V8 and/or Tomato Juice: Way or No Way?
V8 - Super Way for me. As a drink, and if I'm being decadent, I add a little dollop of sour cream. The next to best part of a Bloody Mary (nope - not the vodka or gin - the horseradish is the best part). Worcestershire sauce and V8 make a great pairing. I also add it to many recipes like chili, pot roasts, hamburger soup, meat loaf, tomato soup and tomato based soups, BBQ sauce and anything that would be enhanced. I'll use tomato juice in a pinch, but favor the extra flavor from the veggies in V8. I do not like the new fruit incarnations - at least the ones I've tried. If I'm drinking it, I better have had my prilosec or the heartburn is horrific.
How about you? If Way, do you only drink it, or use it as an ingredient?
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55 Comments:
Absolutely WAY for tomato juice! With a sprinkle of salt and a dash of Worcestershire sauce, I've been drinking it since I was a child. In fact, come to think of it, I only ever drink grapefruit or tomato juice, I don't care much for other juices (and now you've covered them both:-)).
Other than gazpacho, I don't really use it as an ingredient though.
I don't know why, but I'm reluctant to try V8. And I really don't have a good reason, other than the fact that I love tomato juice the way it is...
brooke29 at 1:05PM on 01/15/09
Way! I love V8 to drink w/ lots of salt and pepper added to it...When I'm sick, I drink more of this then I do OJ and usually add horseradish to it, helps clear out the sinsuses.
Alm25 at 1:08PM on 01/15/09
I'm going to have to vote No Way on this one. V-8 has way too much sodium for me. Tomato juice can be doctored, but I like to eat my tomatoes, not drink them.
izatryt at 1:09PM on 01/15/09
WAY - V8 has saved my life on many a long road trip when I was thirsty/hungry, and the only foods that were available were from a convenience store. I have never been able to tak ethe low sodium variety, because for some strange reason (lack of salt?) I find the flavor lacking, but the spicy variety is really great, too!
Traveller at 1:11PM on 01/15/09
I like V8. I just always forget I like it when I go to the store.
I've seen some really yummy gazpacho recipes using the spicy kind. However, since no one in the house likes tomatoes except me, no one wants me to make gazpacho either. =)
akk328 at 1:14PM on 01/15/09
Way to both! Have some spicy V8 in the fridge right now in fact. We drink it, and cook with it (in soups, stews, casseroles). The downside is the sodium, but oh well.
gourmetgal at 1:17PM on 01/15/09
My husband loves V8 but doesn't care for tomato juice. My fourteen year old son is terrible about fruit and veggies, but he really likes V8 V-Fusion Pomegranite Blueberry--1 serving each of veggies and fruit in every 1 cup glass. Me--I don't like any of them. I'll take cranberry juice or grapefruit juice, please!
dhorst at 1:18PM on 01/15/09
No way! I really dislike tomato juice and V8. Periodically, I buy a bottle of V8 and try to convince myself that I'll like it this time. It's just so good for you! I want to like it, but I don't.
emgroff at 1:32PM on 01/15/09
Way! After a sweltering summer run, I sometimes drink a Red Eye. It's beer mixed with V8. If you ever try one, use a malty ale. Hoppy beer and tomato juice don't play well together.
Susquehanna at 1:34PM on 01/15/09
Way/and or Way......use the tomatoe juice as the liquid for rice and V8 in my tomatoe soup..and I do like to drink them both also..
Markbb at 1:49PM on 01/15/09
Way for a Bloody Mary --- No Way for anything else
finsbigfan at 1:55PM on 01/15/09
I love tomato juice. I love V8, especially Spicy V8. Hot, cold, spiced, with lemon and without. Yum.
chisai at 2:06PM on 01/15/09
Definte way for V8 - love it with salt and pepper added. I know the sodium is already high, but I can't help it! Not a big fan of regular tomato juice. My kids love the V8 fruit blends, just give me normal V8 please.
radley24 at 2:07PM on 01/15/09
way way way way way each and everyday!
Yes they make an excellent cocktail! I agree all! Mmmm...tasty
hungrychristel at 2:08PM on 01/15/09
way way way way way... my fiance makes fun of me when i order bloody marys but i
hungrygrl7 at 2:09PM on 01/15/09
way way way way way... my fiance makes fun of me when i order them but i LOVE bloody marys... the spicier and "garlic-ier" the better!!!
hungrygrl7 at 2:11PM on 01/15/09
Huge way to both. Having chronically low blood pressure, many a college day those little cans of V8, with even more salt added, got me to, and through, classes.
