The best supermarket for every part of your Christmas dinner revealed in blind taste test
THE best supermarket to buy your Christmas dinner essentials has been revealed in a blind taste test.
BBC Good Food has announced the results of its yearly Christmas Supermarket Taste Awards, with winners across 21 categories.
Over 185 products from 13 supermarkets were taste tested, with judges submitting a score out of 10 for each product.
Starters, mains, alternative main, best gammon, pigs in blankets and cranberry sauce were all snaffled up by the expert panel.
Vegetarian main, vegan main, desserts, mince pies and mulled wine also featured in the final list.
Lily Barclay, content director at Good Food, said: “The Good Food team of experts started testing in August for the mammoth Good Food Christmas Supermarket Taste Awards, creating the ultimate guide to festive food buys.
“This Christmas the supermarkets have outdone themselves with the range and quality on offer, and our selection of winners will help save time in the kitchen, so you can focus on celebrating the festive season with family and friends.”
M&S took the crown for the most winners in this year’s blind taste test, scooping seven wins out of the 21 categories.
Waitrose was awarded five wins while Asda and Aldi tied for third place with three wins each.
Upmarket retailer Booths scooped the gong for best smoked salmon, with its strong oak smoked Scottish pack, worth £8, scoring well.
Judges said the thick slices and “crowd-pleasing” flavour were ideal for Christmas sandwiches.
Waitrose won the the award for best turkey crown, with its Glorious Treacle Glazed Turkey Crown, weighing in at 2.5kg and costing £60, commended for its herby chestnut stuffing and salty bacon.
Morrison’s “The Best” pigs in blankets, which cost £3.25 for a 210g pack, had a “touch of sweetness, with pleasing crispy bacon and good texture”, judges said, as they gave it top spot in the pigs in blankets category.
The best cranberry sauce went to M&S, whose fresh 400g pack on sale for £3.25 was highlighted for its “pleasing tartness”.
Winner of the Christmas cake category went to Waitrose’s No.1 Hand-Decorated Matured Rich Fruit Cake weighing in at 1.5kg.
BBC Good Food Judges said the £18.50 cake had a generous amount of marzipan and “pretty, impressive appearance”.
Shoppers after something a bit different this Christmas will want to divert their attentions to the winner of the best alternative Christmas cake 2024.
Asda’s Ginger and Caramel Snow Cake took the top podium, with judges noting its “charming” appearance.
Shoppers can pick up the cake, which serves 16 people, for just £12.
Judges voted M&S’ classic mince pie, which is £4 for a pack of six, the winner of the “classic” mince pie award.
They said each one had a “beautiful, unique design with a well-patterned top, buttery pastry with a good mouthfeel”.
Boozy shoppers will want to go for Asda’s Extra Special Mulled Wine, which emerged as the judges favourite in that category.
You can snap a 75cl bottle up for a fiver.
This is the full list of 21 winners in this year’s BBC Good Food Christmas Supermarket Taste Awards:
1. Best smoked salmon: Booths Strong Oak Smoked Scottish Salmon, 200g (£8.00)
2. Best hot canapé: M&S Collection Barber’s Extra Mature Cheddar & Ham Hock Scone, 290g (£7.50)
3. Best turkey crown: Waitrose Glorious Treacle Glazed Turkey Crown, 2.5kg (£60)
4. Best alternative Christmas main: Aldi Specially Selected Wagyu Wing Rib, 1.8-2.8kg (£24.99 per kg)
5. Best gammon: Aldi Specially Selected Sugar Baked Crackling Gammon Joint, £18.99
6. Best pigs in blankets: Morrisons The Best pigs in blankets, 210g (£3.25)
7. Best cranberry sauce: M&S Cranberry Sauce (fresh), 400g (£3.25)
8. Best vegetarian main: Joint winner – Waitrose Ultimate Plant-based Festive Wellingtons, pack of two (£7.50), Joint winner – M&S Collection Handcrafted Honey Glazed Vegetable & Barber’s Cheddar Galette, 400g (£12.50)
9. Best vegan main: Joint winner – Tesco Finest Roasted Vegetable & Cranberry Star, 340g (£6)
Joint winner: Aldi Plant Menu Vegan No Turkey Crown, 490g (£4.99)
10. Best Christmas cake: Waitrose No.1 Hand-Decorated Matured Rich Fruit Cake, 1.5kg (£18.50)
11. Best alternative Christmas cake: Asda Ginger and Caramel Snow Cake, serves 16 (£12)
12. Best Christmas pudding: Waitrose No.1 Jewelled Cointreau & Cranberry Christmas Pudding, 800g (£15)
13. Best showstopper dessert: Co-op Irresistible Spiced Gingerbread Crown, 600g (£8)
14. Best trifle: M&S Sticky Toffee Trifle, 1kg (£15)
15. Best free-from dessert: M&S Chocolate & Orange, Fruit & Nut Brownie, 630g (£12.50)
16. Best classic mince pies: M&S Collection Mince Pies, pack of six (£4)
17. Best flavoured mince pies: Morrisons The Best Cherry Bakewell Mince Pies, pack of four (£2.75)
18. Best gluten-free mince pies: Waitrose Mince Pies, pack of four (£2.90)
19. Best vegan mince pie: Asda Free From 4 Mince Pies 220g (£2)
20. Best biscuit tin: M&S Collection Shortbread Tin, 400g (£10)
21. Best mulled wine: Asda Extra Special Mulled Wine, 75cl (£5)
In other news, Which? tasters crowned a supermarket’s own-brand cheddar winner in a blind taste test.
How to save money on Christmas shopping
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save money on your Christmas shopping.
Limit the amount of presents – buying presents for all your family and friends can cost a bomb.
Instead, why not organise a Secret Santa between your inner circles so you’re not having to buy multiple presents.
Plan ahead – if you’ve got the stamina and budget, it’s worth buying your Christmas presents for the following year in the January sales.
Make sure you shop around for the best deals by using price comparison sites so you’re not forking out more than you should though.
Buy in Boxing Day sales – some retailers start their main Christmas sales early so you can actually snap up a bargain before December 25.
Delivery may cost you a bit more, but it can be worth it if the savings are decent.
Shop via outlet stores – you can save loads of money shopping via outlet stores like Amazon Warehouse or Office Offcuts.
They work by selling returned or slightly damaged products at a discounted rate, but usually any wear and tear is minor.
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