Are Americans “obsessed” with ketchup?

There's a difference between occasionally using it and being obsessed.

You seem oddly desperate for attention, OP.

Ask your German friend why he is, like most Germans, obsessed with hate speech and war.

All time low for stupid threads

Ask your friend if Germans are obsessed with schnitzel.

Ketchup is disgusting and I’ll never understand why people love it.

Not as much as before. I feel like ketchup's peak days are behind her, and it has had to compete with more exciting condiments these days.

Catsup.

Catshit

I sometimes eat foods just so I can use mustard

I prefer ketchup chips.

Probably, OP, but I’m unapologetic about it. I love ketchup with chicken breasts, pork chops, and steaks. It’s the vinegar tanginess that I love about it.

Ketchup - it’s hot sauce for white people!

OP it sounds like you do eat more ketchup than most people, but that isn't an American thing.

Mayo goes better with fries than ketchup.

Dukes!

No, R15. Hellman's.

Miracle Wuip!

Salsa is consumed more than ketchup in the US

At least you spell it “ketchup.”

I hope you use Heinz.

In America, many people assume that ketchup is the most popular condiment. After all, it goes well with so many foods. People add ketchup to their French fries, hot dogs, hamburgers, and many other dishes. Who doesn’t love ketchup?

As it turns out, Americans do love ketchup. But is it the most popular condiment in America? The answer is unclear. Sales figures change each year and vary from state to state. While ketchup regularly appears near the top of the list of widely loved toppings, it has several strong rivals. For instance, salsa often surpasses ketchup in overall annual sales. Soy sauce sales are also similar to those of ketchup.

Ranch salad dressing is another of ketchup’s top rivals. It has become a favorite dip for French fries and many love to spread it on sandwiches. Some people even dunk pizza in ranch! In 2016, the spicy sauce Sriracha out-sold ketchup at the grocery store to become the top condiment in the U.S. It’s still a common topping on a number of dishes, from eggs to potatoes.

However, one sandwich spread often reigns supreme. Its sales are often double those of many others. Can you guess what we’re talking about? That’s right—mayonnaise! According to sales figures, the creamy sandwich spread regularly accounts for more than $2 billion in annual revenue. Many consider mayo to be the top condiment in the U.S.

What’s the top condiment worldwide? Around the globe, a variety of toppings are wildly popular. Vegemite is a top choice in Australia, as is marmite in Britain. In South Korea, gochujang may steal the show. A spicy white vinegar called Datu Puti is widely used in the Philippines. Other popular choices around the world include tahini, currywurst, and aioli.

Ranch = death

PSA time

This. Never. Happened.

And why is Defacto so obsessed with Germans?

Is this Klaus?

Because it sounds like him.

Your friend is ignorant, OP.

You gotta love these people from less populated countries, who are so quick to stereotype Americans as an unchanging monolith, ignoring the fact that plenty of our cities have some of the most diverse cultures on earth. There are still idiots who think Baywatch represents Southern Californians.

RME and SMDH.

I call it “tomato syrup”

Totally disgusting never touch the stuff

I owned some ketchup once in the 1990s because I had some recipe that needed some. The rest got thrown out after it expired. I don't dislike it, but just don't usually eat anything that needs ketchup on it. Fries are useless with ketchup but I rarely eat them and never at home.

**fries are useless WITHOUT ketchup**

R16 Best Foods for those of us west of the Rockies!

[quote]You gotta love these people from less populated countries, who are so quick to stereotype Americans as an unchanging monolith

Americans are so much better at appreciating the subtleties and nuances of other countries!

I only use ketchup on french fries and onion rings, and even then, not always.

OP, you put ketchup on chicken wings? What the hell is wrong with you?

Ketchup on chicken wings is definitely weird.

To which Americans are you referring, R30? Native Americans? African-Americans? Chinese-Americans, Japanese-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Cuban-Americans, Filipino-Americans, Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, French-Americans, Polish-Americans, Indian-Americans, Vietnamese-Americans, Russian-Americans, etc.? Please be specific. I'll wait.

We are a country of immigrants. It's foolish to lump us together as one type of American, all engaging in the same behavior.

The Belgians have 50 different kinds of sauce for frites, many made with ketchup, which German tourists gobble up with glee. And German-as-Leni-Riefenstahl favourite currywurst is made by mixing curry powder into…ketchup.

