I tried 6 jars of pesto from the store and ranked them from worst to best

Aside from the sauce being a bit tart, I wasn’t getting a ton of basil or pine-nut flavor.

It also didn’t really have the fresh taste I prefer in a pesto.

Classico’s pesto had an oily consistency, and I didn’t like the texture of the dried herbs.

It tasted heavily of anise and oregano, which I’m not a fan of. I also didn’t like that the pesto didn’t include nuts, which I think add a lot to the sauce.

But I appreciated the addition of garlic. Unfortunately, it just didn’t do enough to save the overall flavor for me.

The texture of Whole Foods’ pesto was thick, and I thought it tasted minty compared to the other versions.

Although I could taste the cheese, there weren’t any visible pieces of it to add to the overall texture.

I enjoyed Organics’ pesto. Since it’s plant-based, though, it didn’t contain any cheese. I found that I missed the texture and tang cheese can often add to a pesto sauce.

The flavor was a little bitter, but overall, it was a very standard sauce.

Barilla’s rustic basil pesto — made with Italian basil according to the jar — was decent.

The sauce was a bit oily, like Classico’s, but I thought it had a better mouthfeel. There was also a hint of citrus and added olives, which I enjoyed.

I found Rana’s sauce in the refrigerator section of the grocery store, which gave me high hopes. Since it’s not shelf-stable, I assumed the ingredients might be a little fresher.

There was a slight pineapple flavor in my first bite that was strange, but I didn’t hate it. The fresh, citrusy flavor balanced out the rich oil.

It was also cheese-forward, which I was looking for.

The pesto was a little grainy but I liked the consistency, especially the added texture from the cheese.

If I were to use a store-bought pesto, Rana’s would be the one I’d buy again. It tasted fresh, traditional, and balanced.