Supermarket Mixed Nuts Taste Test: The Best and Worst Revealed
Nuts are a nutritious whole food and a popular snack choice for many families, but they can be expensive and vary significantly in quality. Some packs offer stale and bitter nuts, while others provide creamy, sweet, and well-balanced flavours. The combination of nuts in a mixed bag is crucial, as a dominance of less favourite varieties can make snacking a chore. Additionally, the cost varies, with nuts like macadamia, pecans, and cashews often priced higher per kilo than peanuts, which are technically legumes. This review delves into the best supermarket mixed nuts, assessing freshness, value, and packaging to help you make an informed choice.
Why Freshness Matters in Nuts
Due to their high fat content, nuts are particularly prone to oxidation, which can lead to rancid flavours and bitterness if they are not fresh. Freshness depends on factors like harvest timing and packaging, though this information is rarely on packets. Always opt for bags with the longest possible use-by date, ideally at least six months, to ensure quality. For optimal storage, keep nuts in an airtight container and, if possible, refrigerate them to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage.
Top Picks for Supermarket Mixed Nuts
Here are the standout options from a taste test of various supermarket brands, rated for overall quality and value.
Best Overall: Waitrose Mixed Nuts
Priced at £5 for 250g (£2 per 100g), Waitrose mixed nuts earn four stars. This pack features lots of super-crunchy almonds and large walnuts, with a good ratio of brazil nuts, plus a scattering of hazelnuts and sweet pecans. Although a few nuts were crushed from rough transportation, it remains one of the freshest packets tested. The quality is excellent, and the balance of nuts is well thought out. Packaging is recyclable in-store, adding to its appeal.
Best Bargain: Natural Days Mixed Nuts
Available at £2.15 for 200g (£1.08 per 100g) from Ocado, Natural Days mixed nuts also score four stars. This bag includes beautiful, big walnut halves, crunchy almonds, a sufficient quantity of sweet cashews, and a few tasty hazelnuts. The fresh aroma is dominated by walnuts, and the quality and variety are exceptional for the price point. However, the packaging is non-recyclable, which is a downside for eco-conscious consumers.
Other Notable Options
Sainsbury’s So Organic Mixed Nuts: At £5.50 for 300g (£1.83 per 100g), this organic option offers a bountiful mix of brazils, walnuts, and hazelnuts, with a smaller but sufficient ratio of almonds and creamy cashews. It scores four stars for consistent freshness and good value, though the packaging is not recyclable.
Asda Mixed Nut Selection: Priced at £2.02 for 190g (£1.06 per 100g), this bag earns three stars. It combines equal quantities of almonds, cashews, pecans, and peanuts, making it more economical. While it has a sweet aroma, the peanuts can overpower the more delicate nuts. Freshness is good, and it represents great value for an everyday mix, but the packaging is non-recyclable.
Fudco Deluxe Assorted Nuts: Available at £7.40 for 500g (£1.48 per 100g) from Sainsbury’s, this pack scores three stars. It mostly features creamy cashews and sweet almonds, with some disappointing walnuts and a limited number of delicious pecans and brazil nuts. Freshness varied, but it offers good value for a rich and diverse combination, with recyclable in-store packaging.
Sainsbury’s Mixed Nuts: Priced at £5 for 300g (£1.67 per 100g), this option earns three stars. It provides a pretty even mix of crunchy almonds, walnuts, and cashews, plus a scattering of brazil nuts, with a fresh aroma and flavour throughout. Decent value, but the packaging is not recyclable.
Morrisons The Best Chunky Mixed Nuts: At £3.50 for 200g (£1.75 per 100g), this bag scores three stars. It includes lots of crunchy hazelnuts and regular almonds, a fair few brazil nuts, some tasty flat marcona almonds, and sweet pecans. The mixture is generous with good variety, though freshness was mixed, and the packaging is non-recyclable.
Tesco Mixed Nuts: Priced at £6.50 for 500g (£1.30 per 100g), this option earns two stars. It has a high ratio of crunchy but bitter hazelnuts, lovely amaretto-flavoured almonds, less tasty blanched almonds, and a few sweet cashews and delicious walnut halves. Good value, but it loses points for poor ratio and variable quality, with recyclable in-store packaging.
Co-op Mixed Nuts: Available at £2.40 for 120g (£2 per 100g), this pack scores two stars. It offers an even mix of large almonds, creamy cashews, hazelnuts, and generous walnut pieces, with sound balance but less consistent freshness. Ideal as a grab-bag for on-the-go snacking, with recyclable packaging.
Crazy Jack Organic Mixed Nuts: Priced at £3.40 for 175g (£1.94 per 100g) from Ocado, this organic option earns two stars. It features a near-even mix of fresh hazelnuts, shrivelled almonds, large walnuts, and juicy brazil nuts and cashews. The organic certification adds value, but it is let down by sub-par almonds, though this may be a one-off issue. Packaging is recyclable in supermarkets.
Final Thoughts on Choosing Mixed Nuts
When selecting mixed nuts, consider factors like freshness, nut combination, price, and packaging sustainability. Opt for bags with longer shelf lives and store them properly to maintain quality. This review highlights that while some brands excel in quality and value, others may fall short, so personal preference and priorities should guide your choice. For more food reviews, explore topics like granola and marmalade to enhance your grocery shopping experience.
