Latest news with #sausages
Telegraph
07-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
I tasted 50 supermarket sausages to find the best: Here are the winners and losers
Bangers and mash, toad in the hole, sausage sandwich. The good old British banger can be relied on to provide a meal that's both cracking value and downright delicious. No wonder there are dozens of different kinds on sale: I tasted a full 50 for this taste test. Broadly, they fall into four categories. Firstly, bags of frozen sausages, which tend to be at the cheap end with prices starting at 18p/100g for Tesco Butcher's Choice, although most cost around 40p/100g. In general I found these to be pretty dreadful, which is sad: there's no reason frozen food should be poor quality. Then there are the bargain-basement versions in the chiller cabinet, the likes of Asda Just Essentials, in a simple cellophane wrap, at 37p/100g. Next step up are the standard sausages, also in a bag but with a slightly more upmarket look, perhaps printed to look like butcher's paper. Most expensive of all the supermarket bangers are the top-rung own-label brands which come in a plastic tray covered in plastic film and sheathed in a cardboard sleeve. Prices vary from 62p/100g for Lidl Deluxe pork sausages to 79p/100g for Waitrose No1. And there are also some 'super premium' products, such as Tesco Finest Signature pork sausages, which come in at 91p/100g compared to 75p/100g for Tesco Finest – likely to compete with the super-luxe 'farm' sausages, such as Farmison's delectable Nidderdale half-dozen. Here's my verdict on 50 high-street specimens, judged on taste and texture as well as other factors (more of which below). Zero -star sausages
The Guardian
05-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
‘True to the traditional British banger': the best supermarket sausages, tasted and rated
Sausages are more than the sum of their parts – a blend of tradition, technique, ethics and flavour. I've always preferred proper butcher's sausages, featuring hog casings filled with well-seasoned pork shoulder, then linked and set (I used to love making them with butcher Ray Smith on River Cottage's regular Pig in a Day courses). Farmer's markets and butchers are the best places to find them, but supermarkets now have a wide range, too. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Texture is key: a good sausage should have bite and a bit of snap, with a juicy, meaty interior, rather than pasty from too much rusk (a crumb typically made with flour, salt and bicarbonate of soda) in the filling. Then there's flavour: a decent sausage should be rich in umami, well-seasoned but not overpowering, so you can actually taste the meat, and not be too sweet or packed with preservatives. Sourcing matters, too, both from the perspective of taste and personal and planetary health. The RSPCA has several welfare concerns about pork production in the UK, but better options do exist, and not always at a premium. Supermarkets do respond to customer feedback, so call or email if your local one doesn't stock good-value, high-welfare meat. Riverford, Pipers Farm and my local farmers' market are my go-to suppliers, but I also buy from supermarkets when I need to. If free-range or organic sausages are too expensive for your budget or not available to you locally, look for ones labelled RSPCA Assured or outdoor-bred or -reared, and check the excellent pork labelling guide at Farms Not Factories. Let's not forget the casings, either, because they're also important. Natural pork casings brown and crisp up beautifully, which helps give the banger that all-important snap; alginate casings (derived from seaweed) are ultra-processed but use renewable resources, and also offer a decent pop. Collagen casings, however, which are made from beef hide or bone, can be rubbery and don't caramelise as well. The ingredient lists varied widely across brands, but all the sausages I tested contained sulphites (used to preserve colour and extend shelf life, though they can cause adverse reactions in people who are sensitive to them); some were also full of ultra-processed additives such as stabilisers, emulsifiers and preservatives. If you're curious or concerned about what's in your sausage, the Yuka app is a useful tool – it scans product barcodes and gives easy-to-understand scores based on ingredients, additives, saturated fat, salt and sugar levels. As for the cooking, the best approach, in my book, is low and slow with a little oil and, essentially, some butter as well, because that helps them caramelise and go sticky. A high heat will split them, leaking precious fat and leaving them dry, which is a travesty. This was a fascinating tasting, and proof that you can still get a decent sausage at a fair price – and feel good about eating it, too. £4.75 for 400g at Waitrose (£1.19/100g)★★★★☆ Made with 98% pork, these had the highest meat content of the whole test group. They had a juicy, coarse texture and well-balanced flavour, seasoned with mace, sage and onion. The aroma is fresh and inviting, and the flavour holds its own without being overpowering. The vegetable-based casings mean they don't brown as readily, but that can be rectified by adding a little butter to the pan. Free-range outdoor-raised pork and strong animal welfare credentials, too, alongside a fully recyclable tray and sleeve – only the film tray cover is not. While not the most striking in appearance, they're a classic, high-welfare banger with strong provenance. £3 for 400g at Sainsbury's (75p/100g)★★★☆☆ A high-quality banger for the price. A distinct, herby aroma with a hint of nutmeg, while the coarse texture is true to the traditional British banger. Made with 93% pork and using alginate casings, they didn't colour well, but kept