2017 Southern Living Food Awards: Our Test Kitchen Favorites

By Hannah Hayes
June 08, 2017
“What brands does your test kitchen use?" We get that question almost as often as "What's it like to have a job tasting layer cakes?" While working in "the South's most trusted kitchen" feels like being in a culinary wonderland, it doesn't mean we don't take our recipe development seriously. Of course, we do enjoy debating the differences between buttercream frostings (who wouldn't?), but we're also passionate about evaluating the ingredients we use every day and looking for the latest and greatest products, from hot sauce to hummus. That's why, for our annual Food Awards, we asked our Test Kitchen professionals and food editors to reveal the brands they choose not only at work but also at home when cooking for family and friends.Southern Cooking StaplesOur Test Kitchen has long-term relationships with these ingredients, built on 51 years of testing, tasting, retesting, and more tasting. From time to time, we're tempted by trends, but we'll always stay true to these 15 products.
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Red Pepper Jelly

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Stonewall Kitchen

Test Kitchen Professional Emily Nabors Hall swears this brand's balanced flavors make it the next best thing to your grandmother's recipe.

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Canned Tomatoes

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Cento

"Never metallic tasting, these tomatoes have a freshly picked, sun-ripened flavor," says Test Kitchen Coordinator Mark Driskill.

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Sorghum Syrup

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Muddy Pond Sorghum Mill

Made by the Guenther family in the Tennessee hills, this syrup has a smoky sweetness that shows up in more than just our desserts (though we love it in slice-and-bake cookies). Add to mustard for a tangier ham glaze, or mix with vinegar for dressing green beans.

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Canned Bean

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Bush's Best

From pintos to purple hulls, Bush's won our editors' rave reviews for canned beans with fewer broken pieces and the right amount of salt.

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Block Cheese

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Cracker Barrel

With its sharp, complex flavor and unbeatable price, this supermarket cheese was the clear-cut winner in its category. Plus, this solid block won't break while grating.

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Mayonnaise

Larry Dunlap

Duke’s Mayonnaise

Duke's has transcended its role as do-it-all condiment to become a Southern mascot. Its subtle zippy flavor and more yolk-driven recipe are the reasons why our Test Kitchen and other award-winning chefs wouldn't use a dollop of anything else.

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Vinegar

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar

It's Heinz for the win in this category, whether we're making a tangy barbecue sauce or pickling a seasonal bounty of backyard cucumbers.

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Mustard

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Grey Poupon Dijon

Because of its "spot-on spice," our editors spoon this mustard into everything from chicken pot pie to egg salad.

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Dried Pasta

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Barilla

"No store-bought brand is as consistently delicious," says Test Kitchen Professional and Food Stylist Karen Rankin. Bonus points for the variety of shapes available.

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Hot Sauce

Larry Dunlap

Crystal

This was a heated competition, but in the end, we picked Louisiana-born Crystal. While other brands might pride themselves on their Scoville units, Crystal's bright, bold flavor and finespun fire ignite taste buds, making it a permanent fixture on our tables.

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Broth and Stock

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Swanson

"Swanson continues to be the broth and stock of choice in our kitchen—even against some newer, supposedly better brands," explains Test Kitchen Director Robby Melvin. "These products are never cloudy, orange, or too salty."

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Bacon

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Applewood Smoked Butcher Thick Cut
Oscar Mayer

Whether we need bacon as the star of the show or a supporting player, Oscar Mayer's thick cut sizzles in any role.

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Olive Oil

Larry Dunlap

California Olive Ranch

Meet the olive oil with a cult following in our Test Kitchen. "This company does it right," says Melvin. "They don't cut corners in growing olives sustainably or making a high-quality, super affordable product." Their Everyday California Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a buttery-smooth blend, has unmatched versatility.

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Fruit Jam

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Bonne Maman

While we're smitten with the gingham lids, Bonne Maman's chunky, just-sweet-enough jam varieties, from peach to plum, are what make this brand our first pick.

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Salt

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Morton Coarse Kosher

The size of Morton's coarse kosher granules helps our chefs see and feel how much salt they're adding while seasoning for more flavor control.

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Southern Baking All-Stars

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Test Kitchen Professional Pam Lolley, our very own "queen of cakes," spills the beans on the brands she's been baking with for the past 14 years

Butter

Land O Lakes

Land O Lakes has been the standard-bearer of butter in our kitchen since the beginning. Lolley loves its consistency, which lends itself to lighter, more tender cookies.

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Cane Suagr

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Domino

So many sweet contenders are crowding the sugar aisle, but this is the only sack we keep in our pantry. Never clumpy, never powdery—Domino was the sugar our grandmothers baked with too. (Need we say more?)

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Cream Cheese

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Philadelphia

Cream cheese frosting is more of an art form than an icing. Lolley reaches for Philadelphia whether she's topping our annual Big White Cake or baking a Bundt.

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Sweetened Condensed Milk

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Eagle Brand

When it comes to Key lime pie, Lolley doesn't take any chances with store-brand condensed milk. "Eagle Brand isn't watery, and it makes a thick, rich filling," she says.

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Baking Flour

Larry Dunlap

White Lily Self-Rising

True Southern-style biscuits aren't made with ordinary flour. The flaky, buttery, most-requested ones require a certain set of skills. Enter White Lily Self-Rising Flour, which contains winter wheat for a lower protein count that gives a soft, silky feel and velvety texture to quick breads, biscuits, and pancakes. It's no surprise that Southerners abroad have made this a five-star item on Amazon.

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All-Purpose Flour

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Gold Medal

For Lolley, bake sale-worthy cookies and potluck-presentable piecrusts start with Gold Medal flour. Its higher protein provides a sturdier softness.

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Cake Flour

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Swans Down

Swans Down is one of Lolley's secret weapons for perfect pound cake. This flour is also essential for mile-high layer cakes that taste as delicious as they look.

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Herbs and Spices

Larry Dunlap

McCormick

Seasonings can make or break a recipe. McCormick brings ours to life, from the warm cinnamon aroma in cast-iron sticky buns to a dash of red pepper that adds subtle heat to a batch of brownies. While most herbs and spices will keep for two to three years, Lolley recommends monitoring their color and smell. Replace them if they begin to look dull or have little fragrance.

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Baking Chocolate

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Ghirardelli

From wafers and chips to bars and Dutch process cocoa powder—Ghirardelli offers a wide range of top-quality baking chocolate that outperforms its price point.

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Vanilla

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Nielsen-Massey

Vanilla is no afterthought in our Test Kitchen. Lolley likes Nielsen-Massey's carefully sourced extracts for their rich, aromatic notes, which round out any recipe.

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By Hannah Hayes