Our Taste Test of Anchovies, the Best Ingredient to Add Umami

Jack challenges Julia to a tasting of anchovies, our favorite ingredient to add an extra savory quality to many recipes.
Buy Our Winning Anchovies: cooks.io/2VxMchv
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[@geofre44]

Anchovies. The bacon 🥓 of the sea 🌊

[@kirkcather3670]

That Cento brand even looked like bacon.

[@kaiju_k5042]

ha, that's awesome

[@kaiju_k5042]

@@kirkcather3670 Ahaha, so true

[@briancooley8777]

Ha, that’s awesome

[@briancooley8777]

@@kirkcather3670 did it though?

[@Carolll9]

One of my favorite ways to use anchovies is in spaghetti with garlic, olive oil, pepper flakes and parsley. Very simple and easy to make. It’s my comfort food.

[@m.theresa1385]

Add a few capers instead of the parsley and that’s my puttanesca. My favorite

[@cisium1184]

I do this all the time. Usually with a drop or two of white wine.

[@lcusatis]

aglio e olio

[@BeachPeach2010]

All of these replies sound delicious!

[@Eyeahmdarck66]

Add capers and topping with parmigiano reggiano 👌🏾

[@lcusatis]

The Cento anchovies are a gift from the heavens. I guess I understand why some people might not be as into them as I am but I vividly remember the first time I had them. My life was changed forever.

[@sk1llerdrag]

had them for the first time ever last week, i agree, i can't go back!

[@lcusatis]

@sk1llerdrag My favorites are the ones rolled around a caper, very good.

[@autostuff8971]

I like Cento anchovies the most because they have the most assertive flavor. I put them on my homemade pepperoni pizzas.

[@willtopper]

yep

[@chrisp5526]

I actually made anchovies last year. I bought frozen cleaned anchovies, heads removed. I put them in glass storage jars, and layered them with sea salt. They’re great. Milder flavored than store bought. But store bought are tasty, too. They’re very inexpensive to make yourself.

[@BeachPeach2010]

Do you also use the flavored salt from the curing process? Just a thought. I wonder if it's good too.

[@chrisp5526]

@@BeachPeach2010 i haven’t, but i am certain it’s a great idea!

[@benvasilinda9729]

Fresh anchovies right off of the boat and before they are salted down are an amazing fish to eat.

[@briancooley8777]

Sardines too

[@briancooley8777]

Are good fresh

[@user-bt3bo7hl6f]

With hot mustard.

[@lenoverstreet]

hello,thank you now I know a lot more about flavor and taste eating anchovies. Great taste on pizza 20 yrs. later after trying them for the first time . Today I can't eat pizza without them. You helped me to understand why.Thanks again.

[@antoniob.9396]

The best ones to have here in Europe are from the Cantabrian sea (Spain), expensive but from a different galaxy.

[@lisanutini5183]

I haven’t tried the others but adore the Cento. Maybe because I (in the US) grew up with an Italian father and we ate these regularly. 😀

[@Paelorian]

This was very informative and helpful! I've tried all these brands except Ortiz at one time or another but never did a taste test to really note the differences. Now I have some more guidance to think about what to buy for how I'm going to use them. I usually buy King Oscar and will stick with that for most uses but I can imagine purposes for all the others. The really strong Cento may be desired for a sauce, according to taste. The uncured could be good to eat directly or in a kind of fish salad. A different kind of use, more like fresh or the way we'd use canned sardines or tuna. I may pick up a jar of Ortiz for garnishing and eating whole. No way the value is as good, diminishing returns I'm sure, but at least that fork looks very handy! The King Oscar can also be bought in glass bottles which are handy if you won't use a whole can at once.

[@CaptainRScott]

I enjoy the Ortiz anchovies . Anchovies can be either in supporting role which makes everything taste better or the stand alone character on cooled toast w whole unmelted butter! + they're healthy as well... A winner all around! Enjoy.

[@GreenWitch1]

For some reason lately, I’ve been craving anchovies. Ive only used them to make caesar dressing in the past. So, I picked up a can of Cento & really enjoyed them 😊

[@JonnyMarx]

Ortiz are great. They are the most similar to the anchovies produced by the cooperatives in Santoña in Cantabria, Spain; the very best anchovies in the world IMO. El jamón del mar 😋

[@kaiju_k5042]

Very tasty, I agree! Their tuna is also superb.

[@briancooley8777]

What brand is that? In santoña i mean

[@parisbreakfast]

I dream of going there…

[@garymoore8711]

I love Lisa's enthusiasm even though I'm not an anchovies fan. She even knew about the fork, just by the taste!

