Ketchup: Delicious or no?

[Jeff B]

I stand guilty on this one.

I enjoy ketchup on a hot dog, on hamburgers, with meat loaf.

I've heard that some enjoy ketchup with scrambled eggs, but I've yet to try that combination.

Jeff

[Carl Eppig]

Love it on burgers and lots of sauces. Prefer DelMonte, but can't get it locally, so we order a case at a time online.

[Robin Garr]

No. Just say no.

Heinz chili sauce is okay, though, and so is spicy cocktail sauce, both of which superficially resemble ketchup but have much more "adult" flavor profiles.

And of course, rooster sauce rules.

[David M. Bueker]

On burgers - yes.

Never use it otherwise.

[Howie Hart]

On mediocre french fries - yes. Really good french fries - no. Hamburgs - sometimes. Hot dogs - no - horseradish mustard and dill pickle relish. My grandfather used to say "If there's something you don't like, but you know it's good for you and you should eat, then put ketchup on it".

[Redwinger]

What Howie said, plus sometimes I just like the child-like flavor profile.

[Brian K Miller]

Ketchup? on french fries...that's about it for me. Otherwise....Sriracha!

[Mike Filigenzi]

Howie nailed it. On mediocre fries, yes. On good fries, no.

[Covert]

I will pour what seems like half a bottle of ketchup on a hamburger or a hot dog on one day, requiring five to seven paper napkins, and eat a hamburger perfectly plain, but for some salt, on another, and enjoy both ways equally. What I like often depends on my mood at the moment.

I think it is important to clarify what scale an opinion of quality or preference is based on. For example, if you asked your namesake, save for Dahmer, what he liked to eat, it could differ from your preferences. Thus an individual opinion of preference and a quarter won't even get you a cup of coffee. One of the best measures is general agreement, so there is no question about whether ketchup is delicious or no. The answer is yes, it is.

[Jo Ann Henderson]

Under no circumstances do I eat ketchup as a condiment. My condiment of choice is hot sauce. There is something about ketchup that I find disgusting. My husband loves it! Another reason we are a perfect couple.

[Karen/NoCA]

When I use Ketchup, it is Heinz. Sometimes on a hamburger, sometimes fries, depends on my mood. I do enjoy what is called, "Country Ketchup" from Stonewall Kitchen. I usually add a little fresh lemon juice to it. For years I would not touch the stuff. A bottle of it lasts a very long time in our house.

[Frank Deis]

No. Just say no.

Heinz chili sauce is okay, though, and so is spicy cocktail sauce, both of which superficially resemble ketchup but have much more "adult" flavor profiles.

And of course, rooster sauce rules.

I finally threw away our bottle of ketchup because we had not used it in years. (Then bought another just in case).

I was a little enthusiastic when I tried Heinz Chili Sauce on eggs -- then I read the label and I think a lot of that "adult" flavor profile boils down to the unpleasant fact that the stuff is full of high fructose corn syrup!! I think that is probably what I was thinking made it "delicious."

I'll eat ketchup on a burger or fries on the rare occasion that we eat fast food out. We never seem to eat french fries at home. Naturally hot sauces are in the picture as well especially with eggs.

[Robin Garr]

I was a little enthusiastic when I tried Heinz Chili Sauce on eggs -- then I read the label and I think a lot of that "adult" flavor profile boils down to the unpleasant fact that the stuff is full of high fructose corn syrup!! I think that is probably what I was thinking made it "delicious."

Sssshhh!!! I try to pretend I don't know that, as HCFS is something I try to avoid.

I thought ketchup had more of it, though. In my perception, which is probably biased and ridiculous, commercial ketchup consists of nothing but tomato puree, salt, HCFS and chemistry-set preservatives. Chili sauce at least has some additional flavors to lend it (relative) complexity. That's what I meant by "adult."

For what it's worth, some of the hipster restaurants around here that I frequent have taken to serving house-made ketchup, which I hope does not contain HCFS and tastes pretty good.

Here we go, this is Heinz Ketchup:

INGREDIENTS: TOMATO CONCENTRATE FROM RED RIPE TOMATOES, DISTILLED VINEGAR, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CORN SYRUP, SALT, SPICE, ONION POWDER, NATURAL FLAVORING.

[Robin Garr]

Here we go, this is Heinz Ketchup:

INGREDIENTS: TOMATO CONCENTRATE FROM RED RIPE TOMATOES, DISTILLED VINEGAR, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CORN SYRUP, SALT, SPICE, ONION POWDER, NATURAL FLAVORING.

And this is Heinz Chili Sauce. Not a whole lot of difference, frankly, but I still like chili sauce and hate ketchup. Nya nya nya.

Tomato Puree (Tomato Paste, Water), Distilled White Vinegar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Salt, Corn Syrup, Dehydrated Onions, Spice, Garlic Powder, Natural Flavoring.

[Peter May]

Essential with hamburgers.

Like it with breakfast eggs & bacon in places where they don't have the king of sauces -- HP.

[Peter May]

Here we go, this is Heinz Ketchup:

INGREDIENTS: TOMATO CONCENTRATE FROM RED RIPE TOMATOES, DISTILLED VINEGAR, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CORN SYRUP, SALT, SPICE, ONION POWDER, NATURAL FLAVORING.

In UK Heinz Tomato Ketchup has the following listed under Ingredients:
Tomatoes (132g per 100g Ketchup), Spirit Vinegar, Sugar, Salt, Spice & Herb Extracts (contain Celery), Spice

[Jenise]

French fries taste good to me with ketchup, but it's hardly a neccessity. Closer to neccessity it ketchup with fried shrimp.

But speaking of ketchup, a restaurant we dined at in Vancouver once served a very complex and tangy homemade 'ketchup' with bison ribs--ooh la la. If what came in the bottle tasted like that, ketchup would have a lot more adult fans and I'd be one of them.

[Frank Deis]

You know, people get all excited about making hot sauce at home from a recipe but nobody seems to care about artisanal home made ketjap.

Certainly in Indonesian or Malaysian cookbooks you can find a variety of ideas -- some of which aren't even red.

Tomatoes in Asia and Europe are a gift from Christopher Columbus.

[Jenise]

Anybody ever make a green tomato ketchup?

[Jon Peterson]

As Frank was getting to: national brand ketchup I do not like. House- made, on the other hand - absolutely wonderful!

[James Roscoe]

We switched to Wegman's ketchup which pretty much stands up to Heinz's ketchup. I use it on hamburgers with a thick slice of fresh onion and occasionally with certain fries. I also like it on meatloaf and (God forgive me) macaroni and cheese, even the good kind! My wife shoots me evil glances when I do the latter. It is a leftover from my childhood. I like the sweet and savory flavors mixed together.

[Bill Spohn]

Bottled catsup is to an interesting tomato based sauce as Velveeta is to farmhouse cheddar.

And with fries, give me mayo or give me nothing!

[Carl Eppig]

Closer to neccessity it ketchup with fried shrimp.

In these parts we do cocktail sauce with fried shrimp, and ketchup with fried clams. No mixing and matching!

[Robin Garr]

catsup

Why the alternative spelling? Are you channeling your pre-industrial persona?

World Wide Words: Why is ketchup also called catsup?