An ideal jarred pasta sauce nails the steadiness between taste and comfort. You need it to style like a slowly simmered marinara straight out of a nonna’s kitchen however nonetheless be prepared to easily warmth and serve. And there’s one Costco discover that delivers on each targets, all at an reasonably priced worth.

Frequent Costco customers might have noticed jars of the Kirkland Signature Natural Tuscan Marinara on the shop’s cabinets. The imported sauce is made and packed in Italy and offered in the identical bulk format as every part else within the warehouse, serving to preserve it reasonably priced regardless of its high-quality components. 

It’s essential to notice that the Tuscan Marinara isn’t the identical as the marginally extra widespread Kirkland Signature Natural Marinara Sauce, which options California-grown tomatoes. The latter is sort of at all times out there at Costco, whereas the previous might come and go from places relying on availability. In response to clients, you have to be stocking up on the hidden Italian gem if you happen to spot it. 

The ingredient listing for Costco’s Italian-made marinara reveals why customers find it irresistible a lot. This sauce accommodates simply six components: natural tomatoes grown in Tuscany, natural onions, natural carrots, Toscano PGI extra-virgin olive oil, natural basil, and sea salt.

What’s lacking from the jar issues simply as a lot: There is not any added sugar or citric acid. As a substitute, you get simple tomato taste, a touch of pure sweetness from the carrots, and fragrant notes from the basil. The result’s a looser, brighter sauce that tastes freshly made.

The label additionally calls out the product’s Toscano PGI extra-virgin olive oil for good motive. This designation — which stands for Protected Geographical Indication — means the olives used to make the oil had been grown, pressed, and bottled in Tuscany in accordance with particular high quality requirements. Unsurprisingly, higher-quality olive oil yields a higher-quality marinara.

Tuscan-grown tomatoes additionally impression how this sauce tastes. Volcanic soil, discovered in lots of areas of Italy, together with elements of Tuscany, typically has a better mineral content material, which promotes plant development. In flip, these minerals can affect the flavour growth of crops and should yield sweeter, extra flavorful tomatoes.

In contrast with one of the fashionable marinara manufacturers available on the market, Rao’s, Costco’s Tuscan providing tends to be on the chunkier aspect. It tastes and feels extra like hand-crushed tomatoes with good olive oil, as an alternative of one thing processed and completely clean. Followers of the majority retailer typically describe it as rustic.

What might matter essentially the most for households who depend on jarred pasta sauce is the worth of this Costco discover. The Tuscan marinara is usually offered in packs of three 24-ounce jars for about $15 whole — though it’s been noticed in some shops for simply $10 or $13 per pack — which breaks right down to roughly 21 cents per ounce. For context, Rao’s marinara often runs about $9 for a 24-ounce jar, or roughly 38 cents per ounce. And that’s for a product that doesn’t embrace natural components.

Costco clients on Reddit observe that the Tuscan marinara is not at all times in inventory and advocate shopping for a number of packs when you possibly can snag it. Since jarred pasta sauce lasts for ages and tends to come in useful on an nearly weekly foundation, you received’t remorse it.

For those who’re looking out for easy tomato sauce that spotlights flavorful components, this can be the perfect jarred marinara for you. Because of its easy recipe, it is also a wonderful possibility for dwelling cooks who wish to use a store-bought shortcut however prefer to physician up a sauce themselves with a couple of customizations. And it’s very best for anybody that’s uninterested in paying premium costs however nonetheless desires high quality components.