I always shop at Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury's, but one supermarket is superior for this item. When doing your food shopping, it's always wise to weigh up your options before heading to a supermarket and parting with your cash. Price is typically the most crucial factor when deciding where to shop, but quality is equally worth considering.
For my weekly shop, where I pick up milk, eggs, meat, pasta, rice and bread, Sainsbury's is my usual destination. But for a smaller shop where I want the finest-tasting food, Marks and Spencer is my preferred choice. However, there's one everyday food item I'll always purchase at Iceland: grapes.
The Taste Test
Grapes are the most popular fruit in my household, and we tend to buy multipacks each week. Given this grape obsession, I've sampled this fruit from every supermarket going, and Iceland has consistently come out on top. Below, I detail exactly why Iceland reigns supreme. To carry out this taste test, I tried both red and white grapes from Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury's and Iceland. I consumed the grapes at room temperature and straight from the fridge to determine which offered the superior crunch, flavour, juiciness and visual appeal.
3. Marks and Spencer
Each pack of seedless white and red grapes at M&S will set you back £2.50. These grapes are mostly uniform in size, offering a generous bite every time. They are pleasingly crunchy both at room temperature and chilled from the fridge, with the white grapes boasting the finest crunchiness. However, the flavour and juiciness fall noticeably short compared to those from the other supermarkets. The grapes are rather tasteless and lack the sweetness that makes grapes so irresistible and enjoyable. If shopping for grapes at Marks and Spencer, the flavoured grape selection would be the better choice, including cotton candy grapes and tutti frutti varieties.
2. Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's grapes are marginally cheaper than M&S's, priced at £2 each for both varieties. These grapes are very small and circular, but across all three stores, they offer greater consistency in appearance. Out of all the supermarkets, these Sainsbury's grapes do not offer the best crunch. However, for taste, they beat M&S for being both juicy and sweet. The red grapes were superior to the white in taste, but both could be better. It's recommended to eat these grapes as cold as possible to maximise their flavour, and opting for their black sable grapes would be a wise move, as they are far more delicious than the red and white varieties.
1. Iceland
From taste to texture to price, Iceland delivers the ultimate all-rounder when it comes to fruit. For the mixed packet of grapes, the supermarket charges £2.50, though on Uber Eats they were available for just £1.40. The supermarket also offers "25% extra free". This means customers will receive a larger portion of grapes at the same price. Despite not being the most visually appealing, sometimes appearing bruised or inconsistent in size, these grapes are absolutely delicious. At either temperature, these grapes deliver a satisfying crunch, though they're at their finest when chilled. Both varieties are sweet and wonderfully juicy, making them utterly addictive. The white grapes have a slightly sharper tang compared to the red ones, but they're bigger and have more bite.
Do you agree with my rankings? Where do you buy your fruit? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
