A taste test comparing pork, chicken, and vegetarian sausages cooked in an air fryer has crowned chicken chipolatas as the clear winner, praised for their flavour and texture. The test, conducted by Nicola Roy for What's On, involved cooking all three varieties at 180C for 17 minutes in an air fryer.
Meat-Free Sausages: A Disappointing Return
Roy first sampled the Richmond Meat-Free Sausages, priced at £2.40 for a pack of eight. Despite being a former favourite during her plant-based diet days, she found them dry, crumbly, and artificial-tasting. 'They were a significant letdown,' she noted, adding that the texture was mushy and unpleasant, unlike the succulent bite she remembered. She could barely finish the sausage.
Pork Sausages: Greasy and Overpriced
The Tesco Finest Pork Sausages, costing £3.30 for six (or two packs for £5 with a Clubcard), looked the most appealing—plump and perfectly browned. However, Roy found them greasy and fatty, leaving her feeling queasy. Despite a pleasant peppery kick, the high fat content and list of added ingredients were off-putting. 'They showed promise for a brief moment, but unfortunately that's where it ended,' she said, noting they were the priciest and unlikely to be repurchased.
Chicken Sausages: The Surprising Winner
The Heck Chicken Chipolatas, priced at £3.25 for eight, looked the least appealing—pale and unevenly cooked. Yet they delivered the best taste: a firm, succulent texture with a savoury chicken flavour that felt fresh and light. 'After the unpleasant pork experience, this came as a welcome relief,' Roy wrote. Lower in fat, they are a healthier option, and the Heck website offers versatile recipes like chicken and chilli jam sausage rolls. Roy concluded, 'Don't let their underwhelming appearance deter you—the chicken sausages were the undisputed star of the show.'
