Phantom Gourmet: Balsamic Vinaigrette Taste Test
BOSTON (CBS) - Phantom recently taste-tested bottled balsamic vinaigrette dressings.
The four tangy contenders were Cain's, Kraft, Newman's Own, and Wishbone.
Which vinegary salad topper made it to the top of the food chain?
Cain's got tossed to the bottom of the bowl. Sweet enough to eat for dessert, this syrupy dressing had four times as much sugar as the winner. It also had the least amount of sodium, which underscored the unbalanced sweetness even more.
A step up from there, Wishbone had decent flavor, but it was a little on the lean side, with almost half the fat of the other contenders. While the sweet and the salty sang in perfect harmony, the vinegar needed a stronger voice.
The runner-up is Kraft balsamic vinaigrette. This sweet, tangy recipe boasted the right balance of vinegar and oil, with a subtlety that allowed overtones of garlic and paprika to shine through. For those who prefer delicately flavored dressings, this one might be the bring-home brand.
At the top of the food chain is Newman's Own. Finally, a vinaigrette with a little power! This assertively tangy brand had plenty of salt, plenty of complexity, and just enough honey and balsamic sweetness to provide a backdrop for the appealing palette of garlic, onion, and red pepper. The sharpest dressed dressing of the salad bar, Newman's Own is at the top of the food chain.
For more food and fun, watch the Phantom Gourmet every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on myTV 38.
