Is Rao's Pasta Sauce Worth Its Spendy Price Point?

Those looking for a simple but delicious dinner can do a whole lot worse than some pasta with sauce, whether it's a savory marinara, fresh pesto, or creamy alfredo. At the top end of the price spectrum for sauces, buyers will find Rao's, often reaching around $7-8 for a single jar. This is particularly eye-popping compared to other brands, which can sell for as little as $1.50 at the very same store. While exact prices vary from area to area, the difference has created a TikTok debate, with personal finance expert financiallyfreeleigh defending the premium brand, calling it "the only one I buy."

The answer to whether it's worth the extra cost, like with many food questions, depends on your desires and habits, not to mention your budget. For one, it's critical to consider what you're comparing Rao's with. If you're perfectly satisfied with any old pasta sauce, it may not be worth the extra few bucks. 

But for many, Rao's can be a great decision if the alternative is ordering out or going to a restaurant. Even Italian food chain restaurants like Olive Garden charge $13-22 for most entrees, while higher-end spots may set you back even more. For many, Rao's is key to recreating that restaurant experience right in their own kitchen, while cheaper sauces can't come close. 

Price aside, Rao's is commonly given rave reviews by foodies and average customers alike. Insider ranked it as the "indisputable" top choice among several jarred options put before a taste-testing panel, while some on Reddit called it "easily the best-jarred marinara I've had" and said it would be "hard to go back" after trying it. Rao's sauces are just one of the at-home food products created by this more-than-century-old Italian-American institution. 

The company traces its roots to the namesake restaurant in New York City's East Harlem, started by an Italian immigrant and operated by four generations of the same family. Rao's has been packaging and selling its jarred sauces, soups, and other foods for more than 30 years, though it still sticks to the original principles (like no added sugars, fillers, or colors) that made it so popular, to begin with. 

That's a stark comparison to many store-bought brands of sauce. According to Consumer Reports, many jarred or canned sauces are "salt bombs" of more than 400 milligrams of sodium per serving. Others artificially sweeten their sauces with sugar or corn syrup, using an unhealthy shortcut instead of relying on the natural sweetness of tomatoes. Unfortunately, in a world of soaring prices, some people still simply can't swing the extra money for premium choices like Rao's. But don't worry. There are still a ton of homemade sauces that can add just as much flavor to your dish, sometimes at a very affordable cost.