A taste test of six supermarket tomato pasta sauces has revealed that a budget 69p jar from Aldi outperformed household favourite Dolmio, which costs £2.60. The comparison, conducted by Jennifer Pinto, judged each sauce on taste, seasoning, texture, appearance and value for money.
How the Sauces Were Tested
The six sauces included own-brand options from M&S, Sainsbury's, Lidl, Aldi, and Co-Op, plus Dolmio. Prices ranged from 49p to £2.60. Each was rated on a scale of 1 to 10. The results showed significant variation in colour, consistency and flavour.
Lowest Scores: Sainsbury's and Lidl at 49p
Sainsbury's Stamford Street Co. Pasta Sauce (49p) scored 4/10. It was described as too runny with a transparent appearance and large vegetable chunks. Lidl's Simply Tomato Pasta Sauce (49p) scored 5/10, noted for its brown colour, jelly-like texture, and overpowering herbs. Both lacked rich tomato flavour.
Mid-Range Performers: Dolmio and M&S
Dolmio Smooth Tomato Sauce for Bolognese (£2.60) scored 6/10. While it had a rich colour and smooth consistency, garlic dominated the flavour. M&S Classic Tomato Everything Pasta Sauce (£2.30) scored 7/10, praised for its smooth texture but considered too mild.
Top Contenders: Co-Op and Aldi
Co-op Italian Menu Tomato Sauce (£1) scored 8/10, offering good value with a fresh, balanced taste. The winner was Aldi Cucina Smooth Tomato Pasta Sauce at 69p, scoring 9/10. It had a deep red colour, smooth texture, and the richest tomato flavour. According to Pinto, 'Considering it costs less than a third of the price of Dolmio, it offered outstanding value for money.'
