An Epic Salsa Battle Where One Stood Above the Rest

Salsa is a universally loved food, and it's easy to see why. Beyond being a tasty companion for chips, it offers numerous health benefits. Packed with antioxidants and fiber, salsa can support heart health. It's also rich in vitamins and minerals, and if you choose a spicy variety, the capsaicin in hot peppers can provide a metabolism boost.

This crowd-pleasing dip comes in a variety of flavors and heat levels ranging from mild, medium, to hot, but can be broken down even further within each category. Mild typically has mild peppers with little to no seed. Medium will have jalapeño peppers and might add a bit more heat with some serranos, and hot can be off the charts spicy, starting with habaneros and adding Thai chili peppers and even some ghost peppers.

To make it easy, we stopped by our local Publix grocery store and went with a different variety of mild jarred salsa options. It can be overwhelming with all of the different choices, so opting for simple and classic was the way to go. It should be noted that salsa, like everything else, is a matter of personal preference, and everyone has their own tastes.

For the purpose of this article, the taste tester's opinion (the writer) won. The salsas selected were the ones most commonly found in our local market. This is what stood out above them all.

• $3.39
• First ingredient: Tomatoes in tomato juice (contains citric acid to acidify)

If you're looking to "Let the fiesta begin!" then Chi-Chi's claims to be your best bet. However, this one ranks last on our list. It's indeed chunky, but also incredibly watery (it's the third ingredient on the list), which makes us wonder if that's how they keep the price down (it's the cheapest option on our list). It also tastes mass-produced and oddly sweet. While it wouldn't be the first one we grab, it could do in a pinch.

• $6.09
• All-organic
• Gluten-free
• First ingredient: Organic tomato puree (organic tomato paste, water)

While Muir Glen gets bonus points for the purity of its ingredients, we found the flavors to be somewhat watered down and bland. The ingredient list confirms it's all organic, so at the very least you can feel good about what you're putting in your body. And while chunky, it's still able to be transported by restaurant-style chips.

• $3.99
• Gluten-free
• First ingredient: Tomatoes

While it has a short and easy-to-read ingredient list, one of those ingredients is sugar, and that came through in the taste. It was all pretty heavy on the smoky flavor. Bonus points, however, for consistency. It was less chunky and more restaurant-style, which made transporting on a chip a smooth experience.

• $5.99
• All-natural
• Gluten-free
• First ingredient: Tomatoes

We like the fact that Green Mountain Gringo incorporates some more unusual ingredients into their salsa—pasilla peppers and tomatillos, for example. In terms of quality, it's there. This one is more a matter of personal taste. I found it to taste almost like gazpacho or tomato juice. It has great texture, though, and it plays well with tortilla chips.

• $3.49
• Gluten-free
• First ingredient: Diced tomatoes in tomato juice

Right out of the gate, Newman's Own gets love for its mission: "Let's give it all away. 100% profits to help kids." It also has a pretty clean list of ingredients. That said, I found it has a sweet flavor, which is odd given there's no sugar. While it says it's chunky, I found it to be smooth, more like restaurant-style salsa. Chips can handle this salsa nicely.

• $3.91
• First ingredient: Tomato puree (water, tomato paste)

Another full disclosure: Tostito's salsa is sort of like my love for Totino's pizza. It reminds me of my childhood when it would be served at family gatherings with some fresh avocado mixed in and topped with shredded cheddar.

The reason it didn't take the gold is because of its ingredients, which are somewhat dicey and salt-filled. It's super chunky, too, which can lead to some breakage if your chips are too thin. Go with thicker tortilla chips or even Frito's Scoops for this level of chunky.

• $5.49
• All-natural
• Gluten-free
• First ingredient: Tomatoes (tomatoes, tomato juice, tomato puree, salt, citric acid, calcium chloride)

Ousley is known for its bold flavors that put the Ouch in the name. Ghost is the hottest, which I wouldn't dare try. And since we're playing on an even playing field, we went the complete opposite direction with the mild. And yet, it still had a bit of a bite. Its flavors taste fresh, not too smoky or sweet. The texture, too, was pretty close to perfection.

• $5.49
• All-natural
• Gluten-free
• First ingredient: Tomatoes

They call it right out of the gate with their motto: "Not responsible for obsession." And while I don't consider myself obsessed (yet), as a first-time Mateo's taster, I was definitely interested in going on a second date. Its texture is thin but not watery and works well with any tortilla chip. They call it gourmet, and they back it up with the flavor. A clean and easy-to-comprehend ingredient list makes it a solid gold prize-winner in my book.