Good Food’s annual blind style check reveals winners

Good Food has announced the results of its 2024 Summer Taste Test Awards – and it’s good news if you’re looking to have a barbecue on a budget. 

Aldi‘s burgers and Lidl‘s sausages have triumphed in the annual taste test which highlights barbecue food, ice cream and picnic treats – just as the UK enters a mini heatwave..

Good Food’s panel of judges – who were overseen by an independent adjudicator –  blind-tasted over 140 products across 16 categories from 12 UK supermarkets to determine the best buys.

While the ‘Best barbecue food’ category included vegetarian and vegan burgers as well as meat and fish kebabs, the ‘Best picnic food’ category took in sausage rolls, coleslaw and dips. 

So, with the products requiring little to no preparation time, you don’t have to worry about being stuck in the kitchen while your friends and family are frolicking outdoors. 

As FEMAIL reveals the time-saving products that came out on top, we hope the winners will inspire some tasty summer feasts over the next few weeks.  

BARBECUE FOOD 

Best sausages 

Starting with sausages, it was Lidl’s Deluxe Sausages Honey & Mustard (£2.49 for 400g) that came out on top in Good Food’s Summer Taste Test Awards. 

The judges agreed that they ‘boasted a flavourful blend of mustard with a touch of honey sweetness.’

The runners-up included Asda Extra Special Pork & Chorizo Sausages (£3 for 400g/2 packs for £5), which were selected for their subtle ‘spiced flavour notes’, and Tesco’s Finest 4 Signature Pork Sausages (£4 for 440g).

Tesco’s sausages stood out for their ‘juicy texture’ and were described as being the ‘perfect size’ for a hot dog. 

Best vegan sausages 

Sticking with sausages – just swapping out the meat for plant-based alternatives –  Asda’s OMV! Deliciously Vegan Butcher Inspired No Pork Sausages (£2.95 for 360g) were voted the best vegan option. 

Best burgers 

Moving on to burgers, the Good Food judges started with the buns. Described as having a ‘wonderfully soft and doughy texture accented by delightful sweet notes,’ M&S’s 4 Japanese-style milk buns (£1.85 for 300g) won the top spot.

According to the judges, the best burgers can be found at Aldi. The Ultimate Burger from the budget supermarket comes in at £2.89 for 340g.

Not only do they ‘retain their juiciness while cooking  and achieve a lovely colour,’ Aldi’s burgers also boast an ‘excellent texture’ and are ‘the perfect size for any bun.

Best veggie burgers

If you’re looking for a veggie alternative, your go-to has to be M&S’s ‘creamy and salty’ Halloumi Quarter Pounders (£5 for 240g), which the judges agreed pair ‘perfectly with a dollop of relish or chutney’. 

M&S fought off strong competition in this category from the likes of the Co-op, whose Gro Bean Burger (£1.90 for 227g) was credited for ‘their ability to hold shape while maintaining a soft, thick bean texture.’

Best vegan burgers 

For those who prefer a plant-based diet, Morrisons’ Plant Revolution Vegetable Burger (£1.99 for 454g) came out on top in the ‘best vegan burgers’ category.

Described as a ‘remarkably meaty alternative,’ the judges praised the plant-based burgers for ‘offering a satisfyingly authentic experience.’

Best meat or fish kebab 

In the ‘best meat or fish kebab’ category, M&S’s Grill British Caesar Chicken Breast Kebab (£20 for 600g) boasting ‘a robust marinade’ was crowned the winner, followed closely by Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Texan BBQ King Kebab (£6.50 for 700g).

The Sainsbury’s product, however, was a ‘tad too sweet’ for some of the judges. 

… And the rest 

The Good Food judges also identified the ‘best BBQ hero for entertaining’, splitting the category into two: meat and fish, and veggie.

In the meat and fish sub-category, M&S scored another win with its Master Grill Outdoor Bred Tomapork (£10 for 592g), which ‘really impressed the team with the quality of the meat.’

