Most of us won't bother to roast our own red peppers. But we’re also not willing to sacrifice the ideal smoky-sweet flavor and meaty texture we want from them. Trouble is, most brands don’t deliver. To find the best, we sampled four supermarket brands—Divina, Mt. Olive, Mezzetta and DeLallo—plus one premium option, Hellenic Farms. We limited our tasting to whole peppers, not pre-cut strips.

Right off, we learned variety matters. Elongated Florina peppers (used by Divina and Hellenic Farms) outperformed roasted red bell peppers. Our top pick was Divina Organic Roasted Red Peppers ($8/12 oz), which impressed tasters with "an amazing balance of sweet and charred smokiness."

DeLallo Roasted Red Peppers in Water ($3.99/16 oz) came in second, praised for their appearance and texture. While some found the peppers bland, others appreciated their "subtle smokiness and freshness."

Hellenic Farms Greek Roasted Red Peppers ($8.99/16 oz) placed a close third, dividing tasters with its bold, complex flavor. Some described the peppers as having "the most flavor and complexity of all," while others detected a metallic or bitter note. In our composed salad, tasters enjoyed the peppers’ meaty texture.

Last were Mt. Olive and Mezzetta. Mt. Olive had bland, metallic flavors, while Mezzetta ranked last for their mushy, stringy texture and excessive saltiness.