Trader Joe’s Magnifisauce
Orange burger sauce.
For some people, that phrase conjures up thoughts of the iconic McDonald’s Big Mac, with its orange sauce below the patty. The Big Mac dates back to the 1960s, and it remains a staple on the McD’s menu. Whether you like a Big Mac is a matter of taste, but in terms of recognition, it’s as well known as any product in America.
For other (probably fewer) people, the idea of orange burger sauce harkens to Wahl Sauce, the brainchild of the Wahlberg brothers and their burger joint Walhburgers. Wahlburgers and its associated A&E reality show launched in the 2010s and its various products, Wahl Sauce included, are known to grace Aldi shelves as an occasional Aldi Find.
I’m not surprised that any company might try to create something inspired by one of these orange burger sauces. I can’t say that I expected said company to be Trader Joe’s. And yet, in the TJ’s Summer Fearless Flyer we found just that: a Trader Joe’s spin on Big Mac sauce, right down to an orange burger image on the label that puts the sauce below the patty, just like Ray Kroc (and the Wahlbergs, for that matter) intended.
Trader Joe’s Magnifisauce is, by all appearances, a summer seasonal item. It comes in a 9.5-ounce bottle and costs $3.49, or about 37 cents an ounce. It can be found at room temperature in the store, but the bottle says to refrigerate after opening and consume within 90 days. There is also a best-by date stamped on the bottle.
TJ’s describes this in the Fearless Flyer as a “mustard-mayo-ketchup-relish kind of spread.” Besides using it as a burger topping, they suggest it for hot dogs and Reuben sandwiches, or as a dip for chicken nuggets or fries. They also mention it can be served with chicken or fish.
The primary ingredients of the Magnifisauce are canola oil, water, relish, sugar, vinegar, tomato paste, egg yolks, and a few other additives and spices. That’s a pretty close approximation of what is publicly known about Big Mac sauce, and it also shares a few common ingredients with Wahl Sauce, with the relish being a particular difference.
The ingredients list one allergen, egg.
Our testers liked it. It’s not a bad approximation of Big Mac sauce, with a tangy sweetness that pairs well with a burger. There are real relish chunks in there along with a smooth light orange sauce that dispenses easily from the bottle.
The Verdict:
If you like Big Macs — and even if you don’t — Trader Joe’s Magnifisauce is worth a look during summer grilling season. With components of ketchup and mayo along with relish and other spices, this orange sauce serves as a solid accent to the summer burger. It’s likely a seasonal item, so if you want it, don’t wait until the fall.
