'I compared Bisto to Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury's gravy - there's a clear winner'
For many Brits, life just tastes better when it's drenched in gravy. Nothing more so than a Sunday roast doused in Bisto.
But with the cost of living crisis leaving many of us feeling pinched, we're all looking for small ways we can cut down our bills - including supermarket savings.
Ditching the household names in favour of supermarket own brands can cut your bills down by a few quid, but at what cost to flavour and quality?
That's what was put to the test when trying different own brands of gravy, with some tasting like little more than "flavoured water", according to the reporter sampling them.
Bisto is Britain's best-selling brand of gravy, but supermarkets also offer their own version.
Asda praised over inclusive kids clothing range with holes for feeding tubes
The four gravy brands being put to the test (BirminghamLive)And the brand has caused some outrage recently, with a hefty price tag being described as "ridiculous" by shoppers.
The cupboard staple was being sold for £4.50 for a 450g tub in Asda stores, which some branded "disgusting" and more expensive than premium supermarket Waitrose.
With that in mind, one reporter put it to the test by seeing if Bisto could be topped by a supermarket-own brand gravy from the likes of Aldi, Sainsbury's and Asda.
The different own-brands were sampled by dunking in chips and giving them scores, Birmingham Live reports - somehow it seemed simpler than swallowing a dictionary for various words to describe the taste of gravy.
And the results were surprising.
All scores were taken out of a maximum score of five with the aim of seeing if Bisto could be pushed off the gravy throne by a cheaper alternative.
The same type of gravy - regular meat gravy - was used for each test to make sure that scores were fair.
Bisto is Britain's official favourite gravy brand, but can you find better for cheaper? (BirminghamLive)Bisto
Beginning with Brits' favourite, we were off to a strong start. But there was more to come.
The cost in comparison to the supermarkets is worth noting. It was quadruple the price of Aldi - yet had less gravy granules in.
It had flavours and depth, but it felt like something was lacking. Good on the whole, but I couldn't justify top marks.
Aldi, Lidl and Morrisons shoppers shocked by cost of Lurpak butter and its dupes
4/5
Sainsbury's own brand gravy (BirminghamLive)Sainsbury's
85p (170g)
Moving on to number two, the chip instantly lost its form and separated in a sea of thick Sainsbury's gravy. Fortunately, it was delicious.
A rich sauce that to be recommended in a heartbeat, Sainsbury’s is the real deal and is the perfect compliment to a chip.
4.5/5
Bisto was compared against Sainsbury’s, Asda and Aldi gravy - and one was like flavoured water (BirminghamLive)Asda
80p - 200g
This gravy was a disaster. Although the chip didn’t fall apart, I wish it had because it tasted lifeless.
The gravy was far too thin, gravy-flavoured water would be a more apt description. It was the reduced salt option, not sure whether that made a difference, but I was disappointed with Asda’s effort.
2/5
Aldi's own Quixo - a dupe for Bisto (BirminghamLive)Aldi
99p - 300g
I had high hopes for Aldi’s take on gravy. Whilst it was thick, it was different to Sainsbury’s in a good way.
It was a lot more flavourful and tasted less traditional to Sainsbury’s efforts, but I enjoyed both equally the same.
4.5/5
Final thoughts
It was expected to be close but not that there would end up being two favourites, both for different reasons.
It was surprising. Aldi has a flavour which is unique whilst Sainsbury’s has your traditional excellent sauce.
Bisto ended up being considerably pricey but, but not quite tasty enough for it to earn higher marks.
Elsewhere, Asda’s efforts earned a low marks for all the wrong reasons.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