Either this never happened or your German friend had a Andrea-Bocelli-sized blind spot.

I prefer Catsup.

I prefer Dogsdown

Not American but I've noticed that American recipes that call for vinegar always call (according to my palate) for too much. Whatever it is I'm making always ends up just a little TOO vinegar-y. Americans also seem to love ranch and buffalo flavoured things.

Ketchup…why anyone would choose to eat ‘red sugar’ is beyond me. As for store bought mayo..that’s just as revolting.

Only on hamburgers (in combination with mustard) and for fries.

Everyone who worked in high-end restaurants has a story to tell of some American ordering ketchup. Some venues refuse to do it. Ketchup is packed with sugar and has such an intense and very specific taste that it covers everything. It will just annihilate the effort that was put into a dish that has already been balanced and seasoned. It's like wearing a plastic bag over a dress - why bother in the first place? It's an insult to the cook. Ketchup is great for fries, burgers and maybe a steak - none of which are seasoned before. Europeans have strong opinions about this - it's not only ze Germans.

Unless it's a hamburger or a bacon sandwich, I cannot take adults who put ketchup on food seriously.

Not as much as they are on guns. Sadly.

I blame Ronald Reagan, and Heinz, in that order!

R25/34, you are absolutely right about the diversity of the American population, but Datalounge is an endless parade of threads discussing how racist Australians are, or how big the dicks are in Sweden, or how terrible the food is in England, or how Europeans as a whole never take showers. On and on. The Dutch are so this, the Japanese are so that. So I am merely drawing attention to a slight inconsistency in this pearl-clutching over generalisations.

I’m not buying this….

No one generalises and stereotypes like the Americans.

Ketchup: on French fries, hot dogs, hash browns. I eat eggs cooked scrambled or fried with ketchup!

Ketchup is gross on chicken wings, or any fried meat, for that matter.

However, a lot of Asian cultures use some ketchup in their sauces, I've noticed. Ketchup mixed with soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, garlic, etc. I prefer to use gochujang, especially if the sauce recipe calls for ketchup plus something spicy like sriracha, just cut out the middleman and use gochujang in place of them both.

I love ketchup on McDonalds fries. Anything else and I hate it.

R59 You should really try Mayo with lots of pepper, delish!

Steak fries with tartar sauce is heaven!

Ketchup is for fries and burgers and a few other foods, but putting it on fried chicken? TRASH.

R23 I’m not at all obsessed with Germany. It’s probably the lowest on the list of European countries I would want to visit. I find Germans to be rather arrogant, and not in a good way. Thanks for your concern though.

Ask him why his countrymen have such atrocious personal hygiene habits.

Heinz No Sugar Added is a side dish for me.

I only like ketchup on French fries and I mix it with mayo.

As a kid I dipped cucumber slices in ketchup primarily to annoy my big sister. As an adult, I do not. In my book, ketchup is for burgers and fries.

American who does not love ketchup. Occasionally on fries. Never on meat. When I order fish and chips I order extra tartar to dip fries in.

The trashiest thing about Trump is his eating charred steak with ketchup, IMO. No nice cognac based reduction or bearnaise but white trash ketchup. A man who can afford the best food.

Oh god Heinz for me oh god Heinz bbq sauce I squeeze it on my burgers mmmm

I lurve ketchup. With burgers, fries.

What the hell is this, does she need to raise more money for Andrew’s trial?

OP- I'm obsessed with mustard.

I LOVE mustard

all kinds

Are british people obsessed with being british? It sure sounds like it.

When I was a kid I'd smother everything with ketchup.

Now as a grownup I'll only have the occasional hot dog with ketchup or some ice cream

That's maturity

Yes, I am American and I am obsessed with ketchup. My family is obsessed with ketchup. My friends are obsessed with ketchup. My neighbors are obsessed with ketchup. My enemies are obsessed with ketchup. People I’ve know who are now dead were obsessed with ketchup.

The children are obsessed with ketchup, in schools and day cares across America. We start on ketchup as babies. Our mothers put watered down ketchup in our bottles. For their last meal, most Americans will ask for ketchup.

It’s a unique and ubiquitous obsession here in my country.

Well QEII must be colour blind. That is not brouwn!

[quote]As for store bought mayo..that’s just as revolting.

Agreed! Only eat fresh mayo straight from the udder.

