Shoppers looking to save money in the face of the cost of living crisis need not compromise on the taste of baked beans, as budget supermarket brands are proving to be a tastier and more affordable alternative.
Asda’s baked beans came top of the pile, closely followed by cheapest provider Aldi, with Branston coming in third, according to Which?
Asda’s own-brand baked beans “were far superior in taste to all others” – three quarters of our tasters said they had the perfect tomato flavour, according to the consumer organisation. They were also among the best-rated beans for colour and sweetness.
Most testers liked the consistency of the beans, although the sauce was thicker than some other cans we’ve tried. Plus, at £0.50 for 410g, it’s less than half the price of a Heinz can.
The products were evaluated in February by a group of people who regularly buy and eat baked beans. Each brand was rated by 82 people. The overall rating was based on 50% taste, 20% appearance, 20% texture and 10% aroma.
Aldi’s own-brand Corale baked beans are Which?’s best value choice and received top marks for their appetising colour and texture. Although they didn’t quite match Asda’s beans in terms of flavour, they were seen as a “tasty alternative”.
These are the cheapest on test and offer excellent value at just 45p for a (slightly larger) tin. You can also buy them as a multipack if you want to save even more.
Read more: One in seven skips meals because the cost of living is rising
Surprisingly, none of the branded beans tested – Branston, Heinz and HP – were able to convince the Which? tasters.
“Branston beans performed best, so it might be worth buying them if they’re on offer, especially if you like beans with a bite. Heinz followed Branston, while HP brought up the rear,” said Which?
When looking at baked beans in the supermarket, Sainsbury’s and Lidl are the cheapest of the competitors, but the prices don’t differ greatly. The can sizes do differ slightly, however, with Aldi, Lidl and Tesco offering the most beans for your money with a 420g can.
Here’s what the panel of regular baked bean eaters had to say about each brand.
Co-op Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce – 73%. Three quarters of our panelists thought the consistency of the beans and sauce was just right. But more than four in ten thought they were too weak in flavour and not sweet enough. 55p for a 400g tin (£1.38 per kg).
M&S Baked Beans – 73%. These beans are pretty good across the board, although 38% found the consistency of the sauce too thin. 50p for a 400g tin (£1.25 per kg).
Baked beans in tomato sauce from Sainsbury’s – 73%. The thickness of the sauce was rated highly, but more than a third felt the tomato flavour was not strong enough and almost a quarter felt they lacked sweetness. 43p for a 400g tin (£1.08 per kg).
Lidl Newgate Baked Beans – 72%. These were divided in our test. Half loved the flavour, the rest found it either too weak or too strong. However, most agreed that the consistency of the beans and sauce was about right. 45p for a 420g tin (£1.07 per kg).
Morrisons Baked Beans – 71%. Half of our testers thought these beans were too bland and more than a third would have preferred them sweeter. However, the consistency of the beans and sauce was good. 49p for a 410g tin (£1.20 per kg).
Read more: Six ways to reduce food waste and save money
Tesco Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce – 71%. The beans themselves had a good consistency but some found the sauce too runny and most found the flavour too weak. 50p for a 420g tin (£1.19 per kg).
Waitrose Essential Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce – 71%. The consistency of the sauce was just right according to most, but almost half of our testers found the flavour too weak. Around a third also found the beans too firm and not sweet enough. 55p for a 400g tin (£1.38 per kg).
Reena Sewraz, retail editor at Which?, said: “Our recent taste tests have shown that supermarkets’ own brands have beaten established brands like Heinz. And the good news for shoppers is that the winning products cost less than half the price of some rivals’ offerings.”
“Due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, many households are looking for ways to reduce their expenses. Choosing a supermarket’s own brand food can not only save a lot of money, but often also provide tastier products.”
A Kraft Heinz spokeswoman said: “Our loyal customers are at the heart of everything we do and we remain committed to providing them with delicious, nutritious and high quality Heinz Baked Beans.”
Regard: Empty shelves at Tesco due to price dispute over Heinz Baked Beans
Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple And Android.
