Fajita Seasoning

TEST DATE: May 2010

TESTER: Michele and husband Marc

Products for this test purchased at Fred Meyer and Albertsons.

MICHELE'S OPINION: After completing this test, the one thing I can say is that I can't believe that McCormick's thinks they can make fajita seasoning! All they seemed to do was put their steak seasoning in a fajita package. I was completely shocked. Taco Bell wins both with fajita and taco seasoning tests, and I guess that makes sense - that's what they've specialized in for years. Also, it is interesting to note that these were the only four fajita packets that I could find from multiple locations; there were no other producers. That surprised me because there were so many more options for taco seasoning. Read on for more details on price, nutrition, and taste:

PRICE COMPARISON FOR PACKET OF SEASONING (store first, then brand):
$1.00 Albertsons Taco Bell
$0.67 Fred Meyer Kroger brand
$0.59 Fred Meyer Lawry's
$0.50 Fred Meyer McCormick's

1. McCormick's: This product is the darkest in color and doesn't taste like anything Mexican. The flavor is salty and mildly smokey, a little powdery. It primarily tastes like steak seasoning! Peppery.

2. Kroger:  This product is saltier than McCormick's and has a creamy texture.

3. Lawry's:  This seasoning has a heavy paprika flavor and is the spiciest of the bunch.

4. Taco Bell: This product tastes the most like Mexican food, with a mild/medium heat but not too spicy. There is some paprika flavor but it is not overpowering. We can taste onion and garlic flavors.

NUTRITIONAL NOTES: As with the taco seasoning mix taste test, the sodium content varies widely in these products, from 215 mg (Taco Bell) to 410 mg (Lawry's) per 2tsp. Other than that, all nutritional aspects are very similar.

TASTE WINNER: Taco Bell, no question. And with the lowest sodium content of the bunch, you can't go wrong!