Over the past few months, we have conducted a number of taste tests of own-label supermarket products. Here are the best ones.
After several taste tests over the last few months, we have created a list of the best sausages, bread, baked beans and other kitchen staples available in UK supermarkets. There are several food items that you can find in every UK supermarket, and most of them have their own-label versions. While they initially might all look quite similar, they can actually vary vastly in taste, texture and overall quality. That is certainly what we have found when we have tested staples such as pork sausages, baked beans and steaks. What is interesting is that, oftentimes, the cheaper versions outperform the more expensive editions of the food. Aldi and Lidl have ranked highly a number of times, while Tesco and Sainsbury's do certain things particularly well. When it comes to M&S and Waitrose, they often live up to the high expectations we have going in. Overall, results vary, and the best sausages aren't necessarily in the same store as the best baked beans, for example.
Sausages
In a recent comparison, we found that Aldi's own-label pork sausages ranked the highest. They scored well when it came to texture, appearance and overall flavour, earning a near-perfect final score of 19.5/20. We found that the flavour was a perfect balance of meat and herbs, while the lovely meaty texture was easy to cut through and pleasant on the palate. Sainsbury's was also tasty and scored well, but Aldi's sausages were slightly larger and fuller after being cooked. At £1.79 for a 454g pack, it was quite a pleasant surprise to learn how delicious these sausages were.
Baked beans
Baked beans are a British staple, and every supermarket does its own version of them. Compared to the likes of Heinz and Branston, own-brand versions often perform better in taste tests. In our own taste test of own-label baked bean tins, one store was the clear winner. Co-op took the crown with a near-perfect score, and the first thing that set it out from the rest was the deep colour. Then, the sweetness hit instantly, and the texture was a perfect balance after the beans were cooked. They had the strongest taste in our recent comparison, earning this tin the top spot.
Ketchup
In a recent ketchup comparison, Lidl's own-label version took the winning position, and ranked higher than the likes of M&S, Tesco and more own-brand editions, as well as higher than Heinz. At £1.05 for 650g, it was neither too sweet nor too strong, making it a perfect condiment that does not overpower a meal, but adds to it, like a condiment is supposed to. Additionally, it contains less sugar than Heinz, which is an added bonus for those conscious of eating healthier.
Fish fingers
Fish fingers are another staple that can be found in the freezers of many British households. They are a pretty basic frozen food to have, and many people like them for their simplicity. That doesn't mean some aren't better than others, though. In fact, our recent fish finger taste test saw some come out on top with others really not impressing as much, even though some of the higher-ranking fish fingers were among the cheapest. Sainsbury's 10 Breaded Omega 3 Pollock Fillet Fish Fingers was the winner here, and cost us just 93p for a pack of 10. There was a stunning flavour from the breadcrumbs, while the flavour of the fish was the perfect level of fishiness. It also has the best texture of all the fish fingers, a perfect balance of slight crunch and smoothness, as well as flaky fish.
Steak
Supermarket steak is a popular purchase for shoppers over the summer months. And if you're wondering which store has the best ones, we put them to the test this year. The winner ended up being Lidl, priced at £5.49 for 195g, equating to £28.15 per kilogram. It was 21-day matured British beef, displaying the Red Tractor logo, with an appealing marbling before cooking. It had burst with flavour when cooked, and ended up being the winner, even though other steaks were much pricier.
Sourdough bread
While some Brits prefer to make their own sourdough bread at home, the vast majority will buy it from a local supermarket. If you're wondering which one is the best, we recently compared five loaves and found that Tesco was the winner. It was the obvious winner with a perfect crust and the right amount of saltiness. It was delicious after toasting, and the overall flavour was better than that of Sainsbury's, Aldi and Asda.
