I tried supermarket sausages – the delicious winner beats Lidl on price and Aldi on taste
SUMMER is finally here and we are all looking for juicy, crowd-pleasing bangers to cook on the barbecue.
But which ones hit the spot for both taste and value?
Some cheap sausages contain as little as 32 per cent pork, others use pork or lard to boost their pork content.
British bangers should contain at least 65 to 75 per cent pork, including better cuts such as the shoulder and belly, but does this boost the taste?
I tested a range of own-brand sausages as well as two big brands with my family to see which tasted best.
Aldi Ashfield Butcher’s Select Pork Sausages (454g)
- £1.79 for eight
- Pork content: 72%
These Aldi bangers were perfectly seasoned and I liked the delicate coriander and nutmeg flavours.
The ingredients sounded relatively simple and although the meat content was on a par with others, they somehow tasted meatier.
The casings were made with pork collagen, which browned nicely and was nice to bite. The best we found in terms of value.
- Taste: 9/10
- Value: 10/10
- Overall score: 9/10
Asda Flavourful Pork Sausages (454g)
- £2 for eight
- Pork content: 72%
One of the cheapest in our test but actually, Asda‘s offering tasted pretty decent.
They weren’t fatty and had plenty of flavour without being over seasoned.
As an added bonus, they are gluten free. I’d definitely choose these again, they tasted just as good as any premium brand.
- Taste: 8/10
- Value: 9/10
- Overall score: 8/10
Morrisons Pork Sausages (454g)
- £2.25 for eight
- Pork content: 72%
These sausages had a strange gritty texture, the skin was thick and hard to bite through and the flavour was a bit off.
I didn’t particularly like the sausage casings, which were made with beef collagen. I thought they were overly fatty, too.
- Taste: 3/10
- Value: 4/10
- Overall score: 3/10
Richmond Thick Pork Sausages (410g)
- £2.50 for eight
- Pork content: 42%
Richmond claim to be the nation’s ‘favourite sausage brand’ but these bangers contain a very small amount of pork compared to others and looking at the ingredients these are padded out with water, rusk and pork fat.
They cooked well but to me, they were like a cheap sausage you’d get in a school canteen.
I can’t deny how much the kids loved them though. For them, these were a clear favourite.
- Taste: 6/10
- Value: 4/10
- Overall score: 5/10
Ocado British Pork Sausages (454g)
- £2 for eight
- Pork content: 72%
These Ocado sausages looked like they’d come from the butchers.
Quite chunky in size and a respectable pork content.
The skins were a little chewy but otherwise the flavour was good and the seasoning was spot on. Good price, too.
- Taste: 8/10
- Value: 8/10
- Overall score: 8/10
Sainsbury’s Fresh British Pork Sausages (454g)
- £2.25 for eight
- Pork content: 72%
Loved these Sainsbury’s sausages which cooked well, with a perfect all-round colour and they had a nice texture.
The pork was well seasoned and they tasted meaty and fresh. The casings were made with pork collagen which on the whole I think I preferred to all the other beef options. I would make these my go to. Delish.
- Taste: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
- Overall score: 10/10
Heck Family Favourite 10 Sausages (600g)
- £5.25 for ten
- Pork content: 85%
Deliciously lean and lightly seasoned sausages made from pork shoulder.
I perhaps would have liked a stronger herb and spice flavour.
You pay more for these but they do contain 85% meat.
The sausage casings are made from beef collagen and they are both dairy and gluten free.
- Taste: 9/10
- Value: 5/10
- Overall score: 7/10
Lidl Deluxe Pork Sausages (400g)
- £2.49 for six
- Pork content: 90%
Juicy looking sausages with a good salt content. I would have preferred more seasoning but these are a great price and very meaty, with a very high pork content and as a result less other rubbish ingredients.
They looked good on the barbecue. Impressive for the price.
- Taste: 9/10
- Value: 10/10
- Overall score: 9/10
Tesco Pork Sausages (600g)
- £2.85 for 12
- Pork content: 72%
Good, middle of the road sausages. Excellent value for a pack of 12. Did they taste the best?
No. But for the price it didn’t matter as much.
They browned well under the grill and in an air fryer. Would have liked a little more seasoning.
Great option, particularly if you are putting them in a casserole or pasta dish.
- Taste: 6/10
- Value: 8/10
- Overall score: 7/10
How to save on your supermarket shop
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.