Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Upside Down Squeeze Bottle, You Improved on Perfection!!!
Written: Jun 16 '08
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Wonderful ketchup, even better packaging!
Cons: None.
The Bottom Line: Heinz is the best tasting ketchup out there, and with the new packaging it is even better.
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| cmuir's Full Review: Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Upside Down Squeeze Bottle, ... |
Ketchup, Catchup or Catsup, no matter how you spell it, this condiment is still made from fruits or vegetables. Highly seasoned with salt, pepper and spices, then boiled into a thick liquid and strained through a sieve creating a smooth, thick sauce.
In the past I have tried making and canning my own Ketchup, but no matter what recipe I tried nothing could compare to Heinz Tomato Ketchup, so I just gave up. No wonder, the Heinz Company from Pittsburgh, Pa. has been making this wonderful tomatoey condiment since 1876, so I guess they know what they are doing.
My mom has used Heinz Tomato Ketchup ever since I can remember, although the packaging certainly has changed. I will never forget those long necked glass bottles and anticipating the thick red sauce to finally exit onto my plate. Of course shaking the bottle really didn't help, other than to spatter ketchup everywhere, except where I wanted it. The only other option was to stick a knife in the upside down bottle and try to coax some onto your plate.
Now the company has come up with an entirely new way to get the ketchup from the bottle onto the plate by using an Upside Down Squeeze Bottle.! My bottle is made of plastic holds 20-ounces and is rather "hippy" looking; rectangular in shape, it is wide at the top and bottom, with a narrow middle. Kind of like a curvy woman, this allows you to grip the bottle for easy squeezing and pouring.
This bottle also has a 2-inch white plastic flip-top cap, which will allow you to store it upside down, keeping all the delicious ketchup right next to the lid. No more fighting to get some on your plate. There is no mistaking the way this needs to be stored, since if you place this on the bottom the lettering will be upside down. It also does not take up much room in the door of my fridge.
You will find Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Upside Down Squeeze Bottles in any grocery store. At my local Wal-Mart they are located in the same aisle with the barbecue sauces, mustards and salad dressings. Heinz is a bit more expensive than the store brand, but the taste makes the extra cost worth every penny.
When you open your bottle of Ketchup you will have to unscrew the lid revealing a "foil" cover on the bottle. You will need to remove this to access your ketchup. Under the flip-top cap there is a 1/4-inch hole, also this cap claims to have a Drip Free Valve to keep the ketchup from hardening around the opening. I still give mine a wipe with a paper towel before returning it to the fridge, just because my grandkids sometimes still end up with a bit on the lid and inside the cap.
I also always give my bottle of Heinz Tomato Ketchup a shake before setting it out on the table, just to make sure it is completely mixed. Just habit from the old days when the lid was on the top of the bottle and the first shot of ketchup you got was mostly red water.
The label only recommends shaking before the first use.
So what makes Heinz Tomato Ketchup better than all the rest? They use the perfect blend of tomato concentrate (made from red ripe tomatoes), distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, salt, spice, onion powder and natural flavorings.
Pretty much the same as homemade other than one of my recipes calls for onions and sweet red peppers. Spices for homemade include celery seed, mustard seed, allspice, cinnamon, and paprika.
When you squeeze a bit of Heinz Tomato Ketchup out on a plate you can see right way it is thicker than most other ketchups, it basically stays right where you pour it. It is bright red but a darker red than most and the taste is so much better. While you can taste tomato, you also get a hint of vinegar and some of those un-named spices. To my palate I also taste a touch of horseradish and cinnamon.
Heinz Tomato Ketchup can be used in numerous ways. Of course the basic hamburgers, hot dogs and fries, but I also mix it with just a bit of mustard and brown sugar and put it on top of my meatloaf the last 15-minutes of baking. I also use Heinz Tomato Ketchup for a base to many of my homemade "red" barbecue sauces and cocktail sauce. I have seen people use it on eggs, Mac & cheese and fried fish. My grandkids use this on every type of meat I put in front of them; they get that from their dad, I could never ruin a wonderful roast or steak by topping it with ketchup. But I suppose as long as they are eating that is a plus. I have to say one of the most disgusting ways that I have seen ketchup used is with American cheese on a Saltine. Sorry Deb, I know you were pregnant but I couldn't stand to even watch that one!
In each Tablespoon of Heinz Tomato Ketchup you will get 15 calories, there is 190mg of sodium, 4g of carbohydrates and 4g of sugars. You should be able to get 33 servings out of this bottle, if you can stick to the 1 Tablespoon, but that can be a chore!
The label also suggests refrigerating after opening, but I remember my grandparents leaving the ketchup bottle on the table all the time. There is also an expiration date on the cap, but the rippled edge makes that pretty tough to read. Un-opened Heinz Tomato Ketchup should have a very long shelf life.
Heinz Tomato Ketchup is also very popular with many restaurants. Many drive-thru type places in my area use the individual packets and some have small bottles sitting on the tables. I know the tavern that I managed, had the red plastic ketchup containers on the tables, but had a huge Heinz Tomato Ketchup packet that hung on the wall in the storage room so we could refill our bottles as needed.
While the taste of Heinz Tomato Ketchup has not changed in all these years, I do have to admit I love the new Upside Down Squeeze Bottle. It makes getting the ketchup where you want it so much simpler. Not to mention the fact that there is no waste, since you are pouring from the bottom nothing will be left in the bottle.
5 Stars Heinz! You improved on perfection!!!
Recommended:
Yes
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