The Best and Worst Balsamic Vinaigrettes on Shelves—Ranked!

What makes a good balsamic vinaigrette? Well, it turns out, the perfect version of this popular salad dressing is truly a wonder of cooking technique, high-quality ingredients from around the world, and science coalescing.

Optimally, tart balsamic vinegar from Italy, tangy mustard from Dijon, olive oil from the first cold press, and various spices meld together in an emulsion created by the marriage of oil, water, and acid. The result is a perfect balance of all three that clings delicately to lettuce leaves and hits all areas of the tongue equally as you chew.

While you may crave a more acidic balsamic vinaigrette, others may prefer a bit more sweetness from a touch of honey—really, it's a matter of taste.

But as far as nutrition goes, you should look for these four things (all listed for a two-tablespoon serving) when choosing a healthy salad dressing: Less than 250 milligrams of sodium, less than 3 grams of added sugar, no artificial colors or preservatives, and few to no vegetable oils.

What follows is our ranking of every balsamic vinaigrette currently on grocery store shelves based on the above criteria, as well as calorie count and the quality of ingredients. With this list, you'll know which bottle is the absolute worst or best to buy during your next food shopping trip.

Oh, and if you're an Italian dressing fan, check out our list of the Best & Worst Italian Dressings on Shelves—Ranked!

Read the original article on Eat This, Not That!