When visiting the Northeast, hunting down a creamy bowl ofclam chowderis a must.
you could find it in several forms, including Manhattan, Rhode Island, and New England clam chowder.
Let’s find out which of these can make you happy as a clam.
Photos: The brands. Design: Eat This, Not That!
Kroger New England Style Clam Chowder
Kroger’s soup aisle is filled to the brim.
The latter sticks out with the chain’s blue emblem and appealing striped cans of various colors.
But it is so thin and watery that it becomes more of a drinkable broth.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
Only a few potato chunks stick out in the middle of the bowl.
More potatoes or other vegetables were needed to mask this unexpected tang.
Clams were hardly noticeable, only present in tiny beige-ish pink-colored slivers.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
But, when you fish one out, you wish you hadn’t because of its chewy texture.
Sorry, Kroger, but this one is a resounding “no” for me.
It’s also the only soup in the taste test not specified as a “New England” chowder.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
But, it follows the same basic ingredient list as its competitors.
The look:Strikingly similar in look to Kroger’s Clam Chowder.
It’s milky and cloudy, and it also became somewhat bubbly on top after it was microwaved.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
Ingredients seem to be in short supply.
The taste:I will reference Kroger’s chowder concoction.
The two are almost identical in taste and consistency.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
I wouldn’t be surprised if the two retail giants use the same soup supplier.
Great Value’s version also possesses an off-putting taste that isn’t fishy but something worse.
Beyond that, though, it’s on the bland side.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
Like Kroger’s soup, I wouldn’t add this clam chowder to my cupboard again.
The look:It took some time to wiggle out the can’s viscous contents.
The bottom part came out still in the shape of the container like a jellied cranberry sauce.
As suggested, I added a couple of splashes of 1% milk to it.
The taste:I’ll admit, I was scared to try this one after the preparation fiasco.
The flavor ended up being more disappointing than alarming.
Cream would have been a better choice, but I had none in my kitchen.
Given its accolades, I had high hopes for this chowder, and it let me down.
But, I want to give one of the brand’s ready-to-serve clam chowders a chance in the future.
You have a standard recipe in one of Campbell’s old-school red and white cans.
There’s a Homestyle version, a Slow-Kettle Style, and a Well Yes!
veggie-packed option, and multiple Chunky chowders.
The Look:Chunky is an understatement.
This soup is jam-packed with diced potatoes.
There are other hard-to-identify ingredients also floating around.
It takes on more of a yellow hue than white.
The Taste:A distinct ocean-like aroma filled the air as this one whirled in the microwave.
But, when it comes down to the taste, the seafood essence all but disappears.
It’s plenty creamy, and there’s an abundance of clam bits hiding in the soup.
It is filling, and I wouldn’t mind eating it again when a clam chowder craving strikes.
Progresso New England Clam Chowder
Like Campbell’s, General Mills Progresso line also focuses on soup.
Not surprisingly,Progresso’s New England Clam Chowderfalls into this final Rich & Hearty grouping.
you might find Progresso at most large retailers.
I picked up an 18.5-ounce can at Walmart for $2.18.
Once again, there is a generous portion of potatoes.
Its shade is a subtle ivory.
The taste:Certainly rich and hearty.
I think I would have been full after finishing just half of the can.
What impressed me, though, was the sizeable and meatier nuggets of clam.
They almost tasted fresh, and they weren’t too tough to chew.
The recipe is simple.
Progresso doesn’t bother throwing in onions or celery.
But the chowder still turns out flavorful and well-rounded.
The company also produces a line of conscientiously sourced and kettle-cooked clam shack-inspired soups.
These soups come in larger 24or 30-ounce family-sized containers and can be bought online or through select retailers.
I reeled in a 30-ounceNew England Clam Chowdercontainer at my local Fresh Thyme Market for $12.99.
The look:Not quite as chunky as Campbell’s or Progresso, but close.
The taste:So smooth and buttery it reminds me of a French bisque.
A touch of sweetnessboth from the creamy broth and the clams themselveselevates the entire bowl.
I didn’t want to stop eating this one.
I’m glad this one was a bigger size so I can continue to enjoy it.
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