Best Buy food and drink

Our independent taste tests of supermarket food and drink have unearthed the best products to buy – from everyday items, such as peanut butter and cereals, to treats including posh crisps, champagne and prosecco.

The results are often surprising. Sometimes supermarket-own labels beat well-known brands, and other times it's worth paying for the branded version. 

Discover where you can save money on everyday foods with a simple swap - without compromising on taste - where it's worth paying a bit more, and the best treats to buy for more special occasions.

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Best rocket ice lollies

Co-op Rocket Lollies (78%)

Co-op's rocket lollies beat the rest with their bold colours, smooth, but not too firm, texture, and the strong fruity taste that's sweet but not too sickly.

Available from Co-op.

Check out the full results from our rocket ice lollies taste test.

Tested: June 2022

Best apple cider

Aspall Draught Cyder (73%)

Waitrose English No.1 Vintage Cider (73%)

There are two ciders to choose from at the top of the sparkling apple cider tree. If you like your cider on the sweeter side, Waitrose’s cider is the one for you. For something less sweet look to Aspall. Both taste great and hit the right levels of sharpness and fizziness for a refreshing drink.

• Aspall Draught Cyder is available from Asda, Ocado, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco.
• Waitrose English No.1 Vintage Cider is available from Waitrose.

Check out the full results from our apple cider taste test.

Tested: June 2022

Best vegan mayonnaise

Sainsbury's Plant Pioneers Vegan Mayo (78%)

Hellmann's Plant Based Vegan Mayonnaise (78%)

You have a choice between a big brand or a cheaper supermarket alternative if you're after the best vegan mayo. The first has a better colour, according to our panel, but the other is a more convincing substitute for dairy mayonnaise.

• Sainsbury's Plant Pioneers Vegan Mayo is available from Sainsbury's.
• Hellmann's Plant Based Vegan Mayonnaise is available from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

Check out the full results from our vegan mayonnaise taste test.

Tested: June 2022

Best iced coffees

Starbucks Latte Iced Coffee Drink (72%)

Big brand Starbucks beat the rest (including high street rival Costa) thanks to its flavour profile - just the right level of sweetness, bitterness and strong coffee flavour for our tasters - and its delicious creamy texture.

Available from Asda, Ocado and Sainsbury's.

Check out the full results from our iced coffee taste test.

Tested: June 2022

Best vegan and veggie southern-fried chicken substitutes

Quorn Southern Fried Bites (78%)

Birds Eye Green Cuisine Southern Fried Grills (78%)

It's a choice between two brands if you're after the best southern-fried chicken substitutes: Birds Eye for vegans or Quorn if you're vegetarian. Both brands impressed on their appearance, flavour and texture, and most thought they were a convincing swap for chicken.

• Quorn Southern Fried Bites are available from Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco.
• Birds Eye Green Cuisine Southern Fried Grills are available from Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco.

Check out the full results from our vegan and veggie southern-fried chicken taste test.

Tested: May 2022

Best passion fruit martini cocktail cans

Aldi Stefanoff Passion Fruit Martini Flavour Cocktail (74%)

Aldi's passion fruit martini cocktail was unmatched in the flavour ratings, with most tasters finding the passion fruit flavour, sweetness and alcohol balance spot on. It's also the cheapest on test at just 89p a can. A winner all round.

Available from Aldi.

Check out the full results from our passion fruit martini cocktail can taste test.

Tested: May 2022

Best tortilla chips 

Doritos Cool Original Tortilla Chips (72%)

Sainsbury’s Cool Tortilla Chips (71%)

Branded cool tortilla chips reign supreme but there is company for Doritos at the top, with Sainsbury’s cool tortilla chips matching them for flavour, crispness and saltiness. If you shop at Sainsbury’s, it's worth grabbing these tortilla chips, which are half the price of the Doritos.

• Doritos Cool Original tortilla chips are available from Asda, Iceland, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose. 
• Sainsbury’s Cool tortilla chips are available from Sainsbury’s.

Check out the full results from our tortilla chips taste test.

Tested: April 2022

Best vanilla ice cream

Tesco vanilla ice cream (76%) 

Asda Really Creamy vanilla ice cream (75%)

Vanilla ice creams from Tesco and Asda topped our taste test, beating big brands Wall’s and Carte D’Or. With their great flavour and texture, these supermarket own-brands show you can make a significant saving on your dessert without compromising on taste. 