[@fartman10284]

Lisa is not in this clip

[@allnamesaretakenb4]

Come on, seriously? "She even knew about the fork, just by the taste!" That's just dumb to state. She knew the brand by the taste, which is not that surprising if you eat it alot. When you know the brand, you know it comes with a fork.....

[@dontcare3430]

Cast iron pan, italian sausage, mushroom, anchovy pizza. Once or twice a week.

[@janedoe805]

I love anchovies!

[@geezermann7865]

I must have missed this when it aired on the show. This one was fun and informative. I have tried the Ortiz tuna in olive oil, also in a jar, and they are very high quality, but expensive. I have a can of anchovies on the shelf, Kroger brand, packed in olive oil with capers. There are eight of them, rolled up in little circles. They are good.

[@lightbox617]

I love caned sardines. I love pickled herring. I never had canned anchovies until about 10 years ago. There are sauces that I will not make without them. They are vital. In spain (Barcelona) I had fried fresh sardines and anchovies. "Gotta love em."

[@ratradio]

I agree with Julia on Ortiz being the best of the bunch, but if you want to take it up a notch to the impeccable, there's a brand called Don Bocarte which are unparalleled. I'm not sure if they're meticulously picking out the bones or what, but they are perfect anchovies.

[@cyrustaghipour3976]

Hello Ladies,thank you for teaching Us, how to Cook and Choose better,

[@sedoniadragotta8323]

I love anchovies and capers together

[@user-bv4sj2gq7g]

Only in the past few years have I progressed from being repulsed by sardines, to being able to eat them straight from the can. Currently repulsed by anchovies. Going to try the Wild Planet and see where the journey takes me.

[@MissZiss]

I sautée sliced mushrooms with butter, garlic and anchovies, then put them on a grilled cheese made with gruyere. It’s excellent.

[@jbw53191]

Like Julia, I have enjoyed anchovies since I was a kid. Good work!

[@bonnitaclaus2286]

Oh I love anchovies. I enjoy the variation in anchovies, as well as the uncured cooked in the jar type of anchovy including white anchovies.

[@pussywran]

i understand these videos you have been pumping out like the mesuring cups/trash cans/saurkraur and this video.....etc seem silly or small niche but the its every thing people overlook and, well keep up the great work, love thses allot

[@icthys2024]

Love them I eat then straight out of the can as well

[@aqcd]

as one anchovy lover to another, what are your thoughts on buying the salt packed can and repacking in oil yourself? I have not tried ortiz yet but merro is my favorite so far.

[@smellyfella5077]

love eating anchovies right from the tin/jar while washing em' down with a ice cold mug of beer

[@normanwyatt8761]

The first that I ever ate anchovies was on my night out with the boys and we went to a great pub and one guy ordered his pizza with anchovies and gave me a slice to try. Needles to say, that slice and my ice cold bottle of MILLER HIGH LIFE blew me away. I was hooked and I still am....

[@mildrednieves5106]

I love anchovies too!! I thought I was the only oddball!! Loved this video!! Thank you!! ")

[@antoniob.9396]

Anchovies are like olives...no grey area here, you love them or hate them. I consider myself fortunate as I LOVE them both.

[@merriemisfit8406]

The first pizzas I got to eat slices from, as a preschooler, had anchovies on them. As a result, the prototype pizza that rests in my culinary mind's eye -- what I call my "Ur-pizza", the one that I seem to be able to smell and taste at DNA level -- has anchovies on it. Cheese, onions, and 'choves, with sauce on top, and I have my perfect pie. Because so few pizza places around me even offer anchovies anymore, I always keep a jar of the little salty morsels in the fridge. And that includes the fridge at work, in case we have a pizza lunch. It turned out that all three of us who were present on day one of the business I work for like the 'chove on our pizza, so I'd rinse the salt-pack off some filets for each of us on those days when pizza came for lunch. Of the dozens of employees who have come and (mostly) gone since then, NOT A SINGLE ANCHOVY EATER.

[@katecollins5111]

i wish we knew more about the oil in each brand there are so many counterfeit olive oils...would love to see reviews of anchovies in water...

[@klmhookedmoore5847]

I love, love, love America's Test Kitchen. Has been my favorite culinary show for decades. Very informative, perfect recipes. And much better, more relaxed since Christopher Kimball left.

[@bobbyray7558]

How so exactly? IMO Kimball was the heart of the show, and I actually stopped watching after his departure. I don't think they ever even told us why he left.

[@infin1ty850]

I've been using Cento for years in my sauce and honestly never realized it was cured that long. I don't eat whole filets though so that probably has a lot to do with it.

[@madthumbs1564]

For a sauce; I'd choose Cento or any cured that long.

[@m.theresa1385]

I mostly use Cento in my sauce too. It’s mashed out in my puttanesca so the long cure might be advantageous. It holds up well to the capers .

