Everyone is feeling the effects of the cost of living crisis, with bills, petrol, and everyday items seemingly increasing at every check out. While there's not much we can do about energy caps and petrol prices, one way many people are trying to cut costs is through their weekly shop.
There are plenty of cheaper 'value' or 'own brand' alternatives to the branded favourites, and it can be hard to switch away from what we know we like, and who knows if they even taste nice? Reporters across WalesOnline have been pitching in to compare the essentials to find cheaper alternatives to our shopping essentials, such as jams, sausages, pizzas and teabags.
Reporters at our sister site, the Liverpool Echo, have contributed to the beans research as part of their supermarket reviews. Beans are great for a quick easy and cheap breakfast, lunch or dinner, with a tin of Heinz costing £1 for a 415 gram can.
They tested out 'value baked beans' from supermarkets to see if they're worth swapping to, because at times like these, small changes really do help in the long run. They purchased baked beans from Lidl, Aldi, Sainsbury's and Asda and put them to the test in terms of value and taste. Here's what they thought:
Lidl 'Simply' baked beans
"I'm a big fan of baked beans and a firm believer that beans on toast is an iconic meal you just can't beat. So, I was really intrigued to see how different a 22p tin of Lidl baked beans would taste compared to my usual Heinz £1 tin.
"I'll be totally honest, the aesthetics of the tin weren't exactly appealing, it was very bland and basic, which I know is usually the case when it comes to 'value items'. In terms of value, I paid 22p for 15g more of beans (as opposed to £1 for a 415g tin of Heinz).
"The first thing I noticed after opening the tin was the colour of the beans, they were a really rich orangey colour, more so than usual, and I wasn't sure what to make of it. Described as 'baked beans in a tomato sauce' on the tin, the sauce looked thick and smelt very strong in the tin.
"I teamed up my beans with two pieces of toast (unbuttered, rookie error, I know) and decided to dig in. First thoughts? They tasted sweet, a lot sweeter than any beans I've tasted, but they definitely weren't awful.
"The consistency of the beans themselves were a bit grainy, but the main and only difference I noticed was the sweetness of the sauce and the fact it was a little more tomato based than usual. Basically, if you're after some beans on toast or something to accompany your fry up, I think this 22p tin is a good option, but don't expect to be blown away in terms of flavour."
Price: 22p for a 420g tin
Rating: 3/5
Asda Smartprice Baked Beans
"Is there anything more comforting than beans on toast? If I won the lottery and could afford to dine out at Michelin star restaurants every night, I'd still tuck into beans on toast on a regular basis.
"I usually buy Heinz or Asda's own brand beans - not the Smartprice range but the 35p offering which are pretty decent, so I was keen to see how the supermarket's budget Smartprice beans would measure up. To give them a try, I opted for a true classic of British cuisine, pairing the cheap beans with two slices of toast.
"Unfortunately, Asda's Smartprice Baked Beans are impossibly bland. According to the ingredients list, they're made with salt, onion powder, paprika and more but they really don't taste of anything at all. It was all texture and zero flavour.
"For 13p more, you can get Asda's Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce which, while not as delicious as Heinz, are significantly tastier and more flavoursome than the Smartprice range and still budget-friendly. I won't bother buying the Smartprice beans again."
Price: 22p for a 410g tin
Rating: 1/5
Aldi's Corale Baked Beans
"I love baked beans and when I need a quick and easy meal, beans on buttery white toast is my go-to. I tried to buy Aldi's Everyday Essentials Baked Beans, but on my trip to my local store, they were out of stock, which is no surprise considering rising living costs and everyone wanting to save the pennies on their food shop.
"I managed to get my hands on the next cheapest option - Aldi's Corale Baked Beans. I frequently buy these beans, as they're the closest to Heinz in my opinion. Costing only 99p for a pack of four (or 35p per tin), they're a delicious bargain, especially when one tin of Heinz can cost £1.
"I've had the Aldi beans numerous ways, including on toast, with a fry up and in a jacket potato. Each time I've been left impressed with the flavour and texture. They're not as rich as Heinz, but the tomato taste is definitely there and the sauce isn't thin like some cheaper baked beans can be.
"The sauce is thick and full of flavour, and the beans are nice and soft. There's plenty of them, too, with the tin practically overflowing when I opened it. Aldi's Corale Baked Beans will continue to be my go-to baked beans for a long time."
Price: 35p for a 420g tin, 99p for a multi pack containing four tins.
Rating: 4/5
Sainsbury's Hubbard's Foodstore Baked Beans In Tomato Sauce
"Sainsbury's currently has an 'Aldi price match' on many of its own label and branded products, and that includes these beans, which cost 21p a can. Like most shoppers I've really been keeping an eye on prices in recent weeks and I can't quite believe how much the price of some tinned goods have shot up
"It's certainly making me think twice about reaching for branded goods or even supermarket 'finest'-type ranges. I was keen to see how Sainsbury's cheapest tin of baked beans compared to its pricier pot, which I've previously tried and costs 35p in comparison, and of course Heinz, which are currently 85p in Sainsbury's, or £3 for a pack of four. Although we don't tend to eat a lot of baked beans in my house, we do buy Heinz out of habit, so I was intrigued to see if these were any kind of match.
"The packaging was very basic and there was no handy ring pull, so I had to get the tin opener out. The beans didn't look noticeably different to more expensive varieties I've tried - there weren't strangely pale, or overly orange, just a nice normal baked bean colour.
"I have to admit, I was expecting them to taste a bit watery, as I thought a cheaper price would mean compromising on consistency and flavour of the sauce, but I was really surprised. They needed a touch of seasoning, but I always add a bit of salt and pepper even if I'm having Heinz, and I have to say if it was a blind taste test I don't think I would have been able to tell the difference. At this price, I'm going to be swapping from Heinz to these, for the foreseeable."
Price: 21p for 400g
Rating: 4/5
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