[phatch]

Home made is best, but I certainly keep some jars of the commercial stuff around, I admit it.

When we did the favorite mustard, there was a clear favorite among us. Is the same true for salsa?

For a long time, my favorite was La Victoria Thick and Chunky in the medium heat. My favorite the last few years is Arriba! Fire Roasted Red Salsa, also in the medium heat. They make a good green one too. www.ribafoods.com

For a while, Costco was carrying a 2 quart jug of the Arriba red salsa. I picked up a few jugs at the time, but I'm about out now. Costco switched back to Pace. Yuck.

Pace is way too salty and runny.

[Jayme]

I put this question to my teens, as I'm not a big jarred salsa fan- you aren't going to like this but.... they went with the Pace, thick n chunky, mild (although they'd take medium too)

[Joyfull]

My own first, if I'm too lazy then Herdez for store bought..
We've tried both the homemade style(medium hot ) and their salsa verde.. They are actually quite good for jared salsa..

[KCZ]

I expect this is going to be very regionally biased as I don't think most brands are available nationwide. I've never heard of most of the ones mentioned so far.

My favorite??? Green Mountain Gringo salsa, roasted chili pepper version.

[Mannlicher]

if you just have to go 'commercial', then Pace is the only one out there worth buying.

[notoriouslyKEN]

It seems there is such a large gap between commercial salsa's and smaller manufacturers' / homemade. The deli in my grocery store has their own salsa. I made the mistake of buying the hot one time (I usually love spicy things) and it was almost unbearable. I had to cut it with a milder salsa.

[MuskyHopeful]

The Rick Bayliss Frontera line are pretty good. I usually buy the stuff made at the Mexican grocery store.

Kevin

[KYHeirloomer]

Frankly, if we're talking about nationally marketed stuff, they all taste pretty much the same to me. There are some textural differences, but not enough that I'd prefer one brand over another. Those times I have to go with commercial I just buy whatever is cheapest---usually the house brand.

Regionally this is less so. As with hot sauces, nowadays there are oodles of locally sold or internet-only brands that can be every bit as good as home-made. The question is whether or not you're willing to work your way through them to find the one you like best. Personally I can't be bothered with that, as it doesn't take a lot of time to whip up a batch of my own.

Related question: Collecting hot sauces is getting to be a big hobby. Does anyone do the same with salsas?

[Nentony]

There's always a couple jars of Newman's Own around ouy house.

Tony

[phatch]

Originally Posted by KYHeirloomer

Related question: Collecting hot sauces is getting to be a big hobby. Does anyone do the same with salsas?

Hot sauces keep well and can be enjoyed over fairly long time periods. Not so with Salsa. So I don't see collecting salsas beyond keeping the label.

That said, I've ordered a fair share of goods from mohotta.com for gifts and personal consumption. Some scary things there.

For fun and hilarity, read the reviews at Hot Sauce Super Store - HotSauceWorld.com Click on a hot sauce for the reviews. I've give both of the Mad Dog 357 hot sauces on this page to friends. Hottest Hot Sauce and Worlds Hottest Hot Sauce. They love it but it's hot hot hot! 1 bottle lasts a lifetime for most people....

Phil