[@BlueHen123]

I buy Ortiz Sardines at world Market for like $6 and my wife loves them!!

[@AbsoluteNut1]

More like $16 here.

[@bethsontag]

How do you store anchovies once you've opened the can? And how long can they be kept in the fridge?

[@SkkyJuse]

@Beth Sontag I love anchovies, so I buy them in a large can and then separate them out into an ice cube tray, about three filets per cube, top with the oil in the can and freeze. Then whenever I need some, I just pop out one oil/anchovy cube.

[@weredoomed6401]

You mean one can isn't one serving?

[@bethsontag]

@@SkkyJuse Many thanks Ashley. Will do!

[@jimjordan5630]

Mine have never lasted that long.

[@SkkyJuse]

@We're Doomed Hahahaha, right?!? If I’m dealing with a regular small tin, those fishies never make it to the fridge...heck, I’m lucky the right amount makes it into the recipe I bought them for. But, on the whole, I get restaurant-sized cans, as my husband is a chef.

[@grantsdad98]

KO anchovies are $3.59 per can here in California. Great anchovies.

[@lindamcdonald8355]

I usually buy anchovy paste for my Caesar Salad Dressing, but think that I will use the anchovies that you recommended and make my own paste.

[@parisbreakfast]

Spanish Cantabrican anchovies are outstanding. La creme de la creme. And Very expensive. But so worth it 👍

[@JTMcAwesomeFace]

I just use straight up fish sauce in my tomato sauce :D

[@ron56pvi13]

Yes. Yes. Yes. Anchovy paste in Ceasar salad, on pizza and in anything else you'd like some unami. I eat them right out of the can or jar.

[@markbeck8384]

Hey, I'm going to follow up on your offer, and just say "hello". Love watching you guys, and learn so much!

[@7HPDH]

😂

[@nazvanced8081]

Long time watcher. Just saying hello! Keep up the great content.

[@cuisined]

MORE LISA Mcmanus Please

[@mollysmith6055]

@Ruthlessnoodle She is the little brunette cutie with glasses who does some of the product reviews.

[@FezCaliph]

She's scary

[@ghw7192]

Centos? Reviewer

[@willtopper]

cento funky for a pizza topping.

[@cz2301]

And thats why the King is the king

[@Im49th]

What do you do with the leftover anchovies when you open a can? I put them in a tupperware but always forget about them.

[@balob]

Cover in Olive oil and put in fridge

[@hjordis7630]

Thank you !! Looking for recipes and found you:)

[@darcyking14]

This lady is amazing

[@jenniferchan3687]

How about the paste? Any good? I use the paste cause it’s easy to mix and make Caesar dressing. I don’t have a food processor

[@shadowpapito]

Thank You

[@1LSWilliam]

Absolutely terrific review.

[@ARCSTREAMS]

love watching the show with my folks both americas test kitchen and cooks country ,,love you two and yes i love anchovies out of the can over thinly sliced onions lemon juice and salt(yes yes i know but i still require more) and eat them with pita bread,,this is the way my dad showed me to eat them,i think its possibly norwegian style lol,,,give Bridget a hug and kiss for me ,those cute eyes :)

[@1MSally1965]

I am an anchovy lover as well. I will have to find the o es with the fork. I’ve never seen them! Looks delish!

[@LoverofAllThingsGood]

Love them interesting how processing changes the flavor profile ... I don’t use them often but love the flavor and intensity!

[@bonnitaclaus2286]

I love anchovies also. Ortiz has other anchovies as well as the one with fork. They also have wonderful sardines. Although, sprats are my favorite i’ll the sardine family.

[@AudreysKitchen]

Ortiz La Gran Anchoa -- they're huge and SO flavorful

[@314Tazo]

Crown Prince Anchovies, in a small glass jar, can be purchased at Whole Foods for $3.39, for 1.5 ozs.

[@HTMLguruLady2]

I love both the orders & cento anchovies!! But use them in an entirely different ways

[@maremacd]

What about anchovy paste? I’ve never used anchovies and I’m not sure I’d want to open an entire can for a recipe. Is there a paste brand that is recommended?

[@ronaldyeater3322]

I use bellino, but cento and Ortiz are good too

[@hollym5873]

great videos, thanks

[@pblack3023]

Love the new direction of the show

[@ljp9402]

friggin love them. i hope theyre healthy

[@briancooley8777]

They are heart healthy at least cause of their oils

[@Johonnac]

@@briancooley8777 Salt content affects blood pressure

[@nicolep9636]

I've always loved anchovies... I've purchased them only at TJ's... I'll be hitting up the King today at Safeway:)

[@kocoaberry7041]

wow never had anchovies in my life. Got to get out and live a little

[@Rutherford_Inchworm_III]

"Most of our testers said 'too funky'" If that ain't regression to the mean. "Excessively flavorful, make it blander please."

