Harrisons Rated Top Ketchup Brand

Ketchup, big Tom, Tommy K, tomato sauce, red sauce… or whatever your household insists on calling it, is one of the most well loved condiments in the UK. It goes on chips, burgers, fish fingers, toasties, sausages and the list never ends. Because everyone has a favourite, the “best ketchup in the UK” debate is never quiet for long.

To understand how different ketchup brands stack up in flavour and style, we took a closer look at three popular options: Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Stokes Tomato Ketchup, and Harrisons Tomato Ketchup, made right here in the UK.

This isn’t about declaring a winner, flavour is personal. Instead, it’s a simple, side-by-side comparison to help you choose the style that suits your table best.

Heinz Tomato Ketchup – The Classic Household Name

Heinz is the ketchup most people grow up with in the UK. It’s familiar, dependable, and instantly recognisable.

Flavour profile

• Sweeter than most
• Gentle acidity
• Smooth, pourable texture

Why people choose it

Heinz is the taste many of us associate with childhood plates and chip shop dinners. It pairs well with burgers, nuggets, chips and most quick meals because it delivers a consistent, easygoing sweetness.

Best for:

Families, everyday dipping, anyone who prefers a classic, sweet leaning ketchup.

Stokes Tomato Ketchup – Rich, Tomato Led, Premium Style

Stokes offers a thicker, more tomato forward style of ketchup. It leans into a rich base and a grown up style of seasoning.

Flavour profile

• Deep tomato flavour
• Rounder sweetness
• Thicker, spoonable texture

Why people choose it

It’s ideal if you prefer something that tastes closer to a cooked tomato sauce that’s fullbodied and savoury. It works well in gourmet burgers, bacon sandwiches, and hot dishes where you want the ketchup to hold its own.

Best for:

Adults with a preference for richer sauces, premium burgers, elevated brunch plates.

Harrisons Tomato Ketchup – Balanced, Versatile & British

Harrisons Tomato Ketchup sits comfortably between sweet, savoury, and tangy; a balanced, easy pairing ketchup designed for everyday use.

Flavour profile

• Bright tomato notes
• Balanced sweetness (not too heavy)
• A clean, smooth acidity
• Classic ketchup texture that coats food well

Why people choose it

It’s adaptable. It works just as well on chips as it does stirred through pasta, added to a stew base, or used in marinades. The flavour stays familiar enough for kids but has enough depth to please grown ups too.

Best for:

Households that want one ketchup that suits everyone and works across both dipping and cooking.

Taste Comparison Table

A simple, descriptive overview of how each ketchup behaves on the palate:

Which Ketchup Style Suits You?

Choosing the right ketchup often comes down to two things - what you’re putting it on and how you like your flavour to land on the palate. Here are a few simple questions to help you work out the style that suits you best:

Do you prefer a sweeter ketchup?

If you like ketchup that gives your chips a quick hit of sweetness, or you’re pairing it with things like nuggets, fish fingers or kids’ lunches, a classic style sweet ketchup will usually feel most familiar.

Do you want something richer and more tomato forward?

If you’re topping burgers, sausages or cooked dishes where you want the tomato flavour to stand out, a thicker, deeper style of ketchup will feel more satisfying. These tend to work well when you want the sauce to hold its own.

Do you like a balanced, all round flavour?

If your ketchup needs to cover a bit of everything - dipping, cooking, glazing, sandwich-building, then a medium sweet, gently acidic ketchup is usually the most adaptable. This style works especially well in marinades, one pan dishes or recipes where you don’t want the sauce to take over.

Do you cook with ketchup or only dip?

If you cook with it (beans, stews, traybakes, glazes), look for something that has enough acidity to stand up to heat, isn’t overly sweet and a sauce that adds depth without masking other ingredients.

If you mainly dip, texture and sweetness become more important.

Why Harrisons Works for Everyday

Harrisons Tomato Ketchup is designed to be as useful in the pan as it is on the plate. Its balanced acidity and tomato base give dishes structure without overpowering other flavours. Because the sweetness isn’t too heavy, it works in marinades, bakes, stir fry, dressings, and stews without making them taste overly sweet.

