A BARGAIN Yorkshire pud came out on top in a blind taste test – beating Aunt Bessie’s.
Consumer champion Which? put seven premium supermarket own-label puddings in the frozen aisle alongside the well-known brand to the test – and the winner is 22p cheaper per 100g too.
Aldi’s Large Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings finished at the top of the taste test.
Nearly two thirds of tasters found the outside to have a good, crisp bite – while the inside was described as fluffy and soft without being overly moist.
The bargain retailer’s puds were given a score of 73% – and they are the only ones of the eight options on test to be called a Which? Best Buy.
And at £1.99 for a 288g pack, they are also the joint cheapest option out of all the ones tested.
The tasting panel was made up of 74 people, who ate just shy of 600 Yorkshire puddings as part of the process.
The tasters scored each pudding for flavour, appearance, texture and aroma.
Aunt Bessie’s Spectacular Yorkshire Puddings came in second place – with an overall score of 72%.
Two thirds of tasters felt they really looked the part, and the crunchy outer texture was highly rated too.
Most also enjoyed the soft inside and noted the good moisture levels.
Aunt Bessie’s puds cost £2 – but they come in a 220g pack, making them a slightly pricier option than Aldi – working out at 91p per 100g, compared to Aldi’s 69p per 100g.
But the well-known brand is the only tested one that is suitable for vegetarians.
Coming in third place are the Tesco Finest Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings, getting a 72% score.
While the overall score is the same as second-placed Aunt Bessie’s, the Tesco puds are the smallest and priciest on test.
A 195g pack costs £2.40 – meaning you’d pay £1.23 per 100g.
That being said, the texture – especially of the outside – was generally enjoyed by testers.
And more than half of them said they were satisfied with the strength of flavour.
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Yorkshire Puddings finished in fourth place, with an overall score of 71%.
Two thirds of tasters liked the colour of these puddings, but the inside was generally less favoured – with most people finding it too soft.
These puds are £2.60 for a pack of 252g – working out at £1.03 per 100g.
Next up were the Waitrose No.1 Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings – with a score of 69%.
These were described as having a good outer texture, but the insides were reportedly too soft for most of the tasters.
These puds cost £3 for a 252g pack – meaning you’d pay £1.19 per 100g.
Iceland’s Luxury Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings scored 68%, with the best aspect being their crispy outsides.
This 192g pack is £2 – or £1.04 per 100g.
And Lidl’s Deluxe Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings had a score of 67%, with tasters saying they have a crispy outer texture – but lacking in flavour.
Lidl’s puds are the joint cheapest alongside winner Aldi – £1.99 for a 288g pack, or 69p per 100g.
Morrisons’ The Best Yorkshire Puddings with Beef Dripping were liked the least – with a 65% score.
Many tasters said they wanted a crisper outside and a firmer inside.
The Morrisons puds are priced at £1.99 for a 240g pack – or 83p per 100g.
Natalie Hitchins, Which? head of home products and services, said: “A Sunday roast would not be complete without a gloriously puffed-up Yorkshire doused in rich gravy, but they can be tricky to get right at home.
“Luckily Which? has found some delicious alternatives in the supermarket frozen aisle that won’t break the bank.”
The overall score was based on:
- 50% flavour
- 25% appearance
- 15% texture
- 10% aroma
And all results have been checked and analysed by the Which? in-house statistical team for accuracy.
How to save money on your food shop
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:
Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.
Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.
Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.
Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.
Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.
Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.
Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.
Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.
But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here.
Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds.
“Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.
The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.
