Rao's vs Newman's Own — Which Is Better?

slug: raos-vs-newmans-own

title: "Rao's vs Newman's Own — Which Is Better?"

teaser: "Can a $3 jar of charity-driven sauce really compete with the $9 gold standard of Italian marinara?"

category: condiments-sauces

subcategory: ketchup-mustard

verdict: depends

status: published

is_new: true

updated: 2026-02-25

tldr: >

Rao's Homemade is the undisputed winner for taste and ingredient quality, using whole Italian tomatoes and no fillers. Newman's Own is a fantastic value option that is clean, sugar-free, and charitable, but it relies on tomato paste and water rather than whole tomatoes.

key_findings:

• Rao's uses whole peeled tomatoes while Newman's Own relies on tomato puree (paste + water).
• Both brands use olive oil as their primary fat, avoiding the soybean oil found in cheaper competitors like Prego.
• Newman's Own uses carrot puree to sweeten its sauce naturally, keeping it free of added sugar.
• Rao's costs ~3x more per ounce than Newman's Own, but the flavor difference is noticeable.

sources:

• title: "Rao's Homemade Marinara Ingredients"

url: "https://www.raos.com/products/marinara-sauce"

type: brand-site

• title: "Newman's Own Marinara Nutrition"

url: "https://www.newmansown.com/foods/marinara-pasta-sauce/"

type: brand-site

• title: "America's Test Kitchen Pasta Sauce Review"

url: "https://www.americastestkitchen.com/taste_tests/1858-jarred-pasta-sauce"

type: study

recommendations:

• name: "Rao's Homemade Marinara"

brand: "Rao's"

verdict: recommended

note: "The gold standard. Whole tomatoes, olive oil, and no fillers."

• name: "Newman's Own Marinara"

brand: "Newman's Own"

verdict: acceptable

note: "Great budget pick. Clean ingredients and 100% profits to charity."

• name: "Newman's Own Sockarooni"

brand: "Newman's Own"

verdict: acceptable

note: "A veggie-packed variation that is also seed-oil free."

related:

• is-raos-clean
• is-newmans-own-sauce-clean
• cleanest-pasta-sauce
• sugar-in-pasta-sauce
• jarred-vs-homemade-sauce

suggested_articles:

• title: "Is Carbone Sauce Better Than Rao's?"

reason: "Carbone is the new premium competitor challenging Rao's dominance."

• title: "Which Newman's Own Dressings Are Clean?"

reason: "Newman's makes dozens of dressings, but many contain soybean oil."

• title: "Can You Make Rao's at Home for Cheaper?"

reason: "A recipe breakdown for readers who love the taste but hate the price."

The Short Answer

If money is no object, Rao's Homemade is the better sauce. It tastes like it was simmered on a stove in East Harlem (because it basically is). It uses Italian whole peeled tomatoes and pure olive oil, with absolutely no water or tomato paste added to stretch the volume. It is widely considered the benchmark for jarred sauce.

However, Newman's Own is the best sauce you can buy for under $4. Unlike most budget brands (looking at you, Prego), Newman's Own Marinara contains no added sugar and uses Extra Virgin Olive Oil instead of cheap soybean oil. It relies on tomato puree (water + paste) rather than whole tomatoes, which affects the texture, but it is a strictly "clean" product that donates 100% of its profits to charity.

Why This Matters

Pasta sauce is a minefield of hidden sugar and cheap oils. Most brands under $5 are essentially "tomato-flavored ketchup," loaded with high fructose corn syrup and inflammatory soybean oil to mask the taste of low-quality tomato paste.

Finding a sauce that uses actual olive oil and no sugar is rare in the center aisles of the grocery store. Both Rao's and Newman's Own pass this critical test, putting them in the top 10% of options automatically. The choice between them comes down to culinary preference (texture/taste) versus budget.

Head-to-Head Comparison

What's Actually In Rao's

Rao's ingredient list is shockingly short. This is exactly what you would put in a pot if you were making sauce at home.

• Italian Whole Peeled Tomatoes — The holy grail of sauce. They use the whole fruit, not a processed paste. Is Raos Clean
• Olive Oil — A significant amount. You can see the orange hue of emulsified oil, which carries the flavor.
• Onions & Garlic — Fresh, not powdered.
• Salt, Basil, Pepper, Oregano — Simple seasoning.

The Rao's Difference: There is no added water. Most sauces are watered-down tomato paste. Rao's is cooked down from whole tomatoes, concentrating the flavor naturally.

What's Actually In Newman's Own

Newman's Own manages to keep the price down while keeping the ingredients clean. They use smart substitutions to avoid the "junk" found in other cheap sauces.

• Tomato Puree — This is a mix of water and tomato paste. It's the standard base for budget sauces. It lacks the depth of whole tomatoes but is perfectly safe.
• Diced Tomatoes — Adds some texture back into the puree.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil — A huge win. Most sauces at this price point use canola or soybean oil. Oils In Pasta Sauce
• Carrot Puree — Genius move. Instead of adding cane sugar to cut the acidity of the tomato paste, they use sweet carrots. It keeps the "No Added Sugar" label honest.
• Citric Acid — A preservative and acidifier often needed when using tomato paste bases.

Caution: Always check the label on Newman's Own. While the standard Marinara is clean, some specialty flavors (like their "Sockarooni" or "Cabernet" in the past) have occasionally contained seed oil blends or sugar. Read the back, not just the front.

Taste & Texture

We reviewed the consensus from major food publications and community taste tests.

Rao's:

• Taste: Deep, roasted tomato flavor with a strong savory garlic punch. Low acidity.
• Texture: luscious and coating. It clings to pasta perfectly because of the high olive oil content.
• Consensus: "Tastes homemade."

Newman's Own:

• Taste: Brighter and more acidic. The carrot puree adds a subtle vegetal sweetness that some people love and others find distracting.
• Texture: Thinner than Rao's. Can be a bit "saucy" rather than "meaty."
• Consensus: "Great for the price, but needs doctoring."

The Bottom Line

1. Buy Rao's if you are eating pasta simply (just sauce and noodles) or serving guests. The flavor is complex enough to stand on its own without needing extra meat or spices.

2. Buy Newman's Own if you are using the sauce as a base for a meat sauce, lasagna, or a dish with lots of veggies. Once you add ground beef and onions, the subtle texture difference of Rao's matters less.

3. Check the Unit Price. Costco sells a 2-pack of large Rao's jars for a price that brings it closer to the cost of standard grocery store sauces. That is the ultimate hack.

FAQ

Does Newman's Own have seed oils?

Generally, no. The standard Marinara and Organic Marinara lines use Extra Virgin Olive Oil. However, ingredient formulations change, and some specialty flavors have used soybean oil in the past. Always scan the label for "Soybean" or "Canola" oil.

Is Rao's worth the money?

Yes. You are paying for the lack of water. A jar of Rao's has a higher density of actual tomatoes compared to a jar of Prego, which is largely water and thickeners. You are buying more food per ounce.

Which sauce is lower in sugar?

Rao's is lower. While neither adds cane sugar, Newman's Own uses carrot puree which adds slightly more natural sugar to balance the acidity of the tomato paste. Rao's relies purely on the sweetness of ripe tomatoes. Sugar In Pasta Sauce