• Tesco vanilla ice cream is available from Tesco. 
• Asda Really Creamy vanilla ice cream is available from Asda.

Check out the full results from our vanilla ice cream taste test.  

Tested: April 2022

Best beef burgers

Finnebrogue Wagyu Burger (77%) 

Finnebrogue's wagyu burger was the only Best Buy in our premium beef burger taste test, winning over tasters with its meaty flavour and juicy texture. It's on the pricey side, but it's a great choice if you're after a delicious patty.

Available from Ocado and Sainsbury's.

Check out the full results from our beef burger taste test.

Tested: March 2022

Best vegan burgers

Beyond Meat Beyond Burger (73%)

Garden Gourmet Sensational Burger (71%)

It was a victory for the big brands in this test, with Beyond Meat's burger coming top, closely followed by Nestlé's Garden Gourmet. Either of these would make a great addition to your summer barbie.

• Beyond Meat Beyond Burger is available from Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.
• Garden Gourmet Sensational Burger is available from Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco.

Check out the full results from our vegan burgers taste test.

Tested: March 2022

Best pork sausages

Aldi Specially Selected 6 British Pork Sausages (76%)

The Black Farmer 6 Premium Pork Sausages (76%)

There was a tie for the best-tasting pork sausages, with Aldi and The Black Farmer sharing the top spot. Both impressed our panel with their tasty seasoning and perfectly porky flavour, and Aldi was one of the cheapest we tested.

• Aldi Specially Selected sausages are available from Aldi.
• The Black Farmer sausages are available from Tesco, Sainsbury's, Ocado and direct from The Black Farmer.

Check out the full results from our pork sausage taste test.

Tested: February 2022

Best vegan sausages 

Tesco Plant Chef 6 Cumberland Style Bangers (71%)

This Isn’t Pork Plant Based Sausages (71%)

Richmond 8 Meat-Free Sausages (71%)

Three vegan sausages were tasty enough to be named Best Buys this year: Tesco, This Isn’t Pork and Richmond. Tesco's meat-free bangers were one of the best-rated for appearance, while This Isn't and Richmond impressed our panel with their full flavour. 

• Tesco Plant Chef 6 Cumberland Style Bangers are available from Tesco.
• This Isn’t Pork Plant Based Sausages are available from Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's and Tesco.
• Richmond 8 Meat-Free Sausages from Amazon, Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco, and Waitrose. 

Check out the full results from our vegan sausage taste test.

Tested: February 2022

Best tomato ketchup

Heinz Tomato Ketchup (80%)

Waitrose Essential Tomato Ketchup (78%)

Heinz and Waitrose Essential tomato ketchups proved the most popular in our test. Both topped the charts, with most of our tasters finding them spot on for sweetness. Although Heinz took first place, Waitrose is around a third cheaper.

• Heinz Tomato Ketchup is available from Aldi, Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.
• Waitrose Essential Tomato Ketchup is available from Waitrose.

Check out the full results from our tomato ketchup taste test.

Tested: February 2022

Best baked beans

Lidl Newgate baked beans (78%)

Morrisons baked beans (78%)

Lidl and Morrisons tied for the best baked beans in our taste test, impressing our panel with their great appearance,  flavour and texture.

Available from Lidl (in-store only), Ordrs and Morrisons.

Check out the full results from our baked beans taste test.

Tested: February 2022

Best hot cross buns

Aldi Specially Selected Luxury Fruited Hot Cross Buns (74%)

Aldi’s affordable buns proved a hit with our panel, receiving high marks for their flavour, texture and aroma. At just 27p per bun they were also the cheapest on test.

Available from Aldi.  

Check out the full results from our hot cross bun taste test. 

Tested: February 2022

Best Colombian ground coffee

Lidl Deluxe Colombian Supremo Roast & Ground Coffee (75%)

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Fairtrade Colombian Coffee (74%)

Our coffee taste test uncovered two supermarket own label Best Buys, including a great value pick from Lidl that beat pricier brands such as Taylors and Cafédirect.

Available from Lidl (in-store only) and Sainsbury's.

