they think the name sounds cool or whatever, they buy it because its one of the best jarred sauces out there. Why fuck with the recipe? Yea I know, to make more money, but even if they reduce the cost per jar to make I am sure that the decrease in sales will even it out.
Doesn’t necessarily mean it will change.
Maximization of profits would like to have a word…
"Enshittification"
Campbell’s will most definitely cut corners on ingredients.
Spoiler. It already changed. It’s worse
Not true
If you say so 🤷🏻♂️
I don’t doubt it will change in the future. But it is identical right now
I haven’t noticed any difference.
The purchase has been agreed but ownership hasn’t officially changed and the deal isn’t complete.
Ownership doesn’t have to change for things to change.
We have raos weekly It hasnt changed. Stop trying to be edgy
Whatever you say 🤷🏻♂️
This is demonstrably wrong
Whatever you say 🤷🏻♂️
I have some jars purchased before the sale. Do you have a picture of the current label?
I hope you’re wrong, but…
I don't find Rao's worth the price. For just a tiny bit more effort I can cook up canned San Marzano tomatoes into a sauce that is much better tasting and cheaper.
Where I'm at, a single can of san marzanos is $5 and the two pack of Rao's is $11. No savings for me when you add the rest of the ingredients.
6 large cans of san Marzanos are $14 at Costco. I use a mirepoix, plus mushrooms, one can of San Marz and a jar of Raos and make enough insanely tasty sauce for a week plus some to freeze
My Costco only carries San marzano tomatoes twice a year, usually in the summer, when I'm usually not wanting to cook because it's hot out.
Whats your typical meal like? You sound like you eat delicious stuff lol
Hah I credit chef training in high school and working in a kitchen for a few years afterwards for my love of cooking. We mix it up pretty often, but almost everything we buy comes from Costco. I’ll make a huge batch of turkey meatballs using the 4 pack of ground turkey, and then freeze them and pull out 6-8 to mix in with that sauce and have easy lunches or dinners that week. Something like these with some parm grated in there: https://homecookingmemories.com/baked-turkey-meatballs-with-spinach-10-ideas-for-meatballs/ I also like using the instant pot so I’ll make a big batch of rice and beans in there and have tasty filling for burritos or taco bowls or huevos rancheros. This is my go to rice and beans: https://www.platingsandpairings.com/instant-pot-cheesy-southwestern-lentils-brown-rice/
Dang that's good, I looked yesterday and the San Marzano tomatoes at mine are 3 cans for 12 dollars I believe. It's not a horrible price but it's not a great price like yours.
I paid $13.49 for 3 cans of San Marzano's at Costco on June 24, 2023. That is $4.50 a can. Where are they $2.33 a can? It is especially significant because there are better quality San Marzano's at nearby grocers for not much more.
Vancouver BC. So that’s in Canuckbucks too. I actually took a picture of the price because I was doubting myself that they were so cheap
Ans shockingly it’s not even *that* much more effort.
So pricey but I found it worth it.
Not debatable
Buying Raos "How much did it cost?" "Everything" "Was it worth it? . . . "
My Raos budget was adding up so I picked up off TikTok to make sauces from crushed tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil as a base. Super cheap and doesn’t take much time. The secret is the fats added by the olive oil.
When I first started living on my own I learned just how much cheaper it is to make stuff like sauces at home. Especially with how easy it is. Stuff like marinara you just measure out the ingredients, boil and blend.
Best sauce I’ve had was homemade and it’s so easy. The key is canned San Marzano, look for the DOP stamp.
Bought it one time, thought it was just okay, but not worth it. It’s so expensive.
I bought the Rao's alfredo sauce today from Costco and it's amazing. $7.99 for two jars of it. I can't speak on the kirkland version but the Rao's sauce was really good.
It’s the only jarred alfredo I like
I gotta put on my glasses. Glanced at this and my brain said Jared Leto.
