Sainsbury's sells only two own-brand carbonara ready meals, and a taste test by Senior Lifestyle Reporter Angela Patrone found that only one is worth buying. The budget Italian Style Spaghetti Carbonara, priced at £3.75 for 400g, scored 6/10, while the premium Taste The Difference Pancetta & Three Cheese Carbonara, at £4.85 for 375g, scored 8/10.
Budget vs Premium: The Price Gap
The Italian Style carbonara costs 94p per 100g and can be prepared in four minutes in the microwave or 30 minutes in the oven. The Taste The Difference version costs £1.29 per 100g, a difference of £1.10 per meal, and also requires four minutes in the microwave or 30 minutes in the oven.
Both meals include cream, deviating from the traditional Italian recipe of eggs, pecorino cheese, pork cheek, and black pepper. The Taste The Difference version uses whole milk, pancetta, and Parmigiano Reggiano, while the budget option uses skimmed milk, bacon lardons, and Regato cheese.
Italian Style Spaghetti Carbonara: 6/10
The budget option had a generous helping of bacon lardons before cooking, but the sauce was overwhelming compared to the pasta. The pasta was cooked well, but the sauce lacked depth of flavour and the cheese was barely detectable. According to the reviewer, the sheer volume of sauce compounded the issue, making the overall taste fairly mediocre.
Taste The Difference Pancetta & Three Cheese Carbonara: 8/10
The premium option had a better proportion of sauce to spaghetti, though the quantity of pancetta felt somewhat lacking. However, the pasta was perfectly cooked and the sauce boasted a considerably superior flavour. The cheese was genuinely discernible, making it a clear winner. The reviewer stated: "If I were to purchase one again from these two contenders, the Sainsbury's Pancetta & Three Cheese Carbonara would win out purely on the strength of its sauce."
Ready Meals: Convenience vs Quality
Ready meals divide opinion due to convenience but often have high salt levels and lack taste. However, recent tastings of Sainsbury's pasta bakes, Tesco lasagnes, and Sainsbury's spaghetti bologneses have revealed some unexpected gems. For carbonara lovers, the extra £1.10 for the Taste The Difference version appears justified by the superior flavour.
