Australian supermarket tomato sauces tasted and rated - and how to cook them

The term "pantry staple" is so boring. How do you find inspiration in a dusty cupboard of unidentifiable jars, spices and flours?

Really, the pickles and condiments that hide in Dark corners have so much untapped potential. This sticky pot of honey shouldn't just be used for tea or toast, nor should this curry paste be exiled to a life of Tuesday night curries. I can hear the mango chutney crying from your fridge door.

They all deserve more than the recipe you bought them for. These little guys are real flavor bombs you can use to amp up your weeknight meals. To imagine! Umami-rich, roasted, nutty, and smoky treats to enhance and inspire your cooking, and they're already in your pantry.

First, let's define what I mean by pantry. I'm a chef, an avid home cook, and of Asian descent, so my pantry is stocked accordingly. What is unfamiliar to some people is essential to others, so go to a supermarket or grocer and buy an ingredient you wouldn't ordinarily know what to do with. That's why I'm here.

That being said, let's start with something that most of us will probably have in the fridge or pantry: ketchup.

< p class="dcr-3jlghf">Ketchup is underrated. It is called tomato sauce in Australia. Or just "sauce". I like it, it's direct and precise. As there are no other sauces.

Its uses are very clearly dictated in Australian culture: hot fries, sausages rolled and pressed unceremoniously on a flambéed sausage on a slice of Tip Top white bread. You can find it in squeeze pouches for an extra 50c with your meat pie, or in a dripping 4L pitcher alongside sporks at the chip shop.

According to Heinz, the The main difference between ketchup and tomato sauce is the amount of tomatoes used. Ketchup supposedly contains more tomatoes, in some cases it also contains tomato paste, so it is thicker and richer than its tomato sauce counterpart. But my taste tests suggest the real difference is between brands and price points, rather than between the terms "ketchup" and "tomato sauce".

J bought all the tomato sauces and ketchups available at my local supermarket, and tried them all for four key factors: sweetness, viscosity, acidity, and complexity. We usually have Heinz at home, and I was surprised he wasn't even in my top three. Here's what I tried:

RosellaStraight up, Rosella tomato sauce was like swallowing a mouthful of vinegar (I actually ate a whole tablespoon and I don't recommend anyone to do this.) The sauce is quite thin and watery, and there's definitely not enough sweetness to balance out that hardcore sourness. The tomato flavor isn't very strong either.

BeerenbergBeerenberg was interesting, the sauce is quite thick, almost thick, and lots of flavors going on. Think lots of warm spice and an unrelenting onion flavor that basically overpowers the tomato. It's certainly flavorful, but more like a chutney than a tomato sauce.

HeinzVery mild and balanced sweetness and acidity. It's the only ketchup on the list, and it lists "167g of concentrated tomatoes per 100ml". Nobody else specified the amount of tomatoes in their sauce, so I don't really have a point of comparison. It could be heaps and it could be average. Anyway, the spice is quite nicely pronounced and the sauce has a nice silky texture. An all-rounder.

FontaineAnother good all-rounder. Fountain tomato sauce has quite a nice, rich tomato flavor with some warm cinnamon spice. Nice balanced sweetness and acidity.

MasterfoodsThis tomato sauce is thick and rich, but has a very strong onion flavor similar to Beerenberg sauce. It's not unpleasant, and it's definitely more salty than sweet. A more squeezable version of Beerenberg.

WoolworthsWoolies tomato sauce is smooth but rather sour and lacks sweetness for balance. It also lacks a bit of flavor and body.

Ozesauce I had never heard of this brand before trying it, and was thrilled to find it very tasty. Thick, rich and tomato, with just enough spice to give it a nice depth of flavor. Fairly restrained with the acidity too, so there's just enough to g...