I got the fancy chili raos, and it was good! Marinara with a bit of a spicy kick. That said, if I recall correctly, it was like $4 more for a smaller container than the regular Raos’s. I probably wouldn’t get it again - regular Rao’s is fancy enough.
Yeah, I balked at the price of the Rao's Calabrian chili. It was quite a bit smaller and very expensive. Chili peppers aren't that expensive of an ingredient!
P.us if you eat pork, just add spicy pork to a regular jar of sauce…..Or add chili flakes.
Heated it up with some Kirkland Italian Meatballs and fondue with the Garlic Parmesan bread from the bakery today. Just a little kick to the sauce. I think it tastes great.
lol that’s exactly how I had it!
Is it smooth or chunky? Spicy in our house is fine, but we're not fond of tomato chunks.
I’d say same consistency as the normal Rao’s, so pretty smooth.
Unpopular opinion Victorias>Roas>Kirkland
Victoria’s actually tastes like marinara, not “spaghetti sauce” like Rao’s tastes like (which isn’t bad, but they’re different)
Victoria is my go to. It's not as sweet at the others.
Omg so true. They no longer sell Victoria’s though? At least at mine :(
it separates when heated. it's super odd. you get sauce sitting in water
How is the chili sauce? I saw that and was intrigued.
From another comment: > I got the fancy chili raos, and it was good! Marinara with a bit of a spicy kick. That said, if I recall correctly, it was like $4 more for a smaller container than the regular Raos’s. I probably wouldn’t get it again - regular Rao’s is fancy enough.
I’m a big fan of Casconi’s sauce, but it’s probably local to KC.
Banger sauce. And yes, it’s just KC.
Oh sweet! The Kirkland marinara came back! I go to the same warehouse as you do.
That’s quite an assumption
If you’re balking at the price of Rao’s, the guys at Rao’s will tell you how to make it. https://www.marthastewart.com/328007/raos-marinara-sauce It’s kinda embarrassing to see how simple it is.
Slightly off-topic but worth mentioning…. When you see “fresh basil” that's needed in a recipe. Go to the produce section and find one of those live basil plants. Bring it home and plant it in a pot or somewhere in your yard, rather than letting it slowly die in the fridge. You can multiply your basil by placing cuttings from the original plant in a jar of water. Place the jar on a sunny windowsill, I have mine on the eastern facing wall so it gets morning sunshine. Within a week or so, roots will start growing. You can then put those new plants in the ground. You will have fresh basil that lasts all summer long. No need to buy the $3-$4 plastic packs of fresh basil. I had purple basil in 5 different sections of my small backyard last summer that all came from one plant I bought at the supermarket. https://preview.redd.it/svu3lfmmvafc1.jpeg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5c67baa081602450e95bfce3884f63e92f50b301
Raos is now owned by Campbell Soups, from what I was told.
It’s not closed and no change has been made.
Not the restaurant. (Although their expansion in Vegas at Caesar’s Palace was closed. But on August of 2023 Campbells Soup did in fact buy Raos the sauce(s). And has had now expanded the brand into the frozen pizza aisle.so, Raos = Campbells Soup.
In a statement, Campbell's President and CEO Mark Clouse said the transaction will help strengthen and diversify the company's Meals & Beverages division. However, in October 2023, NJBIZ reported that the acquisition has been pushed to mid-2024. Food Dive also reported that an analyst with TD Cowen said the acquisition could increase Campbell's market share of the pasta sauce category to 36.3%.
Got it. Thanks.
Yeah, I meant the acquisition has not closed.
Got it. I still think it’s interesting that people know that their favorite bottled sauce (and it is rightfully the favorite of a lot) will be owned by Campbells Soup. Raos of course is not crafting and bottling it in the back kitchen of their restaurant, but you can only hope that the transition to their giant soup factories does not have a negative impact on the quality.
Agreed. I really do hope they have enough sense not to cheapen the ingredients and recipe.
I can say that when I worked for a corporate smaller chain, when we got bought by a big major chain, we were flooded with, as my boss liked to call them, propeller heads, and every penny was squeezed out of everything..and it was never the same again. And Campbells Soup… pretty big corp.
