Cheap Supermarket Sausages Trump M&S and Jolly Hog in Official Taste Test

In recent weeks, supermarket own-brand items have been coming up trumps over more expensive big name brands.

We witnessed a store-branded cola being declared the winner. ‘better’ than Coca-Cola in a travelcheapwithoutmissingout taste test and a consumer panel informed Which? that Aldi’s Norpak butter was better than Lurpak. Tesco’s cheddar cheese was also determined to outperform brands like Cathedral City and Davidstow.

And now, another budget supermarket favourite has emerged victorious against well-known brands to claim the title of the UK’s finest. banger.

Based on a blinded evaluation involving 65 participants , Lidl ’S Premium Pork Sausages (£2.49 for 400g) stand out as the best in class. , surpassing rivals at M&S, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons along with brands such as Heck, Jolly Hog, and The Black Farmer.

Nine supermarket House-brand sausages were put head-to-head as part of the evaluation and also measured against various well-known brands. In the end, three emerged as the top 'best buy' options among them.

Lidl’s Sausages led the charts with a score of 77%, as customers adored their 'moist texture', 'ideal meaty taste', and 'seasoning with herbs and spices that perfectly balanced everything'.

Three-quarters of participants liked the salt levels, while many thought they were ‘good looking and succulent’ sausages.

In addition to receiving a Best Buy designation, Lidl’s sausages were also honored with a Great Value award due to their prices being significantly lower than average.

It’s important to mention that Lidl’s sausages have quite a bit of saturated fat. Each serving of two sausages contains 11.5 grams, surpassing over half the suggested daily limit for women and exceeding roughly one-third of the recommendation for men.

Right on its heels came the discount store, M&S The Collection British Outdoor Bred Pork Sausages (£4.50 for 400g), which secured the second spot, received an overall rating of 75%.

Among the most expensive ones, these sausages garnered much approval for their excellent pork flavor, juicy texture, and optimal seasoning, appealing to seventy-five percent of those who sampled them.

Of those surveyed, two-thirds expressed pleasure with the texture. However, although 58% found the seasoning to be perfectly balanced, the remaining participants were split on its quantity, some thinking it excessive and others finding it insufficient.

Sainsbury’s They also received a rating of 75% for their Taste the Difference British Pork Sausages (£3 for 400g).

These bangers were hailed as ‘excellent all-rounders’, with highly rated pork flavour, ‘perfect’ juiciness, saltiness, and seasoning levels. The texture was also enjoyed by two thirds of testers.

Nevertheless, they dropped some points when it came to visual appeal relative to the other Best Buys, and about one-third of reviewers mentioned that these sausages appeared too light in color.

Sausage ranking from the blind taste test:

1. Lidl Deluxe Pork Sausages, 77%
2. M&S Collection BritishOutdoor-Bred Pork Sausages, 75%
3. Sainsbury's Deli Plus British Pork Sausages, 75%
4. The Black Farmer Superior Pork Sausages, 72%
5. Asda Exceptional Classic Pork Sausages, 71%
6. Morrison's Ultimate Thick Pork Sausages, 70%
7. Aldi Specially Selected Pork Sausages, 69%
8. Irresistible Pork Sausages from Co-op, 69%
9. The Jolly Hog Fine Pork Sausages, 69%
10. Iceland Luxury Premium Pork Sausages, 65%
11. Waitrose No.1 Free-Range Pork Sausages, 62%
12. Wow, these Heck sausages are 97% pork! That’s impressive. 54%

Beyond the leading trio, The Black Farmer Premium Pork Sausages (£3.50 for 400g) received a score of 72%. These sausages were described as 'appealing', but they lost marks due to their seasoning; one-third of the testers felt they needed more flavor punch.

Asda’s Top-notch Traditional Pork Sausages (£2.98 for 400g) secured the fifth spot, followed closely by Morrison’s Premium Thicker Cut Pork Sausages (£3.25 for 400g) in sixth position.

Aldi’s Premium Choice Pork Sausages (£2.49 for 400g) secured the seventh spot, sharing it with The Jolly Hog’s Authentic Porker Sausages (£4 for 400g). Co-op’s Unstoppable Pork Sausages (£3.60 for 400g).

At the end of the list was Iceland’s Luxurious Premium Pork Sausages priced at £4 for 400g). Waitrose is ranked as No. 1 for their Free Range Pork Sausages at £4.50 for 400g, and Heck’s offers their 97% Pork Sausages priced at £3.25 for 400g.

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Each sausage underwent evaluation through a blind taste test conducted by a group of 65 individuals in April 2025. This tasting panel consisted of consumers who purchase and consume pork sausages, effectively mirroring the adult population demographics in the UK regarding age distribution, gender balance, and additional factors.

The sausages were prepared following the package directions and presented in a completely shuffled sequence to prevent any predisposition. Every evaluator was placed in an individual tasting room to ensure they could not share their impressions or be swayed by fellow testers.

The testers subsequently evaluated the taste, smell, look, and feel of every sausage, discussing their preferences and criticisms.

The total score was determined with 50% attributed to taste, 20% to presentation, 15% to smell, and 15% to consistency. These proportions reflect what individuals considered the key factors during sausage tastings.

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