'I tried 5 baked bean brands and the winner was a surprise - they're a bargain'

20 November 2023 , 11:02

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We pitted five baked bean brands against each other to see which one would come out on top (Image: The Express)

Many of us wouldn't think twice about putting a tin of Heinz baked beans in our shopping trolley, but they can be expensive when compared to the own brand versions that supermarkets sell.

We often think that Heinz, as the leading brand of baked beans, must be the best - after all, "beans means Heinz", as the slogan used to say - but how true is that? Are the premium beans, which cost £1.40 per tin from Tesco and £1.10 from Sainsbury's, really better than all the cheaper alternatives you can find on supermarket shelves?

The Express reporter Ashley Summerfield set out to answer that very question earlier this year, when they picked up a tin of Heinz Beanz and tested them against own brand versions from Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons. Here's what they had to say about each product.

Heinz Beanz

Heinz were expected to be the best - but did they hit the spot? (Geoffrey Swaine/REX/Shutterstock)

The American food processing company began making its iconic beans in 1886, and since 2008, they have been sold in the UK under the name Heinz Beanz. I picked up a tin for a whopping £1.40. While that might not sound outrageous, it is when you compare it to the price of some of the other beans.

What can I say that you do not already know? Nothing, probably. Its orange-red sauce has the perfect consistency, and its tomatoey taste is magnifique. It is the perfect meal for breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, a snack, and of course, a campfire.

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Can Heinz be matched or even beaten? I hope so because otherwise, the whole "own-brand" debate is in jeopardy. Yes, there is a lot riding on this taste test. Anyway, I digress; 9/10, it is a classic for a reason.

Tesco

I paid a reasonable 50p for Tesco's own-brand beans. Right from the onset, I could tell a difference between Heinz and Tesco. The beans are lighter in colour, and the sauce is runnier.

After tucking in, I was neither blown away nor disappointed. The beans are not as tomatoey as Heinz, and in general, there is less flavour. However, for the price, they are decent, and you could always enhance the taste by adding some ketchup or spices. I would give them a 6/10.

Sainsbury's

At 44p, Sainsbury's baked beans are the cheapest of the lot, and boy do they compete with Heinz. The sauce is dark orange-red and has a thicker consistency than Tesco, but not as thick as Heinz. When it comes to its taste, it is similar to Heinz - nice and tomatoey - but is slightly sweeter.

I am giving Sainsbury's an 8/10. While this is one point lower than Heinz, it is a whole pound cheaper, so from now on I will be popping to Sainsbury's for my baked beans.

Morrisons

I forked out 49p for Morrison's own brand. After slapping the beans on my toast, I sat at my dining room table (my sofa) with my head in my hands. I was in a bean coma; I did not want to go on. But I am glad I did - well, that is what I would have said had they "bean" any good.

The beans are darker than Tesco's but lighter in colour than Heinz and Sainsbury's. When it comes to the sauce, it is too runny. Anyway, it was time to taste them. After eating a mouthful, I was disappointed. Where is the flavour? Fine, there is some, but it is mind-numbingly boring. That being said, you could add something to the beans to give them flavour.

4/10 - unsatisfactory - I will not be recommending these beans to Jack.

Asda

I handed over 50p for Asda's baked beans. They are a similar colour to Morrisons, but thankfully that is where the comparisons end. There is a tomatoey flavour there, but it is distant but definitely there.

It is slightly too runny, but is that even a negative? I have been portraying it as a strike against the beans throughout this piece, but you, the reader, might like that. Finishing on a fairly positive note, I would give Asda a 6/10.

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Verdict

Ashley ranked Heinz beans the cream of the crop after tasting all of the own brand products, but said they would swap to buying Sainsbury's beans in the future because of the massive price difference. They paid 44p for their tin from Sainsbury's, meaning you could buy three tins for £1.32 - 8p less than one tin of Heinz in some shops.

In even better news for Sainsbury's shoppers, the price of their baked beans has actually come down since Ashley did their taste test and now cost 43p, saving you a penny per tin. The supermarket also sells an even cheaper bean as part of their Stamford Street Co. range which cost just 27p a tin.

Zahna Eklund