their shape. Contains sodium metabisulphite and vitamin C, but otherwise free from ultra-processed additives. Outdoor-bred and RSPCA Assured, this is a decent supermarket option. £6.95 for 400g at Farmison & Co (£1.74/100g)£6.95 for 400g at Ocado (£1.74/100g)★★★★☆ A well-crafted sausage made with native-breed pork and a mix of fine and coarse textures that delivers on both flavour and provenance. It has a classic linked shape and caramelises nicely, although it did lose some shape during cooking, which means it may have been overfilled. The aroma is nostalgic and inviting, with balanced seasoning and super umami. Although made with only 78% meat (79% if bought directly from Farmison), these have wonderful flavour and texture. Farmison stands out for its commitment to traditional methods and transparent sourcing, with full details on breed and origin clearly laid out on its website. Free-range pork, recyclable packaging apart from the film, and a focus on heritage make this sausage feel worth the premium. A strong contender with a clear mission to support British smallholdings and culinary heritage. £3 for 400g at Ocado (75p/100g)£3.50 for 400g at Tesco (88p/100g)★★★☆☆ These sausages brown nicely with a good caramelised colour and a classic butcher's shape. The coarse texture gives them a satisfying bite, while the aroma is pleasantly mild, with hints of nutmeg and sage. Well balanced with good seasoning. They're made with 90% pork and natural pork casings, but contain sodium sulphites and stabiliser triphosphates. While there's no transparent animal welfare standard, the packaging is mostly recyclable. The meat is British but likely to be intensively reared. Overall, a solid all-rounder with decent credentials and fair value for money. £4 for 400g at Sainsbury's (£1/100g)£4.25 for 400g at Waitrose (£1.06/100g)★★★☆☆ Brown beautifully with great caramelisation and a classic banger shape. The texture is juicy, combining both fine and coarse meat for a satisfying mouthfeel. The aroma is sweet with hints of white pepper and mace. Well seasoned, with a balanced depth of flavour. Made with 84% pork and encased in natural pork casings, but they're highly processed and contain sodium metabisulphite, emulsifiers (mono- and di-glycerides) and stabiliser diphosphates. Outdoor-bred (born outdoors, fattened in sheds) and RSPCA Assured, and packed in a recyclable card sleeve and plastic tray, this is a traditional British banger of OK provenance and quality. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion £4.00 for 400g at Ocado (£1/100g)★★★☆☆ Nicely shaped, and browned beautifully in the pan. Very coarse and traditional, with a savoury, highly seasoned flavour led by herbs, spices, onion, and a touch of lemon. Made with 90% pork in natural pork casings, these are a classic, less-processed banger. Recyclable tray and sleeve. Outdoor-bred (born outdoors, fattened in sheds) and RSPCA Assured, giving them a more responsible edge, and provenance is reasonable. Not cheap, but a solid supermarket option with good flavour and the RSPCA's stamp of approval. (For just 50p more, you can get certified free-range sausages from the M&S Collection range, which is a great investment in quality.) £7.50 for 400g at Ocado (£1.88/100g)£7.50 for 400g at Daylesford (£1.88/100g)★★★☆☆ A premium sausage with high welfare credentials and good flavour. These have a classic shape and colour, but did lose some structure when cooked, probably due to the natural casings or air pockets in the filling. The fine texture and light, peppery seasoning give a clean, subtle taste. Certified organic and made with outdoor-reared native breed pork sourced from Gloucestershire, these are packed in a recyclable tray and sleeve. Contain sulphites and fortified wheat flour (gluten), but are otherwise minimally processed. A strong sustainability story and provenance make this a standout choice for ethical shoppers, albeit at a price. £3 for 400g at Tesco (75p/100g)★★☆☆☆ These sausages have a coarse texture and a fresh aroma with a strong hint of sage. They're on the saltier end and quite plain in taste, with a touch of white pepper. Made from 90% pork shoulder and belly, encased in vegetable casings, they didn't colour too well. They're more processed than some brands and contain sodium metabisulphite, calcium lactate and diphosphate stabilisers. The packaging is recyclable, except for the film. Overall, a basic supermarket sausage with modest provenance and processing credentials. £3.25 for 400g at Sainsbury's (81p/100g)£3.25 for 400g at Ocado (81p/100g)★★☆☆☆ With a medium coarse texture, these are quite plain in taste. They're less processed than some, and made with 97% pork shoulder, but with beef collagen casings. Lacks transparent animal welfare standards, though most of the packaging is recyclable and the brand discloses a carbon footprint of 2.4kg CO₂, which does add some kudos. Better than some budget options, but a rather middling product with few redeeming qualities beyond their pork content. £2.18 for 410g at Asda (53p/100g)£2.30 for 410g at Tesco (56p/100g)★☆☆☆☆ Less sausage and more processed meat-like substance wrapped in a reconstituted casing. These shrank and wrinkled in the pan, and have a pasty, floury texture typical of an emulsified product with very low meat content. The aroma is faint and sterile, while the taste is sweet and lacks depth. Made with just 42% pork and encased in beef collagen casings, they also contain soya protein, stabilisers such as guar gum, diphosphates and sulphites, firmly placing them in the ultra-processed category. The packaging aims for full recyclability by 2025, but the provenance is unclear, with no traceability or UK meat assurance. Contains gluten. The cheapest option, but hard even to call this a 'sausage'.
