Angela Patrone, Senior Lifestyle Reporter for Reach PLC, conducted a taste test of two Sainsbury's own-brand carbonara ready meals. The budget Sainsbury's Italian Style Spaghetti Carbonara, priced at £3.75 for 400g (94p per 100g), scored 6/10. Despite generous bacon lardons, the sauce was overly abundant and bland, with cheese barely detectable. The premium Sainsbury's Pancetta & Three Cheese Carbonara, from the Taste The Difference range, cost £4.85 for 375g (£1.29 per 100g) and achieved 8/10. It featured whole milk, pancetta, and Parmigiano Reggiano, resulting in a well-balanced sauce with discernible cheese flavor and perfectly cooked pasta. Patrone concluded that the premium version is worth the extra £1.10 for its superior sauce and overall quality.
