Brian Dillon, an audience writer for Express, conducted a blind taste test of bacon from seven major UK supermarkets to determine which offers the best value and quality. He purchased the cheapest pack of unsmoked back bacon from Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Lidl, Aldi, Co-op, and Waitrose, cooking a single rasher from each pack and scoring them on appearance (out of 5), texture (out of 5), and flavour (out of 10) for a total score out of 20.
Tesco Takes Top Spot with Natural Flavour
Tesco's Unsmoked Back Bacon Rashers 10 Pack, priced at £1.49, achieved the highest score of 18/20. Dillon praised its natural-tasting flavour, comparing it to Christmas turkey bacon, and noted a balanced saltiness that is not overpowering. The rasher was the largest in the test, offering a mix of chewiness and smoothness. Appearance scored a perfect 5/5, texture 4.5/5, and flavour 9/10.
Waitrose and Lidl Impress but Fall Short
Waitrose Essential 10 Unsmoked Bacon Rashers, at £2.80, came second with 16.5/20. It scored 5/5 for appearance and 4/5 for texture, but flavour was rated 7.5/10. Dillon noted it was nearly as large as Tesco's but slightly less smooth. Lidl's Simply Unsmoked Streaky Bacon, at just £1.25, placed third with 16/20. Despite being streaky rather than back bacon, it earned top marks for texture (5/5) and flavour (8/10), with Dillon calling it "sensational" and "melt-in-your-mouth."
Co-op and Sainsbury's Mid-Range Performers
Co-op Unsmoked Rindless Back Bacon, priced at £2.35 (£1.49 for members), scored 14/20. It offered a nice saltiness and meaty aftertaste, though it shrank during cooking. Texture was slightly dry but still pleasant. Sainsbury's Unsmoked Back Bacon Rashers x10, also £1.49, scored 12.5/20. While flavour was rated 7/10, texture suffered due to chewiness and shrinkage, and the rasher had little fat, reducing moisture.
Aldi and Asda Trail at the Bottom
Aldi's Oakhurst Unsmoked Back Bacon 10 Pack, at £1.49, scored 11.5/20. Appearance was decent (4/5), but texture was chewy (2.5/5) and flavour average (5/10). Asda's 10 Unsmoked Back Bacon Rashers, at £1.64, scored the lowest at 8.5/20. Dillon reported an overpowering, greasy flavour despite a pleasant saltiness, and a chewy texture, though the crispy end was a treat.
Methodology and Criteria
Dillon cooked each rasher according to package instructions and evaluated three criteria: appearance (visual appeal), texture (chewiness, crispiness, moisture), and flavour (taste, saltiness, aftertaste). Flavour was weighted double because it is the most important element. The test aimed to find the best value bacon for a Full English breakfast, BLT, or bacon sandwich.
