It is true! Through some kind of foodie magic, President’s Choice has made PC Memories Of Eggs Benedict Hollandaise Sauce.
The Product
Hollandaise sauce in a jar! And I got if for just under $3 at my local Superstore. I first had it at the PC Holiday Party but they served it over rapini which is so bitter, I could hardly taste the sauce. To really test it, I had to make Eggs Benedict.
Hollandaise sauce is mostly made of butter and egg yolks but this is what is in this PC Product:
“Water, canola oil, butter, cream (milk, cream, monoand diglycerides, sodium phosphate, sodium citrate, carrageenan), modified corn starch, frozen egg yolk, salt, concentrated lemon juice, sugar, seasoning, dried egg yolk, xanthan gum, spice extract (contains tocopherols), potassium sorbate, lactic acid, spice extract, beta-carotene, caramel colour.”
Not exactly the same. Before I saw the list of ingredients I wondered how on earth this sauce stayed together? It is so infamous for separating. Now I gather it is the corn starch that turns it into an unbreakable sauce which is quite clever.
The Product Testing
Wow, it was not easy getting that sauce out of the jar! It did not want to pour out of there and into my sauce pan.
It took a while but it happened. The sauce has a lovely thickness to it and the colour is quite lovely, perhaps because of the caramel colouring.
I referred to my post How To Poach An Egg because it had been so long. So silly! It is so simple to do, I think I might make my eggs like this from now on.
The sauce needs a low and slow heat. Too fast and it bursts into bubbles and forms a skin but with a little whisking, comes right back together again, unlike a homemade Hollandaise.
Product Review
It really is incredible that they have come up with a way to enjoy Hollandaise sauce without the effort, the threat of the sauce breaking… PC Memories Of Eggs Benedict Hollandaise Sauce is perfect for the newbie cook who is too intimidated to make Hollandaise from scratch. So easy to just put it into a sauce pan, heat and then use.
That said, this does not feel authentic to me. Yes, it tastes pretty good, has luscious texture and makes life easier but it kind of feels like a cheat. As much as I resisted making Hollandaise sauce myself for fear of seeing just how much butter goes into it, I think I prefer to go that route than buy a clever knock off. Reg normally does not like Hollandaise sauce at all but liked this which again, makes me feel that it is not close enough to the real deal for me to be whole heartedly impressed.
I give this product three out of five wooden spoons. Great for those who would never make Hollandaise from scratch but for those who would, I say, make it yourself unless you are just too damn busy this holiday season.
Yes, the corn startch and the xanthan gum will help bind and thicken.
You’re right! The xanthan gum would also thicken it and keep it together!
Thanks for the tip about his product!
You are welcome Debra!
I would probably try it because I love eggs Benedict but have never made the sauce. Maybe you’ve inspired me to try to make the real thing!
Debbie, thank you! So glad my post helped give you the confidence to try making it yourself and this sauce is a great place to start. Learn how to poach the eggs first (I promise, it’s easy) and then go for the sauce when you’re ready.
I tried this and it was awful! If you want a quick, no-fuss hollandaise that is not from scratch, I would recommend the Knorr sauce mix. A good hollandaise takes practice but the end results are worth it. The rating of 3 on this product was generous.
I wasn’t a huge fan either and agree, Knorr’s sauce mix is quite good.
Suzie, I’m sorry, but I have to agree with the post by Anonymous on Jan.12, 2017. This was awful. I found it to be inedible and the Eggs Benedict were tossed in the garbage. This no more resembles a Hollandaise in taste than fly! It was a real disappointment for a PC product. For a cheat Hollandaise the Knorr dry mix is good, but I prefer Mayacamas’ dry Hollandaise sauce mix. It has a nice texture, no raw floury taste or feel, and I like the light creamy texture with a hint of lemon. It’s a little hard to find at times, I will admit.
Have you tried the PC Black Label Hollandaise in a jar? I must admit I’m a little leery after the encounter with this stuff in the bottle.
It was a big disappointment, I agree. I used to use the Knorr dry mix! I haven’t seen the Black Label version, I will go looking for it, thank you.
This the first Memories of product that went straight to the garbage; tastes all chemically. Blech, memories of Science class guys. I will eye down that butter and continue to make it from scratch!
Sandy, I agree, it was really, really bad. Yes, butter is good. Fake tasting sauce? Bad.
We love it! But have been unable to find it in any of our local (Halifax) stores for months now. Has it been discontinued???
A lot of these products come out solely for the holidays that particularly year and then disappear. I haven’t seen this one either in a long time.