We’d like to take a moment to openly mock 16th century Europeans, who thought the tomato was deadly. The “poison apple,” they said. “It will kill you,” they said. Ha, ha! A life without tomatoes is a fate worse than death, we say! Hats off to the brave souls who knew this juicy, boldly-colored fruit would change the fate of the human diet. They ate it, they survived, and here we are today, happy as we can be in a world steeped in tomato-based cuisines. Yet, even now, the tomato creates a controversy we need to address: salsa vs. ketchup, which is better? Let’s settle The Great Condiment Debate with a friendly throwdown.
What’s more popular, salsa or ketchup?
The answer to this question depends on who you’re asking. Ever since 1992, salsa has consistently outsold ketchup every year in the United States. That doesn’t mean ketchup is unpopular, though! Research shows that Americans consume 10 billion ounces of ketchup each year—about three regular-sized bottles per person—which tells us that ketchup is pretty darn popular. Let’s break it down:
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- Is salsa the number 1 condiment? While salsa might be the number one condiment in our hearts, it’s not the number one condiment in America. That crown goes to mayonnaise, believe it or not.
- Does salsa outsell ketchup? Technically speaking, yes: salsa outsells ketchup every year in terms of total dollars spent on each condiment. But, Americans buy more pounds of ketchup. Salsa makes more profit, but people buy larger quantities of ketchup. In other words, salsa outperforms ketchup on the bottom line, but ketchup outperforms salsa in the grocery line. Recent data reported from Instacart shows that American consumers order way more ketchup than they do salsa. One jar of salsa is more expensive than one bottle of ketchup, which may help explain why salsa makes more money each year.
Do Americans eat more salsa or ketchup? To be fair, we don’t know the exact quantities of each condiment Americans consume. Here’s what we do know for certain: Americans spend more on salsa than they do on ketchup. We also know that, pound for pound, Americans buy more ketchup than they do salsa. So, Americans spend more on salsa but buy larger quantities of ketchup. If we’re eating all this ketchup we buy, then we’re eating a lot more ketchup than we are salsa.
So, in the end, ketchup wins the popularity contest but salsa wins peoples’ wallets. Do you know what would be amazing? If someone figured out how to blend chilis into ketchup for a mind-blowing new condiment. Oh, wait. We did. Check out our line of hot chili pepper ketchups.
Is salsa or ketchup better for you?
Hands down, salsa is way better for you than ketchup. While salsa is a mashup of fresh ingredients, like tomatoes, peppers, and garlic, ketchup is typically flavored with added sugars, oils, high fructose corn syrup, and other not-so-healthy ingredients. In recent years, ketchup makers developed lower-sugar and organic options to satisfy consumers’ desires for healthy condiments. But, if you’re looking for a tried-and-true option that is healthy, pick salsa.
When ketchup is better than salsa
While we love to put salsa on just about everything we eat, there are certain situations where ketchup is a better choice, such as:
- French fries
- DIY BBQ sauce
- Onion rings
- Hash browns (Unless you’re making hash brown nachos, in which case Salsa all the way)
- Fried shrimp
When salsa is better than ketchup
Obvs we’re going to bypass anything from the Mexican or Tex-Mex menu since we’re guessing you already know you’re putting salsa and not ketchup on your nachos and enchiladas. For a more universal menu, salsa makes these foods tastier and healthier:
- Sandwich wraps
- Chicken breasts
- Fried fish or as a simmer sauce for fish
- Mac’n’cheese
- Bloody Marys
Tomatoes for the win
We’d like to point out that today, one of the largest global markets for ketchup is the UK—the descendants of those same Europeans who recoiled in horror at the thought of putting a tomato in their mouths. Whether you puree the tomatoes with salt, sugar, vinegar, and spices, or chop them up with jalapenos and garlic, these luscious fruits transform into condiments we can’t live without.
FAQs
Does salsa outsell ketchup? Technically speaking, yes: salsa outsells ketchup every year in terms of total dollars spent on each condiment. But, Americans buy more pounds of ketchup. Salsa makes more profit, but people buy larger quantities of ketchup.
When did salsa become more popular than ketchup? ›
In 1992, salsa outsold ketchup in the U.S. for the first time, thanks to a surge in the popularity of Mexican food.
