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Publix cream cheese whips the competition
By KATHY SAUNDERS
Published June 8, 2005
"All whipped cream cheeses are created equal," according to Taster's Choice panelists who recently sampled six brands.
The difference between the first and second choices for best whipped cream cheese was one point. Out of 80 points, the Publix ($1.69) brand received 68. The cheeses from Albertsons ($1.99) and Wal-Mart ($1.25) tied with 67. Breakstone's kosher brand ($1.99) was a close third with 65.
The smooth and creamy texture of Publix's cream cheese gave it a slight edge. All four judges said they would buy Publix.
Two of the panelists liked Albertsons for its fluffiness and hint of salt. But the other two didn't like this brand. One said it had a crispy crust. The other described it as buttery and so white that it looked like the "operating room at Bayfront hospital."
Wal-Mart's brand, the least expensive, was thicker and a bit chewy. All four said they also would buy it, as well as the cream cheese from Breakstone.
Breakstone was easy to spread, with a finer texture and a slight tartness.
The judges also tasted the familiar Philadelphia ($1.79) and Kash n' Karry ($1.99). Both were creamy but lacked the flavor of the others. One judge said Kash n' Karry tasted more "like unsweetened Cool Whip" than cream cheese. It also had an unpleasant aftertaste.
Panelists were: Jim Yockey, aesthetician, Tierra Verde Salon & Day Spa; personal chef Julie Overton; Bob Devin Jones, artistic director of Studioat620; and Nan Jensen, registered dietitian with Pinellas County Extension. All products were tasted blind.
Send suggestions for product testing to Taste section, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731 or e-mail them to krieta@sptimes.com Please put TEST SUGGESTION in the subject line. To read past Taster's Choice articles, go to www.sptimes.com/food
RANKINGS
No. 1: Publix.
No. 2 (tie): Albertsons, Wal-Mart.
No. 3: Breakstone.
[Last modified June 7, 2005, 08:39:04]
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