Even better if it’s topped with thick, buttery croutons and gobs of melty Gruyere cheese.
Then again, not allstore-boughtFrench onion soups are created equal.
Some should be avoided at all costs.
Photos by brands. Design by Eat This, Not That!
For this test, I prepared each soup according to the package instructions.
Some had to be diluted with additional water or broth.
One came in a powder form that had to be reconstituted on the stove.
Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
And others were ready to enjoy straight from the jar.
Here is how these five store-bought French onion soups ranked in descending order.
Lipton Onion Soup & Dip Mix
Thiswas the only powdered soup mix in the test.
Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
For this test, I followed the soup-making instructions.
The taste:This was the thinnest, least interesting soup I tried.
The dominant flavor was saltiness, and the onions were flavorless and still dry and hard in the center.
Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
It contains added sugars, possibly to enhance the caramelized flavors, but unfortunately, the taste falls flat.
The look:This soup is almost entirely broth.
The taste:Overall, this tastes like a well-seasoned broth.
Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
It’s definitely on the salty side and has little to no onion flavor.
Add the soup to a pot, and then add a can full of water and heat everything up.
Or you could use broth instead of water for added flavor.
Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
The taste:This soup tasted less salty than both Progresso’s and Lipton’s.
There are visible fat globs on the top of the cold soup, which disappear when heated.
Sutter Buttes is more on the beefy, meaty side of things flavor-wise.
Warm the soup with toasted bread and melty cheese for a complete dish.
The look:This soup is jam-packed with thinly sliced caramelized onions.
The broth has a natural caramel-brown color and a nice shine and body.
The taste:This soup tastes restaurant-quality.
It’s rich and deeply savory, with acidic pop from brandy and red wine vinegar.