Meanwhile, in the veggie sub-category, Waitrose triumphed with its  4 Harissa Halloumi Kebabs (£4.25 for 240g), described as ‘a guaranteed crowd-pleaser’.

ICE CREAM

The overall winner in this category was Co-op’s Irresistible Vanilla & Caramel Gelato (£4.75 for 360g), which, according to the judges, strikes ‘a perfect balance between saltiness and sweetness with its salted caramel flavour.’

The runners-up included Aldi’s ‘vibrant, fruity’ Gianni’s Raspberry Sorbet (£1.99 for 500ml) and Co-op’s Irresistible Tiramisu Gelato (£4.25 for 380g), which ‘caters to those with a sweet tooth.’

The judges added: ‘This gelato boasts a classic tiramisu flavour with caramel, featuring multiple layers for maximum flavour.’  

Morrisons’ The Best Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream (£3.49 for 500ml) and Aldi’s Gianni’s Mango Sorbet (£1.99 for 500ml) were also recognised in the ice cream category. 

Runners up

Aldi’s Gianni’s Raspberry Sorbet, £1.99 (500ml)

JUDGES’ VERDICT: ‘This vibrant, fruity sorbet delivers a refreshing raspberry flavour with a subtle hint of tartness.’

Co-op’s Irresistible Tiramisu Gelato, £4.25 (380g)

JUDGES’ VERDICT: ‘This gelato boasts a classic tiramisu flavour with caramel, featuring multiple layers for maximum flavour.’

Morrisons’ The Best Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream, £3.49 (500ml)

JUDGES’ VERDICT: ‘When it comes to ice cream, sometimes the classics offer a great option, and that’s what our judges thought of this ice cream’s lovely classic vanilla taste.’

Aldi’s Gianni’s Mango Sorbet, £1.99 (500ml)

JUDGES’ VERDICT: ‘This sorbet delights with its smooth, light texture and invigoratingly zesty mango flavour.’

PICNIC FOOD 

When it’s warm outside, no one wants to spend all their time prepping picnic food in the kitchen. Fortunately, the Good Food Summer Taste Test Awards team identified some supermarket summer favourites to add to your hamper.

Picnic centrepiece 

In the ‘picnic centrepiece’ category, Asda’s Exceptional quiche Lorraine (£3.50 for 400g) came out on top. 

Credited for its ‘soft, creamy filling,’ the judges recommend warming it up before tucking in. 

Best coleslaw 

The ‘best coleslaw’ category was won by Aldi. Its Specially Selected Creamy Coleslaw (£1.25 for 300g) stood out to judges ‘thanks to its tangy flavour that’s balanced with a good level of sweetness’.

With ‘just the right amount of sauce and crunchy veg, plus some herbs for added interest,’ Aldi’s is clearly the coleslaw to go for this summer. 

Best dip 

In the ‘best dip’ category, the judges crowned Co-op’s Irresistible Whipped Feta and Mint Dip (£2.50 for 160g) and Waitrose’s Creamy Pecorino & tomato pesto dip (£2.85 for 170g) joint winners. 

While Co-op’s dip ‘boasts a wonderfully airy texture from the whipped feta, enlivened with abundant dried mint and a generous swirl of olive oil,’ Waitrose’s was praised for ‘the blend of tomato pesto and pecorino cheese’. 

Sausage rolls 

The pièce de résistance of any picnic has to be the sausage rolls and, luckily, the Good Food judges determined which ones to plump for.  

Tesco Finest Pork Sausage Roll (£2.95 for 188g) was declared the winner with judges describing it as a ‘picnic-perfect sausage roll.’ 

They added: ‘Its buttery, glossy pastry encases well-seasoned sausage meat for a delicious treat on the go.’

But if you’re not a meat eater, there’s no need to worry. The judges identified Tesco’s Finest 4 Cheddar & Caramelised Onion Rolls (£2.95 for 188g) as the best vegetarian picnic pastry.  

Tesco’s variety was praised for its ‘thick pastry, a nigella seed topping and cheesy, well-balanced filling.’