Is salsa the number one condiment? ›
The best-selling condiment in America in terms of annual sales is salsa. Every year, Americans buy more than $460 million worth of salsa, consuming it on everything from chips to tacos to eggs.
What is the number one selling condiment in the US? ›
The increasing popularity of salsa and other spicy Mexican sauces has salsa surpassing ketchup as America's top-selling condiment. Salsa sales are now hitting $700 million annually as tortillas and salsa outsell traditional burger buns and ketchup.
What overtook ketchup as the number one condiment in the United States? ›
In recent years, salsa has overtaken ketchup as america's most popular condiment. this is an example of:A) Social change.
Do Americans eat more ketchup or salsa? ›
What's more popular, salsa or ketchup? The answer to this question depends on who you're asking. Ever since 1992, salsa has consistently outsold ketchup every year in the United States. That doesn't mean ketchup is unpopular, though!
Has salsa surpassed ketchup? ›
But, as is turns out, salsa overtook ketchup over 20 years ago, and this is just the latest in long line of stories using culinary sales as a marker of demographic change. As the New York Times reported way back in 1992: "ketchup, long the king of American condiments, has been dethroned.
What are the top 3 condiments? ›
Ketchup, mustard, and mayo are some classic staples. If you were to guess ketchup as America's top pick, you might have been right a couple of years ago.
Is salsa better for you than ketchup? ›
Salsa is generally considered to be healthier than ketchup/catsup because it typically has less sugar and fewer preservatives added to it.
What is the least popular condiment? ›
According to the results of a survey conducted in June 2021, the most hated condiment by consumers in the United States is hot sauce, with approximately 24 percent of respondents indicating that they hate hot sauce. In second place was relish, which was hated by around 21 percent of respondents.
Buckle up, here's what we found!
- Acetaia Di Giorgio - Oracolo Gold cap Balsamic Vinegar.
- Goldsal - The world's most luxurious salt.
- The True Honey Company - Rare Harvest Manuka Honey.
- Wietsaus - Weed Flavoured Mayo.
- Dave's Gourmet - White Truffle Marinara Sauce.
- Swamp Dragon - Private Reserve Rum Dragon.
Saffron, the world's most expensive spice, is known for its beautiful golden hue and delicate floral aroma.
What is the healthiest condiment in the world? ›
What is the healthiest condiment?
- Guacamole.
- Mustard.
- Balsamic Vinegar.
- Salsa.
- Hot sauce.
- Tzatziki.
- Hummus.
- Pesto.
Canada leads the world in ketchup or catsup consumption at 3.1 Kg per person per year. the u.s. is down in the dumps at 2.2 Kg.
Who eats ketchup the most? ›
In the Ketchup stakes, Canada leads with 3.1kg per head, followed by Finland (3kg), Sweden (2.7kg), the UK (2.4kg), Norway (2.3kg), Austria and the US (both 2.2kg). Russians aren't nearly as fond of ketchup as they are of mayonnaise, squirting just 1.4kg onto their bangers.
What state is famous for ketchup? ›
Ketchup was invented in 1812 by the American manufacturer, grocer, and chemist James Mease of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
When did salsa gain popularity? ›
It developed largely in New York City beginning in the 1940s and '50s, though it was not labeled salsa until the 1960s; it peaked in popularity in the 1970s in conjunction with the spread of Hispanic cultural identity. The term salsa also refers to a dance that is associated with the music.
When did salsa food become popular? ›
In the late '80s, the sales of Mexican-inspired sauces and salsas grew almost eighty percent. That boom in sales was facilitated by Mexican restaurants using salsa as a “table sauce” with tortilla chips to entice American customers.
What condiment became more popular than ketchup in the United States in 1992? ›
In 1992, actor Jason Alexander—in character as George Costanza on the sitcom “Seinfeld”—alerted us to the fact that salsa had overtaken ketchup as the number one condiment in America.
When did ketchup become popular? ›
American cooks also began to sweeten ketchup in the 19th century. The Webster's Dictionary of 1913 defined "catsup" as: "table sauce made from mushrooms, tomatoes, walnuts, etc. [Also written as ketchup]." As the century progressed, tomato ketchup began its ascent in popularity in the United States.