When I could drink, I adored bloody marys, the more add-ins the better!
V8 does make a great meatloaf too! The spicy kind is my favorite.
bobcatsteph3 at 2:27PM on 01/15/09
Way. I actually like them hot, nuked in a coffee cup and I sip them like soup.
Also like Bloody Mary's :D.
therealchiffonade at 2:31PM on 01/15/09
Very much way on the V-8. Yes, the sodium content is high, but the low sodium version is just wrong. I also like to use V-8 as a base for quicky vegetable soup. When I was heavily pregnant the summer before my son was born, I craved it like crazy. Icy cold and salty, it was soooo satisfying.
Melinda at 2:39PM on 01/15/09
Love. With tons of Frank's Red Hot.
BangieB at 2:43PM on 01/15/09
Very WAY on both, either could find it's way into my Bloody Mary, or sometimes I season them and drink Virgin Mary style
dmcavanagh at 2:46PM on 01/15/09
Either/or but I like a spicer flavor so I will add tabasco to either
pjracz10 at 2:50PM on 01/15/09
@chiff - soup-style sounds good. I'd find some way to put garlic cheese croutons in there, and then I'd really be in heaven.
akk328 at 2:53PM on 01/15/09
I like both, especially V8, but more as an emergency food substitute when nothing else is available/appetizing. At my last job, I pretty much didn't eat at the cafe where we ate for free, so I'd get a V8 if I was starving and it would get me through the day. I don't really keep it around the house, though.
cyberroo at 2:56PM on 01/15/09
Love V-8 and usually add extra lemon juice for an extra zing...not crazy about regular tomato juice though....
Italiancupcake at 3:00PM on 01/15/09
V-8
bessfour at 3:05PM on 01/15/09
WAY!! I love V8. I usually get the regular stuff, non-spicy and non-low-sodium. I spice it up myself with Worcestershire and a few drops of tobasco sauce, along with some black pepper. Delicious!
And thanks, Susquehanna, for the suggestion of the Red Eye. I've never tried one before, but I just might this afternoon!
minstrel at 3:09PM on 01/15/09
@chiff and akk - hmmm I should try this too! Croutons, spinach and cheddar cheese! Right on!
@bess - LOL ? haha yes, V8
hungrychristel at 3:23PM on 01/15/09
Way - love both, drink both but only with major Prilosec or at the end of a holiday when I am seriously relaxed. I cook with it too! I am NOT keen on the low sodium variety so it is a treat only in my place ...
Maureen at 3:26PM on 01/15/09
Way - I love V8! Especially the spicy version, or with some added lemon juice.
Junie at 3:46PM on 01/15/09
No way. I eat my tomatoes! Granted, I say the same thing about apples, grapes and oranges. I am just not a juice fan.
KarynMC at 4:23PM on 01/15/09
V8 ALL the way! I love to drink it plain very very cold or in a nice bloody mary. I also use it as an ingredient in many things. I never use plain tomato juice in a pinch, if I don't have V8, I just don't make it.
aungeinphx at 4:48PM on 01/15/09
Way! Love tomato juice and V-8, absolutely can't stand the fruit V-8s for seemingly no reason at all.
nightowl at 4:50PM on 01/15/09
Are any of you familiar with Clammato Juice - we drink Bloody Caesar's made like a Bloody Mary, substituting the Tomato juice with Clammato - We visit Charleston S.C. a couple of times a year and for many years we had to bring down the Clammato juice from Canada, then last summer, there it was in the Harris & Teeter grocery store! Joy! Anyway, I love it - it isn't as thick and mixed with Wocester and lemon, it is delicious straight up! Wish I could say it was healthier, but it probably isn't.
bareneed at 5:36PM on 01/15/09
V8 for me. I loved lemon twist V8, must not make it any longer. I doctor mine up with a variety of stuff.
Does anyone like Zing Zang? A great bloody mary mix.
IllinoisPam at 6:07PM on 01/15/09
tomato juice is ok. v8 is icky, like medicine. its way too salty. the low-sodium v8 though is pretty good.
blizcheetah at 6:16PM on 01/15/09
Spicy V8 rocks.
kdjmom3 at 6:44PM on 01/15/09
Way to V8, no way to tomato juice. I don't like the low sodium kind or the kind with calcium or the kind in cans --- it's got to be plain in the plastic bottle or the flavor is just off in some way to me. And tomato juice is just "too tomato-y" for me. These days, there is always a bottle of V8 in my refrigerator - I love that I can get my veggies/fruits that way in the winter. I live alone so I take a swig straight from the bottle almost every time I open the door because I can't stand the film it leaves in a glass.
