Phantom Gourmet: Marinara Sauce Taste Test

BOSTON (CBS) ---- This week on Phantom Gourmet -- a tomato sauce taste test.

Phantom recently purchased four jars of marinara from a local supermarket. The red sauce contenders were Barilla, Classico, Prego and Ragu.

All of the brands scored well in Phantom's taste test, but only one could end up at the top of the food chain.

First up was Classico, made with plum tomatoes and olive oil, this sauce was the chunkiest by far.

Overloaded with flavors of tomato paste and garlic and packed with big pieces of ripe tomato, this bold blend is almost more soup than sauce.

But Classico lost points due to some unpleasantly harsh flavor notes.

At the other end of the sauce spectrum was Ragu.

This marinara was actually too smooth in texture and too subtle in flavor.

It's quite sweet, with barely any hint of herbs or spices.If you're a picky kid or an unadventurous adult, Phantom says this sauce is for you.

The runner up is Prego.

As soon as he popped the top of this jar, Phantom knew he was about to sample some good sauce.It smells earthy and herby and tastes that way too.

Small pieces of tomatoes and onions enhance rather than overpower, making Prego an excellent choice.

At the top of the food chain is Barilla.

This sauce gets everything right. It smells wonderful and has a perfect consistency to cling to any pasta you put it on.

Best of all, this slightly sweet marinara has plenty of basil you can see and taste, just like your grandmother had simmered on the stove all day.

That's why Barilla marinara is at the top of the food chain.

For more food and fun, watch Phantom Gourmet Sunday at 10:30 and 11 a.m. on myTV38.