And they wonder why they got mad cow disease...

It is just a sugar sauce. Gross stuff

[quote]The trashiest thing about Trump is his eating charred steak with ketchup

I’m surprised I had to scroll all the way down to R60 to see this comment.

[quote]Ketchup is disgusting and I’ll never understand why people love it.

I agree R5, ketchup is disgusting and I’ll never understand why people love it.

These are the good days for Barb and I...Ketchup, ketchup, ketchuuuuup.

Most people are tryto forget about trump, perhaps 🤔?

I used to like dipping a grilled cheese sandwich in my French fry ketchup. I haven’t ordered this in years, I wonder if I would still like it.

R69- I don't eat Mayonnaise

I only eat Vegenaise

[quote] He now thinks I order items specifically so that I can eat some ketchup.

I'd think that too. The only acceptable condiment is hot sauce.

[quote]Ketchup - it’s hot sauce for white people!

Retarded.

I like ketchup for fries/hash browns but rarely for other things. I can't imagine using it on chicken or chicken wings.

I always eat ‘cheap cut, pan-fried steak’ with ketchup and worchestershire and fried onions. Delish!

When I found out theres more sugar than tomato in most ketchup, suddenly I could taste it and the spell was broken.

I always saw Americans as obsessed with hot sauce. I don't see the same thing for hot sauce in most other countries.

Fat OP is not the sole representative of the USA.

You're not the center of the universe. Please stop deluding yourself.

[quote]But is it the most popular condiment in America? The answer is unclear.

Popular culture has been reduced to answers from the Magi 8 Ball.

[quote]I only like ketchup on French fries and I mix it with mayo.

In the east that's Diners version of French salad dressing, add relish and it's Thousand Island.

I made fries for dinner in my air fryer last night. At the suggestion of an online friend, I ate them with ranch dip instead of catsup. Not bad, but I will go back to the latter next time I make fries.

R72 that picture of Dump has always turned my stomach. I have seeing food in mouths.

Ketchup is disgusting and yes Americans put it on seemingly anything.

Gross.

You couldn't taste the sugar in ketchup, R81? I'm not being shitty but it's always been overtly sweet to me (along with the vinegariness).

Ketchup is also a condiment with a lot of snobbery around it (see: this thread). If it was the chosen condiment of a tribal people in some obscure central Asian country most of you would be falling all over yourselves to get a show bottle for your fridge. It's sweet, acidic and tomato-y. That sounds perfect for a condiment. Gochujang is sweet as well. Ketchup is perfect with salty, fried foods, imo.

Ketchup no.

Ranch dressing yes.

r89 "A show bottle". LMAO.

[quote] "Ketchup no. Ranch dressing yes."

House-made ranch can be good, but I'll choose bleu cheese dressing over it everytime (it must also be prepared in house). And only for salad.

I only use ketchup in baked beans, on meatloaf, and (sometimes) on fries. However, my favorite fry toppings are malt vinegar and salt.

I sometimes buy a double filet o fish (yes, I type fat), remove the buns, drown in malt vinegar and eat over the sink like the fucking savage I am.

Also re: show bottles, I bought some show salt once (that Maldon stuff). Turns out it's fucking great now I just have it in a non-show capacity.

I love ketchup/catsup on eggs, fried potatoes, hamburgers and steak. I find it amusing when people throw shade about it to me. I know it's full of corn syrup, but it adds flavor and tastes great.

Two valuable things I've learnt from Americans about Ketchup: It can make an excellent homemade BBQ sauce (and I'm not typically a fan of the bottled kinds) with the proper portions of Worcestershire, fresh lemon, black and red pepper (cayenne) and just a few other ingredients. Quite easy to adapt the sweetness level. Link below for Don's recipe. It makes delicious BBQ Chicken.

When preparing an American style Chile Con Carne, AKA Chilli, a squirt of Ketchup at the end can brighten the flavour, and mellow out the chiles a bit.

Otherwise, I don't really use the stuff as a condiment, but I do like my Brown Sauce.

Frank's RedHot. I put that shit on everything!

Life long fan but Heinz Tomato Ketchup with No Sugar Added is great and when you try the regular you can definitely taste the difference I prefer the no sugar by far.. The only reason I went to Walmart was because they were under $2 a bottle but they raised the price the last couple of months and now they are the same as the grocery store so I don't have to go there.