BBC Good Food has revealed the winners of its prestigious annual Christmas Supermarket Taste Awards, and the results show stand-out products can be found across the whole range of prices and brands.
Over 225 products in 23 categories from mince pies to Yule logs, and turkey to smoked salmon, from 13 supermarkets were blind-tasted to arrive at the winners. The stringent testing by the BBC Good Food panel of experts is overseen by an independent adjudicator, all packaging is removed and the food prepared by home economists according to package instructions.
BBC Good Food Editor in Chief, Christine Hayes, said: “Our BBC Good Food Christmas Taste Awards are an annual tradition designed to help everyone spend wisely and eat well over the festive season. Our experts taste the widest range of products possible to arrive at the best and, as everyone is thinking carefully about their spending, our trusted guide to what to buy is more valuable than ever.
“The supermarkets raise their game every year and the range and quality on offer this year, catering to lots of different diets, are no exception, there are excellently priced products that everyone can enjoy. Our BBC Good Food Christmas Taste Awards, along with our tips, advice and thoroughly-tested recipes, will help everyone enjoy new and old festive traditions as they celebrate this Christmas season.”
WINNER OF THE BBC GOOD FOOD CHRISTMAS TASTE AWARDS 2022
TURKEY
Winner: ASDA Roast in the bag turkey crown with pork, sage & onion stuffing with beechwood smoked bacon £19.95 (1.5kg)
This enjoyable bacon on top helps keep the turkey moist, and the welcome addition of stuffing inside ensures it’s flavourful inside. The meat has a good texture and is well seasoned.
PIGS IN BLANKETS
Winner: Lidl Deluxe pigs in blankets (210g)
Ideally-sized peppery sausages wrapped in crisp, smoky bacon – these were a clear winner.
GRAVY
Winner: Iceland Luxury turkey gravy £1.75 (350g)
A stand-out for having the most flavour, this was sweet and herby, with well-judged seasoning.
VEGETARIAN MAIN
Winner: M&S Rustic potato, caramelised onion and brie pie £8.00 (500g)
This rich crowd-pleasing pie has a crisp flaky crust and ‘stunningly cheesy’ filling with perfectly tender potatoes and sweet onions.
VEGAN MAIN
Winner: Asda Extra Special Vegan wellington, £5 (500g)
Reminding judges of a vegan sausage roll, this had crisp pastry and a herby, moist filling with good overall flavour and texture.
GAMMON
Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Mulled cider glazed gammon £15 (1.3kg)
A shining, cider glaze coats tender meat that is delicately flavoured with herbs and spices.
ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS MAIN
Joint Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference British boneless rib of beef with mustard & horseradish glaze 1.7kg
This impressive centrepiece features tender and high quality beef with slight sweetness, and came out perfectly when cooked to instructions.
Joint Winner: Waitrose Slow Cooked Ultimate Crackling Pork Belly Feast £30 (1.7kg)
Described as ‘everything pork belly should be’ by our judges, this has super tender and juicy meat. The accompanying apple sauce has good spicing.
CRANBERRY SAUCE
Winner: Waitrose Christmas cranberry sauce £2.25 (300g)
With plenty of fruit, this sauce has enough tartness to stand up against the heady spicing.
FISH CENTREPIECE
Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Scottish salmon side £16 (750g)
This was very festive with a strong Christmassy glaze that had bold orange flavour, and soft succulent salmon underneath.
SMOKED SALMON
Winner: Booths triple-smoked salmon side £45 (1kg)
This impressive whole side of salmon has festive wow-factor and a delicious sweet-and-salty balance, with the perfect level of smoke.
CHRISTMAS PUDDING
Winner: M&S Collection Perfectly matured cherry & orange wreath £12.00 (907g)
Bold citrus flavour added to the stand-out fruitiness of this pudding, which is impressively light and has good crunch from nuts.
PANETTONE
Winner: Tesco Finest tiramisu panettone, £10 (750g)
Chocolate fans will love this twist on a classic– it’s generously filled with chocolate chips as well as being feathery soft.
BUDGET SHARING DESSERT
Winner: Co-op Irresistible nuts about chocolate star, £6 (571g)
Incredibly impressive for the price, this looks very luxurious. The layers inside are sweet a contrast of thick chocolate, creamy mousse and whole peanuts.
SHOWSTOPPER DESSERT
Joint Winner: Morrison’s the Best Passion fruit panna cotta star £7.00 (651g)
Light and delicate with a kick of tropical flavour, judges loved this dessert as a simple and light way to round off a big Christmas meal.
Joint Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Festive Belgian chocolate and salted caramel wreath £12 (650g)
Easy to serve and impressive to share, judges enjoyed the creamy salted caramel filling and pretty design of this choux pastry dessert.
VEGAN DESSERT
Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Quadruple chocolate cookie no-cheesecake, £6 (500g)
This impressed for its thick crunchy base, good chocolate flavour and silky filling that wasn’t too sweet.
CLASSIC MINCE PIES
Winner: M&S Collection mince pies, £3.00 (334g)
Judges liked the buttery pastry, Christmassy design and ratio of filling to pastry. The mincemeat is plump and juicy with strong clementine flavour.
FLAVOURED MINCE PIES
Winner: Aldi Specially Selected rum & salted caramel mince pies, £2.49 (275g)
The salted caramel filling made these pies stand out, alongside the crisp pastry and nutty topping.
GLUTEN-FREE MINCE PIES
Winner: M&S Made Without Wheat Gluten Free Mince Pies £2.50 (205g)
Buttery, tender pastry is impressive in a gluten-free mince pie. The traditional filling is also well spiced.
CHRISTMAS CAKE
Winner: Waitrose No. 1 Rich fruit cake £18.50 (1.5kg)
Perfectly balanced with thin marzipan and firm icing. The moist cake has cinnamon and citrus notes and plenty of juicy fruit.
STOLLEN
Winner: M&S Collections Stollen loaf, £7.00 (580g)
A generous swirl of marzipan runs throughout this loaf providing strong almond flavour and soft texture that’s balanced by crunchy flaked almonds on the outside.
COLD CANAPÉ
Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference King prawn mocktails, £5 (75g)
For a starter for two or generous canapé, these Bloody Mary-inspired pots have flavourful plump prawns, creamy mayo and heat from the tomato paprika sauce.
HOT CANAPÉ
Winner: M&S 10 Mini steak sandwiches, £7.00
An easy one-bite mouthful, these moreish mini sarnies are a winning combination of crisp sourdough, sweet onion jam, meat, mustard and cheese.
All prices were correct at time of publishing in the November edition of BBC Good Food and is available to read online.
The December issue of BBC Good Food is out now, packed with over 80 recipes including a Christmas dinner for 6 for just £24, and easy edible presents for last minute gifts. Get your copy in-store or order direct from MagsDirect.co.uk
