A BARGAIN expert has revealed the supermarket that is cheapest for BBQ essentials.
Ahead of the bank holiday weekend Savvy shopper Tom Church, 31, has revealed his top tips to save money.
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Tom Church, Co-founder of money-saving site LatestDeals.co.uk, says: “when it comes to supermarkets, prices may be high at the moment, but it doesn’t mean you can’t still pull off a budget BBQ.
“I’ve done the research for you and found the cheapest supermarkets for all the essentials”.
Burgers
Kicking things off with a BBQ classic, as with most meat, the best value will really depend on what you’re looking for. Lots of shops have different flavours and varieties, there’s beef, chicken, halloumi and veggie burgers, and of course the meat content to consider.
With that said, I found the best value burgers with a minimum of 80% meat content.
ASDA has an offer on selected burgers so you can get 2 packs for £5. This includes items such as a four pack of Beef Quarter Pounders, and some more funky flavours, for example Chilli & Cheese and Caramelised Red Onion.
Working out at just £2.50 a pack, that’s cheaper than Aldi’s Quarter Pounder Burgers, which are £2.75 for a pack of four.
The Aldi burgers do have a slightly higher meat content (around 4% more than ASDA’s Quarter Pounders), so it just depends what your priorities are.
Sausages
If you’re more of a hot dog person, ASDA offers excellent value there as well. Again, prices will vary depending on what you go for.
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I found that most of the flavoured or really budget options have a lower meat content, so it just depends on your preferences.
As an example I again only looked at products with a minimum of 80% meat content. ASDA’s 2 for £5 offer is excellent value again. It includes their Extra Special 6 Pork Sausages, making them just £2.50 a pack.
However, Aldi’s Specially Selected Lincolnshire Sauces came out on top at just £2.49 – a penny cheaper! Pretty much the same, and to be honest, I think I’d go for ASDA so I can make use of other items in that fantastic offer.
As a little cheat, if you’re not as bothered about the meat content in your sausages, Sainsbury’s has an offer on Taste the Difference Pork & Apple Sausages. They’re reduced to £2.16 with a 78% meat content, so pretty good!
Buns
When it comes to rolls, the best value is a six pack of either white or wholemeal for 55p. These would work well for burgers, and ASDA, Aldi and Tesco all have them for that price, so it just depends which shop you prefer.
Finger rolls are better for hot dogs, and these are a bit pricier. The best value I could find were the Aldi ones.
They are just 75p for a pack of six, which is great value compared to Tesco’s which are 85p and ASDA’s which are 90p.
Picky Bits
What’s a BBQ without the extras? I couldn’t do a BBQ essentials list without including those all important sides, so here are a few deals on staples you may want to add to your shopping list.
For Coleslaw, the ASDA Just Essentials one is fantastic value at 50p. If you don’t mind spending a little more, I recommend the Aldi Burger Slaw. It’s pricier at 99p a pot, but really tasty.
Corn on the cob is great value at Tesco. If you have a Clubcard you can get a pack of four half cobs for £1. A pack of two full size cobs (so pretty much equivalent sizes) is £1.35 at Aldi.
For salad, an Iceberg Lettuce is on offer for 60p at ASDA. That’s 10p cheaper than at Aldi.
For sauce, ASDA’s Just Essentials Ketchup is a steal for 50p, but it can be hard to get your hands on. Aldi’s is a bit pricier at 89p. But, I actually prefer the Aldi one.
Pizza
Have you ever done a pizza on the barbecue? It’s surprisingly easy and gives a delicious crispy base. The secret to save money is to make the base with just two ingredients: Flour and greek yoghurt.
Smash a cup of each together in the blender. ASDA Just Essentials flour is the cheapest. Then roll it out and put onto a slightly oiled pizza pan (one with little holes) on the barbecue. Whilst the base cooks, put your toppings on. My son, Little Deals, loves it.”
Drinks
Drinks are a hard one to compare as it totally depends on what your tipple of choice is.
For soft drinks, a bottle of Aldi’s own Vive Diet Cola is just 45p. Or, if you only buy branded, lots of shops including ASDA, Tesco and Morrisons have an offer on: 2 bottles of Diet Coke for £3.50.
If you’re after something stronger, I recommend checking out the Aldi own brand alcohol. They do their own version of Gordon’s Gin for just £10.89 a bottle, wines from £1.49 a bottle, and lots of other options as well.
Even though lots of supermarkets have offers on this long weekend, there can be a big difference in price when it comes to similar items.
I used the Latest Deals Price Comparison tool to check prices, and see which shop offers the best value on my BBQ must haves.
I always recommend using a price comparison tool before you head out to the supermarket, so you can be sure you’re getting the best deal.