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Married At First Sight bride Jamie Marinos reveals the weird way she eats sausages - and says there is a 'whole community' who agree with her
Jamie Marinos has revealed that she has an unusual way to consume sausages. In an Instagram Stories post on Wednesday, the Married At First Sight bride confessed that she cannot eat the ends. 'I refuse to eat the end of sausages' she said alongside an image of a bunch of pieces left on her plate and said it was a 'strange fact' about her. In a second post, Jamie said that she was inundated with messages from people who agreed. 'I stand corrected there is a whole ass community of us who refuse to eat ends of sausages' she wrote. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. It comes after Jamie was forced to set the record straight after fans started speculating she might be pregnant. The 29-year-old reality star sparked baby rumours over the weekend after appearing in a gallery of snaps from Voir Vodka dinner at Bar Bambi in Melbourne, which she attended alongside her co-stars Eliot Donovan and Teejay Halkias. The images, shared by @mafsgossip, included a shot of Jamie posing with Eliot - who she has been romantically linked to in recent months - wearing a sleek all-black outfit which seemed to hint at a small bump. 'Is it me or does Jaime look like she's got a bump?' one fan commented, while another added, 'Just don't know if it's a baby bump or photo-shopped to look like it. But 100% it's a bump!' But Jamie wasted no time shutting down the speculation, jumping into the comments to address the chatter directly. 'I'm going to blame the lighting on that, because it does and I can assure you there's no bump,' she wrote, adding a laughing emoji. In another cheeky comment, the blonde beauty joked, 'Why am I excited now for a non-existent baby?' before confirming the 'countless' vodkas she consumed that night were proof enough she wasn't expecting. The MAFS star later doubled down, taking to her Instagram Stories to share the same photo and write: 'What in the optical illusion is this? I look like I have a baby bump.' She added: 'How funny would it be if at an event for an alcohol brand I announce a pregnancy, except it wouldn't be funny because I'd be pissed the f**k off that I'm sober.' Since the show wrapped in April, Jamie and Eliot have emerged as two of the most-followed cast members, regularly sparking dating rumours with their flirty comments, TikTok videos and joint appearances at events. Despite their undeniable chemistry, Jamie previously clarified their relationship during a Q&A with fans, insisting: 'We are really good friends. 'He's been such a great support system, always makes me laugh and I'm super grateful to have him around.' She added: 'We are both single, and focusing on ourselves at the moment – but who knows what the future holds.' Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Jamie and Eliot echoed that sentiment, saying they've struck up an 'unlikely friendship' post-show and are simply 'taking each day as it comes'. The pair first sparked romance rumours after attending Daily Mail Australia's reunion party in April. 'Jamie is an absolute babe and I would be very lucky to be in a romantic relationship with her... but at this point in time, we are just close friends,' he told 9Entertainment. 'I'm not in any kind of position to be navigating a romantic relationship but I wouldn't rule anything out. I am absolutely loving going on this journey with Jamie by my side.' Eliot spoke highly of his relationship with Jamie and said their friendship had grown since meeting during filming last year.
Wall Street Journal
30-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
World's Biggest Meatpacker Bets Big on Sausages Amid Tariff Upheaval
JBS plans to build a plant in Iowa to make up to 130 million pounds of sausages a year. (Michael Ciaglo/Bloomberg News)
