I tested supermarket baked beans to see which is best value – winners were 95p cheaper than Heinz and had tastiest sauce
HERE’S less egg in mayonnaise, olive oil spread is down on the oil and guacamole doesn’t pack as much avocado . . .
Welcome to the world of skimpflation, where makers cut the ingredients while prices remain the same.
One of the big-name offenders is Heinz, which is putting fewer beans in its cans.
The bean content of a 415g tin in tomato sauce was recently revealed to have dropped to 50 per cent of the total ingredients, down from 51 per cent.
But the cost has now risen by up to 40p more.
A spokesman for maker Kraft Heinz claimed the reduction was a result of this year’s crops containing less moisture then swelling more when cooked.
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And customers would find only three or fewer pulses less on the plate.
But is Heinz really the best value for money?
Our bean counter LAURA STOTT tots up the numbers in a selection of supermarket-own alternatives to see which comes out top, and marks them out of five.
Heinz
415g, £1.39 Morrisons.com
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Sugar: 8.9g; salt: 1.3g (per half can); 50 per cent haricot beans (in total ingredients); bean count: 399; price per bean: 0.34p.
THERE is no mistaking the aroma and taste of a classic tin of Heinz.
The nation’s favourite has been on sale for more than 100 years and delivers an instantly recognisable recipe of tomato sauce coating the soft, squishy haricots.
The total in my tin came in at just under 400 beans – not the stingiest amount but not the most generous either, especially considering the current price.
They cost three times as much as most supermarket own-brand offerings. Buying these meanz more at the till.
Rating: 2/5
Asda
410g, 50p, asda.com
Sugar: 8.6g; salt: 0.96g (per half can); 49 per cent haricot beans (per total ingredients); bean count: 369; price per bean: 0.14p.
A DECENT amount of haricots per serving and I thought the overall flavour of these was preferable to the market leader.
A great tomato sauce, the best of all those I tried, with a lovely bright-red colour, a pleasant smell which wasn’t too over-powering and good balance of tangy sweetness.
A little gloopier than some others but well matched to the denser texture of the pulses. Great-tasting and good value, too.
Rating: 5/5
Newgate
420g, 46p, Lidl stores
Sugar: 8.6g; salt: 0.95g (per half can); 51 per cent haricot beans (in total ingredients); bean count: 428; price per bean: 0.11p.
LIDL’S own brand gives you a can 5g larger than market leader Heinz for a significantly cheaper price, and you get more pulses for your pennies.
With a whopping 428 haricots, the bargain chain’s tin served up more than any other product.
The strong, flavoursome sauce was rich and thick – perfect for serving on toast.
While the beans themselves were small and quite firm, the denser amount means you get plenty to pile up on your plate. Top value.
Rating: 5/5
By Sainsbury’s
400g, 42p, sainsburys.co.uk
Sugar: 8.5g; salt: 1.05g (per half can); 51 per cent haricot beans (in total ingredients); bean count: 393; price per bean: 0.11p.
BEING a 400g can it is slightly smaller than most other supermarket offerings, but it is still far cheaper than the market leader.
The number of haricots inside is excellent at 51 per cent, within the ratio of the smaller serving size.
A pleasing, thick tomato sauce that was balanced to the filling portion of pulses but the overall flavour was quite bland.
I’d keep these as a cut-price cupboard stand- by and perk them up with a good grind of pepper or some grated cheese.
Rating: 4/5
Tesco
420g, 50p, Tesco.com
Sugar: 9.8g; salt: 1.10g (per half can); 49 per cent haricot beans (in total ingredients); bean count: 351; price per bean: 0.14p.
I WAS surprised Tesco’s offering clocked in at only 351 beans as the serving inside the tin looked generous.
But overall, its contents looked and tasted unbalanced.
The haricots themselves were very large and plump with an excellent texture and bite, and their size might account for why there were fewer in total than anticipated.
However, the unappealing acidic tomato sauce was too gloopy for me.
Probably a bit of an acquired taste.
Rating: 3/5
Everyday Essentials
410g, 28p, Aldi stores
Sugar: 9.6g; salt: 1.2g (per half can; 45 per cent haricot beans (in total ingredients); bean count: 307; price per bean: 0.09p.
THE cheapest can I tried by far.
You could buy almost five of these no-frills cans from Aldi’s Everyday Essentials range for the equivalent price of just one tin of Heinz.
If you don’t mind the basic packaging and lack of ring-pull, the beans inside are not bad at all.
The actual number of haricots might be 92 lower that Heinz but for the bargain cost it is still plentiful and will fill your tummy nicely.
I’d happily scoff these while feeling smug about the saving.
Rating: 4/5
Corale
420g, 45p, Aldi stores
Sugar: 13g; salt: 1.3g (per half can); 50 per cent haricot beans (in total ingredients); bean count: 381; price per bean: 0.12p.
ANOTHER tin with an unexpectedly low bean count.
Aldi’s own brand also looked liked it provided a plentiful portion of pulses but once the sauce and haricots were separated the amount wasn’t quite so hearty.
The beans were a great texture and stayed nice and firm.
The tomato sauce was sweet, rich and flavoursome. Perfect to partner a jacket spud.
For the bargain price these probably most closely resembled Heinz in smell, taste and consistency
Rating: 3/5
Morrisons
410g, 50p, morrisons.com
Sugar: 8.3g; salt: 1.07g (per half can); 49 per cent haricot beans (in total ingredients); bean count: 389; price per bean: 0.13p.
NOT a bad baked bean effort from Morrisons.
You get a good amount of haricots. But it’s a shame they were also very soft.
In fact, some were hard to count individually as they had already turned to mush in the tin.
However, they would still taste perfectly decent on toast or with your full-English breakfast.
And if you don’t mind a bean puree, they will definitely save you a few pennies.
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But not the most exciting or refined eating experience.
Rating: 2/5