CooksForOne at 8:02PM on 01/15/09
I bought the low sodium V8 once and had to keep sprinkling my glass with salt. Never did that before!
Seems no one likes the V8 fruit juices and I wholeheartedly agree. Yuk.
I've tried Clamato juice and thought it was available in the grocery store. Maybe just in Canada? Anyway, I liked it and can definitely see it used in a Bloody Mary, but I like the idea of the veggies in V8. Maybe it's illusion, but I feel like I'm getting some extra nutrition.
Haven't seen Zing Zang. Is it sold in liquor stores or groceries?
Looks like favorite add-ins are lemon juice, hot sauce and worcesteshire as well as salt and pepper. Virgin Bloody Mary sounds good to me - horseradish, here I come!
PerkyMac at 8:15PM on 01/15/09
A Bloody Mary without V-8 ? Are you 420 friendly?!
Peace, Black, Out!
Pavlov at 9:31PM on 01/15/09
Hurl!
renzata at 10:03PM on 01/15/09
Way to V-8, served room temperature if possible. I think it tastes better that way, although it must be chilled for a bloody mary. Spicy version is the best for those.
whatseatingme at 10:10PM on 01/15/09
Way to V8, the hot, spicey variety.. in Bloody Marys with addins: salt, celery seed, horseradish, tobasco, worcestershire. Regular tomato juice..no way..too bland. We like a little bite.
lamora at 12:04AM on 01/16/09
I don't drink juice. However, I did like smacking my skull as a kid and imitating the commercial "I coulda had a V8!" Perhaps that explains a lot of my poor life choices since...
HeartofGlass at 7:41AM on 01/16/09
Way... I love both tomato juice and V8 (although I can't stand V8's line of "fruit juices"). Additionally, I admit that I also like to drink "Snap-E-Tom," the tomato-pepper juice drink (which I believe is made by Del Monte, but I'm not entirely certain). In addition to drinking them, I sometimes use either tomato juice or V8 in soups (such as gazpacho), stews or casseroles.
When I was growing up, my mother always used V8 when making chili... at the time I doubt I had any idea that chili could be made any other way! These days I love to experiment when making chili; every time I make it, I try to make it a little bit different (and better) than the last time. And quite often I still use V8, although not always.
Steen at 1:31PM on 01/16/09
PerkyMac ~ Zing Zang is sold in most of my local grocery and liquor stores. They do have a web site if you wish to google. Let me know what you think.
IllinoisPam at 3:44PM on 01/16/09
way way way. i crave both but mostly the v=8. never tried it with the sour cream, i'll have to try it. i used to steal it from my grandmothers cellar. she would go grab one for my grandpa's lunch and find a bunch of empty can's. when they figured out it was me, they started buying me my own stash. i miss those days.
dearrie at 6:28PM on 01/16/09
Nope, I've tried V-8 once and didn't like it very much. I'm not much of a fan of tomato juice either. However I'd probably use it to cook with, Steen's food experiments with V-8 sound great.
hemag07 at 9:13PM on 01/16/09
No way. I like juice; cranberry, grape, orange most any other kind but not tomato. I think it's mostly because I like the things I drink to be sweet not savory.
LizSherman at 9:15PM on 01/16/09
WAY! love tomato juice, clamato juice and V-8 regular and spicy- I like Mr. and Mrs. T's Spicy Bloody Mary mix too- even drink it straight without the vodka.
deefine at 9:23PM on 01/16/09
Way! I love it as is - with lots of ice and through a straw - and I also mix my protein shakes (hemp) in it as it seems to blend well with the "greener" taste of the hemp. These require just a little extra salt to make them tasty.
thinkingincrayons at 10:40PM on 01/16/09
no way. although i might drink fresh tomato juice from greenmarket tomatoes in august.
cybercita at 10:45PM on 01/16/09
I always, always ask for it on airplanes.
kimbloo at 4:57AM on 01/17/09
I have loved both since childhood. YUM!
ddvierra68 at 12:19PM on 01/21/09
An elderly friend was telling me yesterday that her husband drinks a small can of V8 every afternoon. He now refuses to eat any vegetables because he feels he is getting all he needs in that tiny can. She is ready to bop him another head.
PerkyMac at 1:40PM on 01/21/09