Marks & Spencer emerged as the top performer in the annual BBC Good Food Christmas dinner taste test. The supermarket clinched the top spot in six out of 17 categories, excelling in areas such as turkey crown, gammon, and Christmas pudding.
M&S’s Oakham hot maple-glazed turkey crown, priced at £50, stood out for its flavorful “sticky, peppery hot maple glaze and fruit-packed stuffing.” This turkey tied for first place with Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference British free-range bronze turkey crown, which impressed judges with its “golden, glossy glaze and crispy bacon” at £22.75 per kg.
In addition, Marks & Spencer secured the best Christmas pudding title with its Collection 12-month matured version featuring pecans and panettone, priced at £16 and described as “delicious” with an abundance of fruit and nut pieces.
Morrisons excelled in three categories, including best showstopper dessert and best mince pie for its Cherry Bakewell version, praised for its “soft texture with a delightful almond flavor that is not overly sweet.”
Tesco claimed the top spot for best pigs in blankets, while Lidl won the award for best trifle, and Aldi shared the victory with M&S for best smoked salmon. A total of 185 Christmas products in 17 categories were thoroughly evaluated.
Lulu Grimes, the managing editor at Good Food, emphasized that a festive spread can be exceptional without straining the budget, thanks to the remarkable offerings from supermarkets. The competition among the 13 participating supermarkets was fierce, but the final list of winners truly showcases the best holiday offerings available this season.
Head of food at Good Food, Cassie Best, highlighted the meticulous process of selecting the winners, ensuring that a combination of supermarket purchases and tested Christmas recipes from Good Food can create a memorable and cost-effective Christmas feast.