Supermarket Gnocchi Taste Test: The Best and Worst Potato Pillows Revealed
Gnocchi, those squishy, bouncy potatoey pillows, are a beloved suppertime favourite for many families. However, a recent taste test has exposed significant concerns about the quality and ingredients of supermarket varieties, leaving consumers to question what they are really eating.
Shocking Discoveries in Ingredients and Packaging
During the evaluation, it was found that a staggering 80% of the gnocchi products tested were made from reconstituted dried potato flakes, along with emulsifiers like mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, stabilisers such as diphosphates, and preservatives including sodium metabisulphate. Most of these items also came in non-recyclable packaging, raising environmental and health alarms. The reviewer expressed dismay, stating, "That's simply not real food, and unnecessary when you consider that similar long-life products are made with real potato and few preservatives." This revelation has led to a vow of caution when purchasing gnocchi in the future.
Traditionally, gnocchi are cooked until they float, a process that usually takes just a minute when made from scratch. However, many manufacturers advise boiling for two to three minutes without specifying floating, casting doubt on whether they are properly cooked. Tasting them plain, without sauce, further exposed their true nature, as did a close examination of ingredient labels.
The Top Performers in the Taste Test
Best Overall: Dell'Ugo Fresh Potato Gnocchi
Priced at £3.70 for 450g at Ocado or £3.75 at Waitrose, this product earned four stars. It features moist, tube-shaped gnocchi that are firm to the bite, with a clean potato flavour and uniform doughy texture. Made from fresh potatoes, flour, salt, and sunflower oil, it boasts a refreshingly simple recipe from a heritage brand dating back to 1929. Importantly, they floated when ready, and the packaging is recyclable in-store.
Best Bargain: Rummo Gnocchi di Patate
Available for £2.50 for 500g at Ocado or £5 for 1kg at Amazon, this option also received four stars. These small gnocchi have a dry exterior and are made with 80% real potatoes, along with durum wheat semolina, an acidity regulator (lactic acid), and a preservative (sorbic acid). They offer a firm, squishy, and familiar texture, though with a slightly sour flavour. They floated during cooking, but the packaging is not widely recycled.
Mixed Results and Disappointments
Bertagni Gnocchi di Patate scored three stars, featuring irregular, oval shapes with a dry exterior, soft texture, and chewy bite. Made with 70% rehydrated potatoes and additives, it has a neutral flavour but only some floated after a three-minute cook time, and the packaging is non-recyclable.
De Cecco Gnocchi di Patate also earned three stars, notable as the only ambient-stored product with a shelf life up to 12 months. These dry, misshapen ovals are very firm and chewy with a good bite and neutral flavour, made with 24% dehydrated potato flakes and additives. They floated partially, but packaging requires specialist recycling.
Co-op Italian Menu Fresh Gnocchi received three stars, with plump, ribbed exteriors and instructions to cook until floating, which took three minutes. This resulted in a softer, enjoyable texture and reasonably neutral flavour, though the packaging is non-recyclable.
The Bottom of the Barrel
La Famiglia Rana Traditional Potato Gnocchi managed only two stars, with classic oval shapes and a ribbed exterior. Made with potato flakes and additives, they have a fluffy texture and floated, but a sour, acidic flavour marred the experience, and recycling guidelines are not easily visible.
Waitrose Gnocchi earned one star, featuring rotund, oval shapes with a dry exterior. They are firm and chewy but have an unappetising, synthetic flavour, made with dried potato and additives. They floated after three minutes, but the packaging is non-recyclable.
Morrisons Italian Gnocchi also received one star, with classic ribbed ovals and a floury exterior. Made from dried potato and multiple additives, they have a nice texture but a sour, unappetising flavour, and the packaging is non-recyclable.
Sainsbury's Fresh Gnocchi scored one star, with oval, ribbed shapes that were moist in the packet. Made with only 20% potato content and various flours and preservatives, they are plump and squishy with a neutral flavour, but only half floated, and the packaging is non-recyclable.
Tesco Gnocchi rounded out the list with one star, described as deeply ribbed, oval shapes resembling witchetty grubs. Dry and firm, made with dried potato and skimmed milk, they have a soft, chewy texture and a taste of instant mash. Critically, they did not float, and packaging is only recycled in-store.
This taste test highlights the importance of scrutinising ingredients and cooking methods when choosing supermarket gnocchi, urging consumers to opt for quality over convenience.
