After we tasted 10 salsas and listed the results on the cover, we compared seven fresh, refrigerated salsas. Again, a clear winner and loser emerged. Unlike in the jarred-salsa test, where the store brands surprised us, the fresh store brands ranked at the bottom. Once again, people’s tastes vary. Some seek out sweetness, while others crave salt. The heat ranking asked how hot the salsa is for a medium. Here’s how the playoffs turned out:
1. Garden Fresh Gourmet Jack’s Special Salsa
Price: $4.39, King Soopers.
Heat: 2-3.
Would you buy: Most said yes.
Would be good with: Beer, shredded beef tacos, huevos.
Comments: Good balance of cilantro, ripe tomatoes, heat and sweet.
2. Roberto’s Green Chile Salsa
Price: $4.49, Safeway.
Heat: 3.
Would you buy: All but one said yes.
Would be good with: Rice and beans. Blue corn chips. Eggs.
Comments: Nice and hot.
A good balance; ripe tomatoes. Salty but good flavor.
3. Whole Foods Adobo Salsa
Price: $3.49, Whole Foods.
Heat: 3.
Would you buy: Majority yes, with a few nos.
Would be good with: All foods. Chicken, fish, seafood. In guacamole or tomato soup.
Comments: Good smooth consistency. Some liked the smoky aftertaste, others found it bitter.
4. Rojo’s Restaurant Style
Price: $3.49, King Soopers.
Heat: 1-2.
Would you buy: A few more nos than yeses.
Would be good with: Nachos. Chips. Not much.
Comments: Subtle but good. Too much cilantro. Not enough cilantro. A little salty.
5. The Deli Counter (store brand)
Price: $2.99, Safeway.
Heat: 1.
Would you buy: Unanimous no.
Would be good with: Nothing.
Comments: Bland. No heat. Tomatoes unripe. Not a true salsa, more of a relish.
6. Whole Foods Salsa Fresh
Price: $3.49, Whole Foods.
Heat: 2.
Would you buy: No.
Would be good with: No comments.
Comments: Too watery, too much tomato. No heat.
7. King Soopers/ City Market (store brand)
Price: $3.29 King Soopers.
Heat: 1.
Would you buy: No.
Would be good with: Something to spice it up.
Comments: Too watery, not much flavor. Bitter taste of rotten tomatoes. Plastic.
-Kristen Browning-Blas
