Taste-Off: The best sour cream at Bay Area supermarkets — and the duds

If mayonnaise or plain yogurt aren’t your thing, the key to adding creamy richness to everything from soups to baked goods is a generous spoonful of great quality sour cream.

Delicious enough to eat straight out of the tub, sour cream is silky and buttery, with a delicious tang that instantly elevates sauces, turns potatoes and vegetables into luscious mouthfuls, and bumps up flavor in pancakes and muffins. Not convinced? Think beef stroganoff, onion dip and cheesecake.

It’s no wonder...