MANY of us have a tub of Bisto gravy stashed away in our kitchen cupboards.
In fact, Premier Foods, who own the brand, claim you’ll find their granules in one in two UK homes.
We test supermarket gravy products
But as the cost of living crisis deepens, is it time to find a cheaper alternative?
Mum-of-three Lynsey Hope agreed to try out some own brand granules to see how they fared against the nation’s favourite.
Lynsey said: “I’ve always been a Bisto girl and like so many others, that’s the tub I have in my cupboard.
“But when you look at how much at it costs compared to similar products from Aldi or Sainsbury’s, it doesn’t make sense to buy it anymore.
“We’ve all got to save a few pennies where we can. I’m keen to find an alternative.”
Here Lynsey shares her verdict.
Morrisons The Best Beef Gravy Granules (200g)
Morrisons was our winner
Lynsey says: “I was impressed by this, it’s a very superior gravy.
“It’s a lovely recipe and better than Bisto by a mile. It’s not as cheap as your Aldi or your Lidl but still cheaper than the market leader and SO much more delicious.
“Its lovely and thick with a good beefy flavour. It has a lovely consistency and you can make it as thick or thin as you like. Top choice for taste. It really was ‘The Best.”
- Taste: 10/10
- Value: 9/10
- Overall score: 10/10
- Total score: 29/30
Asda Gravy Granules for Meat (200g)
Asda’s beat Bisto
Lynsey says: “You have to mix these for a little longer than Bisto but they taste just as good and are a lot cheaper.
“You don’t have to use as much to thicken the gravy either. I honestly preferred them to the famous brand.
“Great budget gravy from Asda, these will be out of stock once others catch on. Winner winner, time for a Roast Dinner!”
- Taste: 10/10
- Value: 9/10
- Overall score: 9/10
- Total score: 28/30
Aldi Quixo for Meat Gravy Granules (300g)
Aldi placed third
Lynsey says: “These granules look much bigger than Bisto and I wasn’t sure they were going to be any good. But it melted quicker and has a beefy taste.
These cost less than a third of the nation’s favourite and taste just as good, if not better. An absolute bargain. I won’t be buying Bisto again.”
- Taste: 9/10
- Value: 10/10
- Overall score: 9/10
- Total score: 28/30
Gravy Granules for Meat by Sainsbury’s (170g)
Sainsbury’s gravy goes well with beef and sausages
Lynsey says: “I liked this gravy, it lasted well as you don’t need as much per serving.
“It tasted lovely with beef, sausages and a roast dinner. It mixed up well, and is a great price compared to Bisto.
“No lumpy gravy at my house thank you very much!”
- Taste: 7/10
- Value: 9/10
- Overall score: 8/10
- Total score: 24/30
Bisto Gravy Granules (350g)
Bisto is a family favourite
Lynsey says: “Flavoursome and delicious granules for a hearty family meal.
“You know what you are getting with these and the brand has many devotees. I have been one of them for many years.
“However, they cost £3.50 a tub or £1 per 100g so they are VERY expensive. It’s time to find an alternative.”
- Taste: 8/10
- Value: 2/10
- Overall score: 6/10
- Total score: 16/30
Lidl Newgate For Meat Gravy Granules (300g)
Lidl’s gravy smells lovely but doesn’t have the meatiest flavour
Lynsey says: “Smells lovely but not the meatiest of flavours.
“It’s quite basic, but let’s not forget the Lidl price. It’s two thirds cheaper than Bisto and a great contender for families if you want a basic gravy to pour over pies.”
- Taste: 3/10
- Value: 8/10
- Overall score: 5/10
- Total score: 16/30
Tesco For Beef Gravy Granules (200g)
Unfortunately Tescos gravy placed last
Lynsey says: “These produce quite a thick, meaty gravy. Quite a salty flavour too.
“I wasn’t so keen but I imagine some people would like the taste. The granules are quite large and take a while to dissolve.”
- Taste: 4/10
- Value: 4/10
- Overall score: 4/10
- Total score: 12/30
We’ve also taste tested the best cheese melts for your BBQ burgers.
We also tried supermarket own brand mustards and one tasted better than Colmans.
And we tried supermarket chopped tomatoes and one tasted better than Napolina.