ASDA has claimed the top spot for the best budget Christmas dinner essential – pigs in blankets.
But Marks and Spencer has been crowned the overall winner in Good Housekeeping’s Christmas taste test.
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The Good Housekeeping expert panel tucked into 33 different Christmas staples – including pigs in blankets and roast potatoes.
The annual taste test awards are used to find the best of the best.
A winner, runners-up and best budget buys are awarded in categories including turkey, mince pies, prosecco and Christmas pudding.
And while many of the top spots this year have gone to extravagant luxury items, a number of bargain treats managed to beat their pricey rivals to earn the crown of winner in their category.
Some 470 products were tasted this year, the 23rd year that Good Housekeeping has run its Christmas taste tests, with samples from 130 different retailers and brands.
M&S came out top of the grocers this year, sitting within the top five in an impressive 19 categories – but other supermarkets offer some tasty budget alternatives.
Good Housekeeping said that “retailers have done an excellent job of keeping prices affordable across the board.”
And Aldi leads the way with their low-cost Christmas line-up.
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The panel of taste testers score the food out of 100 – a higher number indicates the best food.
Here we round up some of the winners.
Best Christmas starters
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Asda took the top spot for Christmas starters with its Ultimate Prawn Cocktail with Campfire Charred Tomato Marie Rose Sauce.
At £6 for 220g, the panel gave the prawns a score of 83 out of 100.
Morrisons came a close second, scoring 82 out of 100, with its Scallop and Prawn Thermidor Gratin (£5 for 260g)
Top Christmas turkeys
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Waitrose won the top spot with its Free-Range Bronze Feathered Turkey.
Costing £15.99 per kg, the free-range bird scored of 81 out of 100.
Good Housekeeping said it achieved a beautiful golden-brown colour and was packed full of flavour and with a “mouth-wateringly” crispy.
But Aldi scored top with the best budget crown costing £16.99 for 1.5kg.
The Aldi bird scored 79 out of 100.
Best Christmas sides
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Costing £2.50 for 232g, Asda’s maple pigs in blankets scored 83 out of 100.
The scrumptious piggies won runner-up and the best budget-flavoured pigs in blankets available.
Jolly Hog’s £4 “Posh Pigs” won the classic pigs in blanket test with a score of 85 out of 100.
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If you’re on the hunt for the best roasties, look no further than Morrisons’ Best Goose Fat Potatoes scoring 79/100.
Costing £2.99 for 800g, these potatoes were a clear favourite with the Good Housekeeping panel.
What’s more, the potatoes come with goose fat and additional seasoning to ensure the skin is extra crispy.
Best for mince pies
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Aldi’s Specially Selected Mince Pies came out as the best budget mince pies.
The sweet treats only cost £1.79 for six and scored 71 out of 100.
Co-op’s Irresistible Mince Pies scored a higher 76/100 and were well-loved for their generous snowy coating of icing sugar and sweet punchy filling.
Customers can bag 6 Co-op pies for £2.25.
Tasty Christmas puddings
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The competition was tight on desserts, but Waitrose’s 12-Month Matured Christmas Pudding scored top.
Costing £12 for 400g, the panel gave it a solid 80 out of 100.
The best budget Christmas pudding was Tesco’s Finest Christmas Pudding.
Costing £8 for 800g, the panel gave it a score of 75 out of 100.
