HP Baked Beans, 24X415g

Product Information

HP Baked Beans in a Rich Tomato Sauce - 73%. Ok for aroma and flavour, but below average on appearance. Almost half found the sauce too thin. 55p for 415g tin. Available from Asda.

The beans were among the smallest I tried, and whilst the texture was ok, it left me feeling underwhelmed. They may be a hit for those who prefer their baked beans a little sweeter, but for me the thin, sugary sauce didn't hit the spot. Beans no longer has to mean Heinz for cost-conscious shoppers, who preferred supermarket brands - some costing much less than half the price - to the market leader. M&S Baked Beans (50/400g) – 73% Which? said:"These beans are pretty good across the board, although 38% found the texture of the sauce too thin." And while, like many foods, the cost of a can of beans has risen over the past year, our supermarket winners remain modestly priced. The cheapest Best Buy cost just 50p a tin. Despite losing points on the texture, the taste was pleasant and fairly middle-of-the road. Overall, a decent option if you're looking to save cash on named brands.Natalie Hitchins, Which? head of home products and services said: "Yet again, our taste tests have shown that supermarket own branded products can more than hold their own against pricier brands. Aldi, Lidl, Asda and Tesco insiders share supermarket own-brand 'secrets' to help others save money

Baked beans is a versatile dish that can be served with any number of mains and sides. Here are some popular options: Waitrose Essential Baked Beans - 76%. Came joint-second with Aldi. Rated well overall, especially in terms of texture. 40p for 400g tin (10p per 100g). Available from Waitrose. Personally, I prefer my beans to have a stronger tomato flavour, but they were still quite tasty. They didn't blow my mind and make me realise what I've been missing all these years, but the flavour was decent and the small tin would make for handy lunch.

Sections

The Heinz beans were quite tart in taste, which I really enjoyed. They had the familiar tanginess that I associate with beans, without being too sour. Most baked bean brands have low-sugar/low-salt versions, so you may want to give them a try if you're watching your intake. We only included standard versions in our taste test to ensure products were comparable. Serve immediately or let cool completely and refrigerate until ready to serve. Can be reheated on the stovetop or in the microwave.

They are 'low sugar' according to NHS guidelines , but it comes down to how much you eat, and what you have them with. A full can of the most sugary beans on test (Lidl's) adds up to 19g – about four teaspoons of sugar. Soak the beans overnight in a pot of water. Make sure the beans are covered by at least a couple of inches of water. Drain the beans and put them in a pot of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 hour. Drain and reserved the bean liquid. Live well for less – sign up to our free food and health newsletter for monthly insights and advice, plus the latest taste tests

Thank you for subscribing

Competition for the top spots was very tight, with several other budget-friendly supermarket beans coming in just behind our Best Buys. In my opinion, they delivered on each count - the beans were tangy, salty, and had a great texture. There was no sign of a watery sauce, just a tin of great tasting beans. Beans doesn't have to mean Heinz. You can save on this store-cupboard staple without compromising on flavour by going for a cheap supermarket tin instead. Which? asked a panel of consumers to blind-taste and rate 12 different brands of baked beans, from Heinz, Branston and KP to Aldi, Tesco, Lidl and more. You’re not alone, this is a not an uncommon problem. From Fine Cooking: “Some beans refuse to soften. You can soak them overnight and then simmer them all day long, and they’re still hard as pebbles. The main causes of this are age and improper storage.”