A taste test of supermarket bacon has crowned Sainsbury's as the winner, beating Aldi, M&S, Richmond and others. The test, conducted by a food writer, compared premium ranges from Aldi, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Lidl and M&S, plus branded Richmond, all pan-fried and judged on flavour, texture and value.
M&S bacon, priced at £4 for a pack, scored only two out of five. Despite being sourced from outdoor-bred British pigs and hand-cured with demerara sugar, it was thinly sliced, crumbly, chewy and lacked crispness. The flavour was underwhelming and not sweet as expected.
Lidl's Deluxe bacon, at £2.49 for eight rashers, fared slightly better with a 2.5 rating. It had a faint salty pork taste and cooked to a consistent crispness, but the rashers broke apart easily when removed from the packaging.
Morrisons' The Best Dry Cured Oak Smoked Back Bacon, at £3.50, earned three out of five. It offered a smoky, salty and slightly sweet flavour, but its thin and chewy texture let it down.
Richmond Smoked Bacon Rashers, at £2.50, took third place with a three out of five rating. It was very flavoursome, with detectable seasonings including nutmeg, but the writer felt the spices were overpowering.
Aldi's Specially Selected Smoked Back Bacon, at £2.49, came second with a four out of five. It was described as juicy, with a good balance of salt and smoke, and a satisfying texture. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Smoked Back Bacon, at £3.50, was the clear winner, scoring four out of five. It was praised for its perfect crispness, rich flavour and ideal thickness.
