In a blind taste test of own-brand potato salads from four major UK supermarkets, Sainsbury's emerged as the surprise winner, scoring 9 out of 10 for its bold flavour and balanced potato-to-dressing ratio. Marks and Spencer came second with 8 out of 10, praised for its chunky potatoes and creamy texture, while Waitrose scored 5 out of 10 for undercooked potatoes, and Tesco languished at the bottom with 3 out of 10 for a sloppy, bland sauce.
Sainsbury's Potato Salad: Best Flavour and Balance
Sainsbury's own-label potato salad, priced at £1.30 for 300g, impressed the tester with its herb-specked dressing that delivered a distinct onion and chive flavour. Unlike the other brands, the herbs were not merely decorative but added a noticeable punch that cut through the richness of the mayonnaise. The potato-to-mayo ratio was generous, ensuring the dish did not feel overwhelmed by sauce. According to the reviewer, Ellen Jenne, “Sainsbury's delivered the boldest of all the mayonnaise dressings. It proved the most flavourful by some distance.” The chives were described as “not too strong” yet made the salad stand out from the rest.
M&S Baby Potato Salad: Chunky and Creamy but Pricey
Marks and Spencer's Baby Potato Salad, at £2.80 for 300g, was the most expensive option but earned an 8/10 for its “rich and creamy” experience. The mayonnaise had a whipped, meringue-like texture that clung to the potatoes without leaving a greasy feel. The potatoes were generously sized chunks with skin left on, perfectly cooked and firmly the star of the show. However, the sauce, featuring onions and chives, did not deliver the same flavour punch as Sainsbury's. The reviewer noted that while M&S costs £1.50 more than the alternatives, the difference in quality is noticeable, calling it “the remedy to your potato salad needs” for a luxuriously subtle option.
Waitrose Potato Salad: Undercooked Potatoes Let It Down
Waitrose's offering, priced at £1.30 for 300g, scored 5/10. The most striking feature was the firmness of the potato cubes, which were somewhat undercooked. While there were considerably more potatoes than in Tesco's salad, the tiny cubes had minimal potato taste on their own. The mayonnaise coating had a mild onion note and a dense texture, but its gentle flavour proved too subdued for a compelling bite. The reviewer noted that the quantity of potato per spoonful was a cut above Tesco but did not match Sainsbury's or M&S.
Tesco Potato Salad: Sloppy and Bland, Scores 3/10
Tesco's potato salad, the cheapest at £1.25 for 300g, scored a dismal 3/10. The salad was laden with a thin, bland mayonnaise that obscured the potato chunks. The potato-to-mayo ratio was the poorest of all four, with excessive mayo and sour cream dominating. The packaging claimed the salad contained onions, chives and lemon, but none of these flavours were detectable. The potato pieces were small, resembling pebbles, and practically fell apart between mouthfuls. The reviewer described it as “precisely what I dread regarding potato salad: an oversaturated, messy affair with more dressing than potatoes.”
Conclusion: Sainsbury's Wins for Flavour, M&S for Texture
For a bold burst of flavour, Sainsbury's potato salad is the clear winner, offering a well-balanced dressing and generous potato content at an affordable price. For a luxuriously creamy option with chunky potatoes, M&S is worth the extra cost. Waitrose and Tesco fall short due to undercooked potatoes and bland, over-mayo dressings respectively.
