We're already hurtling through August which means we haven't got long left before the summer ends. As much of the nation is enjoying a heatwave there's no better time to fire up a barbecue.
Burgers are always a great option for an al fresco summer meal, they are quick to make and always tasty. Plus, most supermarkets sell fresh burger patties and at different price points too depending on your budget.
Writers at the Liverpool Echo put three burger patties to the test, rating them on flavour, price and how they look. Read their full review below:
Marks and Spencer Chicken Katsu Burgers
I'll be honest, I very rarely buy my burgers from M&S usually purely because they're a little bit pricey, but I thought I'd treat myself this time round and try their new Chicken Katsu Burgers.
Priced at £4.75 for two, I'll admit, I wasn't too impressed with the price - but it was also sort of expected as I know the supermarket can be pretty expensive in general. I'd heard about these burgers before, and I was really keen to see if they lived up to the hype.
Aesthetically, they looked pretty delicious. They looked very flavoursome in colour even before they'd been cooked, and smelt absolutely amazing in the packet.
I popped them on the grill for 15 minutes as advised and teamed them up with a soft white roll and some ketchup (don't judge me, please!) As I took a bite into the burger, I had mixed feelings.
Firstly, the burger tasted absolutely amazing, but it was the consistency that really threw me off. Made with chicken mince, coconut cream and spring onions, the burger almost felt slightly raw.
Despite cooking them for the right amount of time I was a bit paranoid, the burger itself was quite slimy and rubbery, but I was really conflicted because it tasted unreal. Clearly the consistency was due to the fact the burger was made from chicken mince and not chicken breast, so just be warned about that.
As a whole, these burgers did taste good, but I wasn't a fan of the consistency. Perhaps I'll stick to their 'best ever beef burgers' from now on.
Price: £4.75
Rating: 3/5
Where to buy: Your local M&S or Ocado here.
Asda Plant Based 8 Vegan Beef Style Burgers
I love burgers. Whenever summer rolls around - despite whatever sporadic weather we're dealing with in the supposedly warmer months - I instantly crave a burger.
I must confess, having been a vegetarian for 13 years, I can't remember what beef burgers actually taste like. I did enjoy burgers before becoming a vegetarian, though now, I generally stick to bean or vegetable versions rather than fake meat creations.
Asda's plant based vegan range boasts all sorts of delicious meat-free treats, and when I spotted its beef-style burgers, I was keen to give them a go and try faux meat for a change. The burgers come in a generous box of eight for £1.75 which is a complete bargain.
They're made with soya and onion, and seasoned with a "pinch of pepper". They're not ridiculously chunky, like standard beef burgers, but they're still a decent enough serving to suit those with a more ferocious appetite. Plus, there's eight in a box so you can double up if you're feeling particularly peckish.
The burgers can be grilled or oven cooked, and we opted to stick them in the oven. They came out looking a little greasy and I was apprehensive that they'd be a bit sickly, but they were completely delicious.
They were juicy and tasty without being too filling. To my relief, they didn't taste too much like soya - a problem with a lot of vegetarian or vegan foods, and I'm not the biggest fan of soya. They were well seasoned and though I can't confidently declare they taste like beef, they were incredibly enjoyable.
Whether you're a meat eater or not, I'd definitely recommend giving these a try. They're reasonably priced and pretty darn delicious, too.
Price: £1.75
Where to buy: Your local Asda or online
Rating: 4/5
Iceland 4 Ultimate 100% British Beef Luxury Aberdeen Angus Quarter Pounders
I won't lie, I'm not a big fan of burgers or red meat in general. But when summer comes around and people start whipping out barbecues, it's hard to turn down a good burger.
When I spotted Iceland's Luxury Aberdeen Angus Quarter Pounder burgers, priced at £3.50 for four, I thought I'd give them a go. The packaging looked luxurious and more expensive than they were, too.
I enjoyed the convenience of the burgers being frozen rather than fresh; being able to pop them back in the freezer for the next time I fancy a burger was a definite bonus. I popped one burger in the oven for the recommended 24 minutes and found it to be very, very greasy once cooked.
I had to soak up as much of the grease as possible before popping it on a brioche bun with all the trimmings. The patty was thick, succulent and delicious, with the meat falling apart in my mouth. However, the burger patty was so thick and quite heavy, meaning I couldn't quite get through the whole thing.
While what I did have of the burger was delicious, I found the grease quite off putting. It might be a better idea to barbecue, grill or pan fry these burgers instead.
Price: £3.50
Where to buy: Your local Iceland store or online here.
Rating: 3/5