Check out the full results from our Colombian ground coffee taste test.

Tested: January 2022

Best chocolate hazelnut spread

Waitrose Essential Hazelnut Chocolate Spread (83%)

Lidl Choco Nussa Spread (81%)

Waitrose and Lidl were the best rated spreads in our taste test, beating Nutella. Lidl's cheap spread is excellent value for money at less than a third of the price of the big brand.

Available from Waitrose and Lidl (in-store only).

Check out the full results from our chocolate hazelnut spread taste test.

Tested: January 2022

Best orange juice

M&S Squeezed Smooth Orange Juice (77%)

M&S was the only Best Buy, outshining popular brands including Copella, Innocent and Tropicana. We also uncovered a great value runner up costing just 9p per 100ml.

Available from Ocado.

Check out the full results from our orange juice taste test.

Tested: December 2021

Best yeast extract spread

Aldi Grandessa Mighty Yeast Extract (75%)

Morrisons Yeast Extract (75%)

Aldi and Morrisons were the joint champions in our taste test, beating big brand Marmite. As well as being one of the tastiest spreads, Aldi's version was also the cheapest on test at just 70p per 100g.

Available from Aldi and Morrisons (in-store only).

Check out the full results from our yeast extract spread taste test.

Tested: December 2021

Best instant hot chocolate

Galaxy Instant Hot Chocolate (73%)

Cadbury Instant Hot Chocolate (71%)

Our taste test of instant hot chocolate uncovered two Best Buys, with Galaxy and Cadbury named the overall favourites. We also found a great-value supermarket own-label hot chocolate scoring 69%.

• Galaxy Instant Hot Chocolate is available from Asda, Iceland, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.
• Cadbury Instant Hot Chocolate is available from Asda, Co-op, Iceland, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

Check out the full results from our instant hot chocolate taste test.

Tested: December 2021

Best crunchy peanut butter

M&S Crunchy Peanut Butter (77%)

Lidl Mister Choc Crunchy Peanut Butter (75%)

M&S and Lidl came top in our peanut butter taste test, earning high marks for their great nutty flavour and satisfying crunchy texture. Lidl's cheap peanut butter is excellent value, costing just 25p per 100g.

• M&S Crunchy Peanut Butter is available from Ocado.
• Lidl Mister Choc Crunchy Peanut Butter is available from Lidl.

Check out the full results from our crunchy peanut butter taste test.

Tested: November 2021

Best roast potatoes

Aunt Bessie's Roasties (72%)

Aunt Bessie's Roasties was our one and only Best Buy this year, beating both Bannister's and all the supermarket own-label contenders. 

The panel were impressed with the potatoes' lovely golden colour, and the flavour and texture were just right for most of our tasters too.

Available from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

Check out the full results from our roast potatoes taste test.

Tested: November 2021

Best low-alcohol and alcohol-free beer

Heineken 0.0 Alcohol Free Beer (74%)

Big brand Heineken earned a Best Buy, fighting off competition from the likes of Erdinger, Free Damn and Stella Artois in our blind taste test of low-alcohol and alcohol-free beer.

Available from Asda, Co-op, Iceland, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

Check out the full results from our low alcohol and alcohol-free beer taste test

Tested: September 2021

Best honey nut cornflakes

Aldi Harvest Morn Honey Nut Crunchy Cornflake (76%)

Morrisons Honey Nut Corn Flakes (76%)

Kellogg's Crunchy Nut was pipped to the post by Aldi and Morrisons in our honey nut cornflakes taste test. Both cereals offer considerable savings compared with Kellogg's, and contain around 20% less sugar.

• Aldi Harvest Morn Honey Nut Crunchy Cornflakes are available from Aldi.
• Morrisons Honey Nut Corn Flakes are available from Morrisons.

Check out the full results from our best honey nut cornflakes taste test. 

Tested: August 2021

More Best Buy food and drink

Only logged in Which? members can view the rest of our taste test results. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

• Best instant coffee
• Best champagne
• Best sparkling wine and prosecco
• Best red wine
• Best ground coffee
• Best gold instant coffee blend
• Best frozen pepperoni pizza
• Best chocolate-covered ice creams
• Best gin
• Best rosé wine