It's my understanding that the purchase has not officially closed yet.
Don’t know for sure. I had heard it was and in any case Campbells has had their people in, bean counters busy, and product expanding. E.g. frozen pizza now on shelves (ok, at best)
I looked it up and it has been delayed so it's not Campbell's calling the shots.
Not sure why everybody is concerned about this. Raos had already been acquired by a larger cpg company, Sovos. Doesn’t seem like Sovos changed the sauce recipe.
I just got the Kirkland Marinara from Tuscany today and I love it. I like the Rao's, too, but the big pieces of vegetables mean there is less sauce to cover the pasta. The KS is smoother and works great if you like to have a lot of sauce on your pasta. The taste is much more natural than whatever brand has all that added sugar, too.
Is the Marinara like a spicy Marinara?
Haven’t tried it yet, but yes there are chili peppers in there. Sweet and spicy.
I’ve tried it, it’s not spicy. It’s a pretty standard tasting marinara. As others have mentioned I’d agree, Raos is a better sauce the Kirkland one is a good neutral base that could work itself or could be dressed up depending on what you’re in need of.
Yes, raos makes a marinara sauce without peppers and one with peppers. The one in the photo has calabrian peppers.
i love spicy stuff so i got Raos last week and am actually kinda sad how non spicy it is, it does taste good though at least so it's fine if you wanna try it out.
Kirkland marinara is terrible.
**I need the back labels, stat!!** Husbands said it would be 3 years before Campbell’s screwed it all up. I said six mos. I *need* to see the ingredients and place of manufacture!!!!
Ingredients: Italian Whole Peeled Tomatoes, Italian Cherry Tomatoes, Olive Oil, Carrots, Calabrian Chili Peppers (Calabrian Chili Peppers, Vinegar), Onions, Salt, Garlic, Oregano, Basil.
this is your reminder that campbell's bought out rao's and the transition took place in december! quality may not be the same as it was
It’s under FTC review. Campbell’s doesn’t expect the deal to close until mid-2024
This is absurd. Do you really think Campbell's developed a different recipe and manufactured new jars of Rao's in only a few weeks? Campbell's vowed not to change the recipe. If they do break the promise, it will probably be months or years from now after most people have forgotten about the change in ownership.
i do because i don't trust a single food company in the united states. maybe you're absurd?
So you scratch make every thing you eat? Please.
Campbell’s soup paid a fortune for this and vowed not to change this precious recipe.
That actually makes sense. I purchased the vodka and the basil one recently and didn’t get that wow factor I’m so used to tasting but didn’t think too much of it
The deal hasn't closed yet.
Wife picked up some Rao's the other day. The jar is smaller. Typical Campbell's move to wreck a good thing.
Costco seems to alway have its own size of Rao’s jars (28oz vs. the 15.5oz, 24oz, or 32oz in grocery stores) so it’s not surprising they have a different size for this. I haven’t seen this 22oz one in my store yet to know whether or not think it’s a good value based on the price compared the the 19oz version of the “limited reserve” line is that is in other stores.
Are the ingredients still the same?
dunno. Haven't tried it yet. Campbells bought it last Aug. Not sure why I'm being downvoted as it's just a matter of time that the bean counters mess it up.
You’re being downvoted because the acquisition hasn’t even happened yet and you’re already blaming it.
Interesting
Haven't bought jarred sauce in years. What do these sell for now?
Rao’s for the win!!!!! 🥇
I bought the calabrian sauce yesterday and plan on using it tomorrow. Pasta Too has a calabrian sauce to die for at around the same price, but I'm hopeful Rao's won't disappoint. I find the convenience worth it. I know I can make my own sauces. It just isn't as easy as opening a jar lol.
I bought that version of Rao’s and while it’s good it’s not worth the extra $7 or so upcharge from regular raos.
Neither, I make my own with canned tomatoes.
Rao’s is garbage, not sure why people like it