Harrisons Tomato Ketchup Ingredients:

• Tomato paste
• Water
• Sugar
• Spirit vinegar
• Salt
• Spices like Paprika powder, onion and garlic powder
• Dextrose
• Thickener (mofidies maize starch)
• Stabiliser (xantham gum)
• Preservatives (potassium sorbate)

A straightforward list, nothing overdone or unnecessary. Just a clean, balanced ketchup built for real life cooking.

Why this matters in the kitchen:

• The acidity helps cut through richness in meats.
• The balanced sweetness supports caramelisation on the grill.
• The tomato content brings depth to sauces, beans, and one-pan meals.
• The smooth texture mixes easily into anything from mayo to marinades.

Try Harrisons Tomato Ketchup

If you like discovering new styles of ketchup, whether sweeter, richer, or more balanced, Harrisons sits neatly in that middle ground where versatility matters. It’s British made, flavour first, and crafted to work across the meals people actually cook and eat every day.

Best Tomato Sauce FAQs 

How to Pair, Balance and Cook with Tomato Ketchup

Q. What foods does tomato ketchup pair best with?

Ketchup works well with foods that benefit from sweetness, tang, and umami. The natural acidity in tomatoes helps cut through richness (like burgers, sausages or fried foods), while the sweetness complements crisp textures such as chips and wedges. It also pairs well with protein based dishes because the tomato umami deepens the savoury notes.

Q. How do I balance flavours when using ketchup in cooking?

Think of ketchup as a mix of sweet, sour, salty and savoury elements. When cooking with it:

• Add acid (like vinegar or lemon) if your dish becomes too sweet.
• Add salt or soy to bring out savoury depth.
• Add spices or chilli for heat if things taste too mellow.
• Use a splash of water or stock to loosen and spread the flavour evenly.

Ketchup is already a balanced base, so you’re mostly adjusting intensity rather than building flavour from scratch.

Q. Can you cook ketchup into sauces and stews?

Yes, ketchup works as a quick tomato base. Its acidity helps cut through fat in slow cooked dishes, and the sugar helps encourage browning and caramelisation. Stir it into:

• Baked beans
• Chilli or spag bol
• Cottage pie/ Shepherds pie filling
• Traybakes
• Sticky glazes

It thickens slightly as it cooks and blends well with onions, garlic, and stock.

Q. Why does ketchup work so well on fried or grilled foods?

Fried and grilled foods are rich in Maillard flavour compounds, those browned, crispy, savoury notes. Ketchup provides contrast through:

• Acidity (cuts through fat)
• Sweetness (balances char)
• Tomato umami (reinforces savoury flavours)

This contrast makes the overall eating experience feel more balanced and less heavy.

Q. When should I choose a thicker ketchup vs a thinner one?

Use a thicker ketchup when you want it to stay where you put it, inside burgers, on sausage sandwiches, or on the side for dipping. Choose a looser, pourable ketchup when brushing onto food, mixing into sauces, or using as part of a marinade.

Q. Can ketchup be used in marinades?

Absolutely, we think it works particularly well. Ketchup contributes:

• Acid to tenderise proteins
• Sugar to help caramelise on the grill
• Tomato umami for depth 

Combine it with oil, garlic, vinegar, or spices for a simple, effective marinade.

Q. How do I stop ketchup based sauces from tasting overly sweet?

Balance sweetness with vinegar, mustard, worcestershire sauce, citrus or chilli heat. You could also add more savoury elements like stock, garlic, or herbs. This brings the sauce back into harmony without dulling the tomato character.

Q. Is ketchup good for glaze style cooking?

Definitely. The natural sugars in ketchup caramelise well under heat, making it ideal for:

• Roasting sausages
• Coating chicken wings
• Glazing ribs
• Brushing over roasted vegetables

Just keep an eye on cooking time as caramelisation can turn to burning if the heat is too high for too long!