The Best Store-Bought Cranberry Sauce



Tasting expert Jack Bishop challenges Bridget and Julia to a tasting of cranberry sauce.

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41 Comments

  1. In a nod to growing up in the 60's and 70's, we always put out a can of the Ocean Spray, uncut in a serving dish. I like the sound when it falls out of the can. It's a family joke and no one never eats it but it does bring back memories. I always make my own; cranberries, sugar and orange juice. To simple not to make it. I never thought of Grand Marnier so I'm going to try it. Thanks Jack!!

  2. One year my daughter (then late teens) was “ranting” about the jellied canned cranberry sauce. Lol, I bought ocean spray, heated it up added a handful of real cranberries (you could buy them in small containers) a bit more sugar & I think some dried lemon zest. I put it in a pretty bowel & buried the can in the bottom of the garbage. She never knew the difference 🤣

  3. I my own whole berry relish with no orange (I gew up with deserts including orange peel — so I dislike orange unless it is an orange desert) while my husband goes with the jelly, of course Ocean Spray. We didn’t grow up here, but the first Thanksgiving we had made us love the cranberry relish (for me almost more than the turkey itself…). I have to have the tartness and less sweet, which is the reason for making my own.

  4. Look at those ridiculous faces they’re making while they’re testing. Come on stop being so precious! Lots of people like canned cranberry sauce. This is why some foodies are such douche bags.

  5. Not a valid test. Test whole-berry in all four, or jellied in all four. Ocean Spray whole berry is one of the best around. I love Ocean Spray, but I also make my own by running fresh berries through the food processor, and then mixing the raw processed berries with orange marmalade. Nice and TART!

  6. I’m surprised that you didn’t have the ocean spray whole cranberry in the test taste. I fooled my brother-in-law for years that the ocean spray whole cranberry was homemade for years. He said he only would eat homemade.

  7. I buy Ocean Spray whole berry Cranberry sauce because I like some whole berries and it’s just easier because I’m alone and don’t cook from scratch anymore 😕. But does America’s Test Kitchen have a good made from scratch cranberry sauce recipe they’d like to share? 😊

  8. The only GOOD cranberry sauce is the fresh. I also cook with orange juice instead of water, and put a cinnamon stick in it while cooking. Gives a great different taste, yet not too overpowering. I also use apple juice too.

  9. I made some the other day with plenty of Grand Marnier and Chambord, just for fun. (And sugar free orange marmalade because I'm diabetic.) It turned out great, except for all the alcohol cooking out of it. Lol
    Forgot to add: the only sweetness came from the sugar free marmalade and about a cup of sugar free pomegranate cranberry juice that I used instead of water. The cranberry sauce turned out more on the tart side, but wasn't too tart; it was just sweet enough.

  10. Nothing in a can or a jar is going to compare to fresh relish that can be made a day or a week before Thanksgiving Day. Easy ingredients…fresh cranberries, a whole tangerine quartered, crystalized ginger, sugar, and orange marmalade, briefly pulsed in a food processor. Easy, peasy, and it so, so fresh and delicious. This is an old recipe and I'd never go back to store bought.

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