Supermarket own-label baked beans from Asda and Aldi have outperformed famous brands such as Heinz in a Which? taste test.
The discovery that less expensive supermarket options may compete favourably with the most well-known brands will be applauded by consumers struggling to control skyrocketing food costs.
The cost of baked beans has increased significantly throughout the cost of living crisis, just like other household necessities. There have been accusations that the cost of this cupboard staple has increased by as much as 50 per cent in some situations over the past year. Heinz reportedly doubled the price of certain of its products in a year, according to sources from January.
What is the Which? taste test?
This is a blind taste test where participants evaluate the taste of a product, either on its own or compared with other products.
To conduct taste testing "blindly," brand names, packaging, and other identifiable elements are removed.
What were the results?
When compared with a single tin of Heinz beans, which costs £1.39, Asda's own-brand baked beans cost 50p per tin. They received the highest rating of 77 per cent for taste, look, texture, and aroma.
The consumer body claimed that the Asda beans were "cut above all the rest for flavour — three-quarters of our tasters thought they had the perfect tomatoey taste. They were also some of the best-rated beans for colour and sweetness."
With a score of 75 per cent, Aldi's 45p own-brand Corale baked beans came second, and Branston's 90p cans were third.
The Aldi beans were rated as being the best value for the money by Which?. They were also the joint-cheapest in the test.
Co-op, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, and Lidl all achieved higher own-brand ratings than Heinz and HP, which achieved 71 per cent and 67 per cent respectively.
Tasters said the texture of the Heinz sauce and beans were high points, but more than a third reported that the flavour was “too weak”.
