By far, clam chowder is the most well-known chowder. I suppose that corn chowder would come in second, but let’s face it—while you may have heard of them, nobody really likes corn chowder. Like Jim Belushi or Luke Hemsworth. And while I can relate to corn chowder because it must be difficult to live in someone’s shadow, I’m here to talk about clam chowder instead because, let’s face it, it’s everyone’s favorite for a reason.
The ideal clam chowder is creamy, oceanic, aromatic, and sprinkled with potatoes for texture. It’s crucial to taste some clam juice in chowder because when all you can taste is cream, it tastes too bland. In light of this, we sought out a chowder with a salty, briny, seafood flavor. A word about potatoes as well: Don’t cut them into rocksize pieces. Potatoes shouldn’t occupy as much room in a chowder as a man manspreading on a train. Working in subpar restaurants has taught me all too well that soup fillers like potatoes are a bad idea. We here at Sporked are anti-filler. Give us the good stuff. We want a lot of clams and some potatoes in our chowder. Additionally, as always, our rankings benefit greatly from the perfect balance of salt and pepper. My friends, a beautifully seasoned chowder is a thing of beauty. Check out the list.
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We also tried the following products: Bar Harbor Manhattan Clam Chowder, Campbell’s Manhattan Clam Chowder, Stonewall Kitchen New England Clam Chowder, Progresso New England Clam Chowder, and Progresso Manhattan Clam Chowder.
What Is Clam Chowder?
Clam chowder is a seafood soup or broth that is typically made with milk or tomatoes, onions, salt pork, and other vegetables. The seafood can be clams or fish.
Some people use a red broth made with spices and tomatoes, while others make a thick, creamy broth with milk and clam juice.
You can prepare additional straightforward dishes to go with your clam chowder for the most satisfying meal. Additionally, it allows you to impress your family or friends with your culinary abilities.
Ivar’s Puget Sound Style clam chowder
Massachusetts and other states on the East Coast probably come to mind when you think of states famous for their delicious clam chowder. But on the other side of the United States, if you look hard enough, you can also find fantastic clam chowder. Unfortunately, Ivar’s clam chowder in the Puget Sound style isn’t the best the West Coast has to offer.
Fair enough, Ivars has eateries where you can get delicious clam chowder. However, something goes horribly wrong when this business, whose website indicates that its headquarters are in Mukilteo, Washington, cans its clam chowder. All of the flavor found in restaurants has been completely lost, and what is left is a pile of mushy sadness. Ivars clam chowder was once recalled because of worries that the soup contained sharp pieces of plastic, which only made the situation worse. With that in mind, just stay away. This stuff isnt even worth putting into your mouth.
Try Manhattan clam chowder if all you’ve ever had is New England clam chowder. Its quite different but it can be just as scrumptious. In contrast, Manhattan clam chowder doesn’t contain cream, whereas New England clam chowder typically is white due to the addition of cream. This version, however, is loaded with tomatoes and a variety of vegetables, including celery and carrots. This version of the soup typically has a reddish hue because of the tomatoes’ presence.
While Progresso knows how to make excellent New England clam chowder (as youll see if you keep reading and reach the top of this list), dont be fooled and believe that Progresso Manhattan Clam Chowder is a winner. This soup is actually a subpar example of what can be found in Manhattan. Its too watery and the clam pieces are way too rubbery. Eating the clams in this chowder is about as fun as gnawing the eraser off the end of your pencil.
Progresso Traditional New England Clam Chowder
The next company on our list is another well-known vintage brand.
For many years, the Progresso brand has provided us with canned soups, and this is yet another excellent choice.
This chowder is available in single cans, packs of 2, 3, or even 12 cans. These gluten-free soups are approximately 170 calories per serving. Campbell’s Chunky has a lower sodium content than this product, with 830 mg of sodium per serving.
There are no artificial flavors in this selection. Made in the USA, Progresso has been serving soup for over a century, and another thing we want to note is that this option has no added MSG, which is a great point.
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FAQ
What company makes the best clam chowder?
New England, specifically Boston, is where the most famous variety of clam chowder originated. Whole milk, light cream, or heavy cream are used to make the broth. The only vegetables are potatoes and onions, and the usual toppings are oyster crackers.
What is the most popular clam chowder?
Boston, Massachusetts We’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge this: Boston is one city that, for many Americans, is synonymous with its beloved “CHOWDA!” For starters, the oldest continually operating restaurant in the U. S. , Union Oyster House, has been there since 1826.
Where is the best clam chowder in the United States?
- Cento Whole Baby Clams.
- Bumblebee Whole Baby Clams.
- Bar Harbor Chopped Clams.
- Chicken of the Sea Whole Baby Clams.
- Crown Prince Natural Boiled Baby Clams.
