Reviewers from Serious Eats and Food & Wine have identified these as the best choices available in 2026: The Best Store Bought Pesto, Ranked - Sporked
: Higher-end store-bought brands use traditional ingredients like extra-virgin olive oil and pine nuts, while cheaper versions often swap these for sunflower oil, cashews, or potato flakes. Top-Rated Store-Bought Options can i buy pesto at grocery store
: For the freshest taste, look in the refrigerated section (often near the fresh pasta) rather than the pasta sauce aisle. Shelf-stable jars are heat-processed, which can dull the basil flavor and lead to a more "metallic" or "stale" taste. Reviewers from Serious Eats and Food & Wine