Angela Patrone, Senior Lifestyle Reporter at What's On, conducted a taste test of three price ranges of smoked back bacon from Sainsbury's: the budget-friendly Stamford Street Co. at £1.25, the mid-priced Sainsbury's Smoked Back Bacon at £1.49, and the premium Taste The Difference Smoked Dry Cured Back Bacon at £4.15. All rashers were cooked in the oven for 25 minutes to ensure a fair comparison.
Premium Bacon Disappoints
The Taste The Difference bacon, costing £4.15, had larger, thicker rashers with less fat. However, it failed to achieve the desired crispiness and lacked smokiness, tasting bland. Patrone rated it 3/5, noting it felt more like a pork medallion than bacon.
Mid-Range Bacon Triumphs
The £1.49 Sainsbury's Smoked Back Bacon, containing slightly more fat than the premium option, cooked perfectly crispy with excellent smoky flavour. Patrone awarded it 5/5, praising its value and taste.
Budget Bacon Performs Well
The £1.25 Stamford Street Co. bacon had smaller, fattier rashers that were trickier to separate. After cooking, it was crispy but slightly overdone, with good smokiness. It scored 3.5/5.
Conclusion
According to Patrone, the mid-range £1.49 bacon delivered the best combination of taste, texture, and thickness, making it the top choice for value and quality.