[@TheIkaika777]

I like using the paste for vinaigrettes.

[@webbnf]

Great information. Thanks!

[@jordanreiter3997]

I love how the whole time he's talking she just keeps going after those anchovies. At this point she's no longer tasting them she's flat out eating them. I'd do the same thing.

[@MaritsaDarman]

Do one with my favorite which is sardines

[@DanielAnchondo]

Ortiz Anchovies are worth the extra dollars they charge for them. Meaty instead of fishy and moist instead of dry texture. They're the extra oomph you want in your cesar salad or tomato sauce.

[@CakesnHays]

There’s a guy here on KZbin with a channel where he just eats sardines. It’s awesome.

[@ek9772]

Best tester ever

[@doctormister169]

Also I notice Cento claims packed in olive oil. But when you pour the oil from that can, it’s clear. That seems quite odd to me.

[@tonybucca5667]

WHY you no rinse mouth between samples? I love pranking my friends when we order pizza..I always say "garlic, extra anchovies," and when they wince, I shoot back, "OK, anchovies, extra garlic!" I love MY anchovies rolled around capers!

[@achecase]

Nice to see Cento put in it's place. Now if only supermarkets would take heed, it's to often thier only choice.

[@jeffsmith2022]

TOO...

[@TranceCore3]

Home girl going ham on them anchovies

[@richardstiffler225]

Morraccan & Spanish are the best to use.

[@maylien]

Great info, thanks

[@chrisandersen5635]

Does anyone know this reference? Anchovies anchovies They’re so delicious I love them more Than all the other fishes! 😎

[@kieranlindsay1220]

buffy

[@civilizeddiva]

3:22: I think I purchased this today from Trader Joe’s. Total salt bomb, so I decided to fish around for more info😂

[@lovingdensi2467]

Wild Planet is my choice. I’ve just discovered them, and love them. I’m not really a salt person, so this is perfect for me.

[@Titus-as-the-Roman]

I buy Crown Prince Anchovies from Morocco which I find quite acceptable, although a little on the fishy side in flavor. How do you know how many months they are cured, there's nothing on the package that tells that.

[@richinoable]

Wild Planet offers "white" anchovies, the first one that they panned...its the good stuff. For the flavor, i just use a paste.

[@liliker3120]

Roland is the best flavor to price ratio!!!

[@bijanbahmani3794]

With the canned one, how long do you have to use it after opening?

[@MichaelWinsorxfrdmn]

I make Patum pepperium or Gentlemen’s relish using King Oscar anchovies.

[@wildog47]

I've never tried anchovies. I LOVE sardines and tuna and all seafood except mussels. would I like them I wonder. whT kind should I try?

[@bkeene12]

I think you should grab a tin of the King Oscar brand. If you like sardines, you should love anchovies.

[@5610winston]

I only buy the jars because it's easier to keep the leftovers.

[@cavetreasures5475]

Perfect with Northern Monk! :-)

[@cohenkane2148]

MONK? That show sucked.

[@RachelSWhite]

I wish Julia would taste test more often than Bridget. She's not awkward and has an actual adult palette. Also, can we talk about the weird ending of this video between her and Julia? "I'll see you later" said in double entendre and Julia looking side to side? Why not edit that weirdness out?!

[@junpan6823]

How about the brand Napoleon? Is it similar to King Oscar?

[@martinjansson1970]

1:39 ... and Norwegian (King Oscar)

[@victorholladay4015]

I like anchovies, but I don’t ever recall seeing any of the recipe books I use call for them in a recipe other than Caesar Salad or as a pizza topping. Hmmm. Need to look a little more. Challenge for the day.

[@DELLRS2012]

I'm all about anchovies on pizza, just in small quantities.

[@tubalcaine]

Talatta are my favorite. They come in a jar like the Ortiz, cost less than Ortiz and just a little more than the King Arthur.

[@cattigereyes1]

What do they go with?

[@LoebRules]

I'm Asian and we eat a lot of fish sauce so i prefer Centos.

[@sahej6939]

And some paste ancho

[@pikaviet]

Can you do white vinegar

[@dinein1970]

Get the tinned anchovies into a jar right away!!!

[@mollysmith6055]

Very cool (and bold) that Cento was not a top rated contender considering how much they support public television. I don't like anchovies in themselves but do value what they add for a background note in dishes. Now I'm wondering if I've missed a 'Taste Test' segment of anchovy pastes?

[@lordgarion514]

They don't accept money from any company whose products they test, so they aren't worried about sponsors. and they're quite aware of the fact that if the station tried to kick them off for giving honest reviews, they would win crap loads of money in the lawsuit. Not so bold under those conditions TBH.