Italian Chef Blindfolded Pasta Sauce Test
A pasta sauce makes pasta complete—it’s the soul of pasta. Our Blindfolded Pasta Sauce Taste Test takes your experience to the next level, allowing you to enjoy every bite to the fullest.
When visiting a supermarket or even your local grocer, you’ll often find shelves lined with various tomato pasta sauce options and it can be tricky to decipher which one might be best. Over the years I have tasted quite a few different ones, only to find that a select few are great quality, while others can ruin your meal!
Thanks to endless feedback from my awesome audience, I’m trying something unique today. In some instances, you might think I’m influenced by the brand I am using because Iike anyone, I have preferences. So today, I’m blindfolded and will try selected pasta sauces without knowing what brand I am tasting.
I’ll first smell them, then taste them with a spoon, and finally, try them with pasta. Then, I will tell you which one I like the most and which I like the least.
This turned out to be a pretty awesome experience and was surprising to say the least! It’s a pure experience and the first impression of tasting pasta sauces. I’ve never eaten with a blindfold before, have you?
You can watch the video on YouTube or continue reading this article to discover the best sauce to complement your pasta.
Who Will Win the Blindfolded Pasta Sauce Challenge?
Ready? Here are the contenders for today’s ultimate Pasta Sauce Taste Test.
- Barilla Basilico
- Dolmio Classic Tomato and Basil
- Sacla Whole Cherry Tomato with Basil
- Don Antonio Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce
- Leggo’s Organic Tomato and Basil Sauce
- Mutti Basil Sauce
- Cucina Matese Tomato Basil Sauce
1) Mutti Basil Sauce
When it was revealed that I gave this sauce such a low score, I’ll admit, I was surprised. I normally really like Mutti, but when I tasted it, I didn’t have many positive things to say, which left me wondering, if removing my sense of sight, did something happen to my tastebuds?
The sauce lacked the robust, garden-fresh aroma of basil I love in my homemade version. Tasting it blindfolded, I hoped for that rich tomato-basil blend, but instead, I found the flavor muted and the texture a bit off-putting.
Disappointingly bland, I scored this 2/10.
2) Don Antonio Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce
When taste testing this one, I accidentally inserted my nose so far into the bottle that I had to clean it! Despite this deep dive, the aroma didn’t scream ‘tomatoes here!’ However, the sauce redeemed itself slightly with real tomato chunks and a pleasantly sweet taste, making it a decent, though not outstanding, option.
Sweet but lacking, it earns a 5.5/10.
3) Leggo’s Organic Tomato and Basil Sauce
This sauce left me guessing with its high acidity and understated flavors. While it hinted at basil, it was too bland to be memorable. It didn’t wow me, it could use a dash of something extra to bring it to life.
Too plain for my taste, I rate it 4/10.
4) Barilla Basilico
Not detecting the scent of fresh tomatoes threw me off, but tasting it was a different story. It had a nice sweetness, suggesting that real tomatoes had been usedIt’s a sauce I’d use, but the odd aftertaste kept it from scoring higher.
Nicely sweet, yet weird aftertaste – it’s a 6/10 from me.
5) Sacla Whole Cherry Tomato with Basil
Opening the jar, I was immediately struck by a some sort of factory-like smell that seemed to be common among n all the sauces I tried—quite a surprise for a brand I usually trust. The sauce was unexpectedly thick and had a sharp acidic note that seemed like vinegar, and overpowered other flavors. Overall, it wasn’t quite right. . Despite my previous positive experiences with Sacla, this particular sauce didn’t have the same vibe.
Underwhelming and thick, it scored a 4.5/10.
6) Dolmio Classic Tomato and Basil
This was an outright fail. It didn’t pass the sniff test and tasted even worse. My blindfold couldn’t shield me from the reality that this sauce might just not belong on a store shelf—or any shelf.
Absolutely inedible, it scores a resounding 0/10.
7) Cucina Matese Tomato Basil Sauce
At first sniff, this sauce gave away nothing—not a hint of fresh or preserved scents, leaving me puzzled. The taste was also unclear; I noticed a mix of flavors that might include vegetables, but it was hard to pinpoint exactly what I was tasting. While it wasn’t terrible, it didn’t impress me too much either. However, it did taste better with pasta, which was a plus.
Mildly pleasing but ambiguous, earning 5/10.
Removing the Blindfold—Results from the Blindfolded Pasta Sauce Taste Test Revealed!!
When it was time to see what I had tasted, I have to say the result was a surprise.
Here’s a rundown, from the most disappointing to the most pleasing, based on my blind tasting experience.
Starting with the least impressive, the Dolmio Classic Tomato and Basil unfortunately didn’t make the cut, scoring literally nothing, 0/10.
The next shock came from a brand I typically trust—Mutti. Awarding it only a 2/10 was unexpected. Known for their quality ingredients, something seemed amiss this time, possibly a batch issue, because it just didn’t hit the usual marks.
Next, I initially thought Leggo’s sauce might score between 3 and 4, but upon careful reflection, I’m settling firmly on a 3. Being organic doesn’t compensate for its lackluster taste, which nearly had it at an even lower score .
Then came Sacla Whole Cherry Tomato with Basil, which I rated at 4.5/10. It was tough to know I scored such a well-loved brand so low, but this is the beauty of the blindfold test, nothing can be an influence, just my sense of taste and smell. The ingredients promise so much; maybe my expectations were too high, or my taste buds were off that day? .
Cucina Matese Tomato Basil Sauce earned a 5/10. It provided quality at a reasonable price but didn’t stand out enough to climb higher up the scale.
Surprisingly, Don Antonio Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce, which I had hoped would fare better, came next. Scoring it at 5.5/10, it was decent but didn’t live up to the expectations set by its wholesome, natural promise.
A bit of nostalgia helped Barilla Basilico secure a 6/10. . Reminiscent of late nights and quick meals after long shifts in London, the familiar flavors of carrots, onions, and garlic brought a comforting essence that resonated well beyond the tasting.
This taste testing adventure was like a rollercoaster, with some sauces stirring up nostalgia and others just stirring anxiety . Each jar told its own little story, some good, some, not so much.
The result of our Blindfolded Pasta Sauce Taste Test speaks for itself, make your own sauce!
But let’s be real—none of these could beat the magic of a homemade sauce. Why settle for store-bought when making your own is so easy. Plus, it’s a great way to impress your guests or just treat yourself at home.
Crafting your own tomato basil sauce is quick—about 30 minutes from start to finish—and the flavors are so vibrant, you’ll feel like you’re dining in a little Italian restaurant right in your own kitchen. And honestly, nothing beats knowing exactly what’s going into your food. Fresh, tasty, and 100% under your control
So, why not try making your own tomato basil sauce? It’s easy, tastes great, and you’ll know exactly what’s in it. Get started with my favorite recipe here:
Once you see (and taste!) the difference, you might just never reach for store-bought again.
Also, a special shout-out to my cameraman Dave, who not only helped me navigate this saucy blind taste test but also cleaned up after my messes. He even tried pronouncing some tricky brand names. Make sure to watch this video all the way to the end for a few laughs!
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