Aldi's Budget Yorkshire Puddings Crowned UK's Best in Consumer Test
In a surprising twist for British roast dinner traditions, a budget supermarket's own-brand frozen Yorkshire puddings have been declared the nation's finest, dethroning the long-reigning favourite Aunt Bessie's. The rigorous blind taste test, conducted by the UK's leading consumer champion Which?, involved 74 participants evaluating seven premium supermarket own-brand options alongside Aunt Bessie's offerings from the freezer aisle.
The Triumphant Winner: Aldi's Specially Selected Puddings
Aldi Specially Selected Large Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings emerged victorious with an impressive score of 73%. Priced at £1.99 for a 288g pack, they were also joint-cheapest in the trial, earning a Great Value badge from Which?. Approximately two-thirds of testers praised these puddings for their crispy exterior and airy centres, noting they remained soft with the perfect level of moisture. Just under three-quarters of participants deemed the golden colour absolutely spot-on, securing the product a prestigious Best Buy status.
Close Runner-Up: Aunt Bessie's Spectacular Puddings
Aunt Bessie's Spectacular Yorkshire Puddings claimed second place with a score of 72%, retailing at £2 for 220g. These family favourites proved popular, with two-thirds of testers praising both their visual appeal and satisfying crunch. Testers also commended their fluffy interior and appropriate moisture content. What sets Aunt Bessie's apart is the inclusion of herbs and spices—rosemary, cumin, sage, and horseradish—though a third of testers felt this flavouring was somewhat overpowering. Notably, they are one of the few vegetarian-friendly options, made without beef dripping.
Other Notable Contenders in the Taste Test
Tesco Finest 6 Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings shared second place with Aunt Bessie's, also scoring 72%. Testers were impressed by the texture, with over half expressing satisfaction with the taste, though 41% found them excessively soft. Despite this, they were the smallest and priciest puddings in the trial.
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Yorkshire Puddings took third place with a score of 71%. Priced at £2.60 for 252g, they offer better value than Tesco but cost more than both Aunt Bessie's and Aldi. Two-thirds of testers approved of their golden colour, with even more praising the crispy exterior, but the majority felt they lacked firmness.
How Other Supermarket Brands Performed
The remaining brands in the trial scored as follows:
- Waitrose No. 1 6 Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings – 69% (£3 for 252g)
- Iceland Luxury 4 Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings – 68% (£2 for 192g)
- Lidl Deluxe Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings – 67% (£1.99 for 288g)
- Morrisons The Best 6 Yorkshire Puddings with Beef Dripping – 65% (£1.99 for 240g)
Yorkshire puddings are a staple of any proper roast dinner, though making them from scratch can be messy and laborious. As a result, countless households nationwide opt for frozen versions, with this test highlighting that budget options can outperform premium brands in both taste and value. Bear in mind that Yorkshire pudding dimensions vary—most are medium-sized at around 48g each, but Aunt Bessie's are slightly larger at 55g, while Tesco's are smaller at 33g—so it's worth checking before purchasing.
