I tried out supermarket ready-meal lasagne – the £3.45 winner beat M&S and Lidl
MILLIONS of us buy ready meals every day in the UK – with lasagne a top choice.
And as we try to save money during the cost of living crisis, even more of us are choosing pre-prepared dinners instead of eating out to save cash.
Lasagne is an Italian classic usually made with egg pasta layered with ragu and bechamel sauce.
But there are many variations with lots of supermarkets adding different ingredients into their recipes. But which is best?
Lynsey Hope finds out:
Tesco Beef Lasagne (400g)
- Nutrition: 558 calories, 26.5g fat, 8.4g sugar, 2.21g salt
- £3.30
Cook time: 5 minutes, 30 seconds in microwave, 35 minutes in oven from chilled, 55 minutes in oven from frozen.
Lynsey says: “An oddly translucent white sauce topped this sloppy mess of a lasagne.
“It looked anaemic after cooking and was very, very runny.
“The pasta was overcooked and there was hardly any meat – just 20 per cent according to the ingredients – and what was there was dull and flavourless. I wouldn’t buy it again.”
Taste: 1/5
Value: 2/5
Overall score: 1/5
Lidl Deluxe Lasagne Al Forno (400g)
- Nutrition: 644 calories, 31.8g fat, 6.9g sugar, 3.10g salt
- £3.49
Cook time: Oven cook only, 35 minutes from chilled, 45 minutes from frozen
Lynsey says: “An impressive dish with 30 per cent beef and a generous dose (6 per cent) of red wine.
“It came out of the oven a lovely colour and looked one of the most appetising on the plate. It didn’t fall apart as I served.
“The beef had a nice flavour. For a prepared meal, it wasn’t bad at all. It isn’t the cheapest, but it is delicious. Be aware you can’t cook this one in the microwave so it does take a little longer to prepare.”
Taste: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Overall score: 4/5
M&S Beef Lasagne (400g)
- Nutrition: 660 calories, 36g fat, 11.6g sugar, 2.92g salt
- £3.75
Cook time: Microwave for five minutes or oven cook in 30 minutes from chilled or 45 minutes from frozen
Lynsey says: “The meat in the M&S offering had a lovely flavour and was nicely seasoned and there was a generous amount of beef with 25 per cent listed in the ingredients.
“It had quite a a tomatoey taste, and it wasn’t too heavy on the bechamel. It held together well and looked one of the best when served on a plate.
“Quite high in sugar and the highest of all in calories and fat so not the healthiest choice. Reasonable value.”
Taste: 4/5
Value: 3/5
Overall score: 4/5
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Lasagne (400g)
- Nutrition: 562 calories, 26.1g fat, 9.1g sugar, 2.15g salt
- £4.50
Cook time: Oven cook only,
Lynsey says: “At the pricier end of the ready meal scale, but I liked some of the added ingredients including three per cent pancetta and mushrooms.
“The beef was nicely flavoured and there was a generous amount at 26 per cent. Quite a strong herby flavour, which I liked but may not be for everyone.
“It did look a bit messy once I’d prised it out of the container and put it on a plate.”
Taste: 4/5
Value: 3/5
Overall score: 3/5
Asda Meal for One Beef Lasagne (400g)
- Nutrition: 495 calories, 23g fat, 9.2g sugar, 1.8g salt
- £3.25
Cook: 5 mins in microwave, 30 mins in oven, 50 minutes in oven from frozen
Lynsey says: “The picture here is a bit misleading. The top did not crisp up as it does in the photo on the box and there certainly didn’t seem to be that much meat, with 25 per cent listed in the ingredients.
“The beef did have a pleasant flavour though and it wasn’t as sloppy as the Tesco offering.
“Apparently there is red wine in the recipe, but only two per cent, and you couldn’t really taste it. The pasta was soft and nicely cooked.”
Taste: 2/5
Value: 2/5
Overall score: 2/5
Morrisons The Best Lasagne Al Forno (400g)
- Nutrition: 579 calories, 29.3g fat, 5.9g sugar, 2.03g salt
- £4.75
Cook: Air fry in 32 minutes from chilled or 45 minutes from frozen. Or oven cook in 30 minutes, chilled, or 50 minutes from frozen.
Lynsey says: “One of the best. But the top was covered in dried herbs which I didn’t like.
“It made the meal look more appetising and less beige than others but it would have tasted better if these had been added to the meat.
“A generous helping of beef, with 26 per cent. Quite a lot of onion was used to bulk it out. I liked that it had air fry instructions, but even in there it took half an hour to cook. Overpriced.”
Taste: 3/5
Value: 2/5
Overall score: 3/5
Goodfella’s Beef Lasagne (400g)
- Nutrition: 658 calories, 31g fat, 12g sugar, 3.5g salt
- £3
Cook time: Microwave in seven minutes or oven cook from frozen in 40 minutes.
Lynsey says: “Not enough beef, it only contains 20 per cent which was low are than most and it was lacking in ingredients that might take it to the next level.
“High in calories and the worst for sugar. It tasted overly sweet as a result. Cheap but not cheerful.”
Taste: 2/5
Value: 2/5
Overall score: 2/5
Aldi Specially Selected Gastro Lasagne (400g) – WINNER
- Nutrition: 667 calories, 34.3g fat, 7.9g sugar, 3.13g salt
- £3.45
Cook: Oven cook only, 25 minutes from chilled or 45 minutes from frozen.
Lynsey says: “Enjoyed this, it’s a lovely thin pasta with a silky texture and just the right amount of bite to take this to the next level.
“The sauce is nice and meaty with an impressive 30 per cent beef, some added pancetta and what tastes like a generous splash of chianti red wine.
“The cheese was one of the best. It’s not overly herby. The sugar content is not too bad and compares favourably to others but it is a bit on the salty side and high in fat.”
Taste: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Overall: 5/5