The supermarket was ranked the best in six out of 17 , including joint best turkey crown, best gammon and best Christmas pudding
Marks & Spencer was the standout winner in the annual BBC Good Food Christmas dinner taste test.
The supermarket was ranked the best in six out of 17 , including joint best turkey crown, best gammon and best Christmas pudding.
M&S Oakham hot maple-glazed turkey crown, costing £50, was described by judges as having a “sticky, peppery hot maple glaze and stuffing packed with fruit”.
This was a joint winner alongside Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference British free-range bronze turkey crown with pork, apricot, pear, cranberry and candied ginger stuffing costing £22.75 per kg, impressed the panel with its “golden, glossy glaze and crispy bacon”.
M&S also won best Christmas pudding with its Collection 12-month matured version with pecans and panettone, costing £16 and described as “delicious” with “plenty of fruit and large chunks of nuts”.
Morrisons took first place in three categories, including best showstopper dessert, best classic and best flavoured mince pie for its Cherry Bakewell version. Its mince pies were described as featuring “soft with good almond flavour that’s not too sweet”.
Tesco won best pigs in blankets while Lidl took the award for best trifle, and Aldi jointly triumphed with M&S for best smoked salmon. A combined 185 Christmas products across 17 categories were put to the test.
Good Food managing editor Lulu Grimes said: “This year’s Christmas Supermarket Taste Test shows you can have a brilliant festive spread without breaking the bank.
“The supermarkets offer showstopping mains and nostalgic puddings, saving time in the kitchen so you can focus on adding flair to your family favourite Christmas recipes and creating your own precious food memories.”
Cassie Best, head of food at Good Food, said: “Our Christmas starts in August when we taste all the hundreds of products submitted, and from then anticipation builds as to who will make the winners’ list.
“There was serious competition this year between the 13 supermarkets who entered as they all feature a fabulous range of festive food. We’re confident that our final list of winners showcases the best that the supermarkets have to offer this season.
“Combining supermarket buys with home-made dishes from our Good Food thoroughly tested Christmas recipes means everyone can enjoy a spectacular and affordable Christmas feast.”
Best smoked salmon
- Joint winner: Aldi Specially Selected the ultimate salt-aged Himalayan smoked salmon (£3.99)
- Joint winner: M&S Collection cherry and chestnut wood smoked salmon (£6)
Best hot canapé
- Joint winner: Aldi Specially Selected mini Barber’s cheese and ham scones (£4.99)
- Joint winner: Tesco Finest scallop and prawn toast (£5.50)
Best turkey crown
- Joint winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference British free-range bronze turkey crown with pork, apricot, pear, cranberry and candied ginger stuffing (£22.75 per kg)
- Joint winner: M&S Oakham hot maple-glazed turkey crown (£50)
Best alternative Christmas main
- Winner: Booths British porchetta (£21, 1.55kg)
- Runner-up: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Discovery 35-day dry-aged Aberdeen Angus rump joint with a velvety tarragon and pepper cream sauce (£25)
Best vegetarian main
- Winner: M&S Collection mushroom, Barber’s cheddar and leek en croute (£12.50)
Best Christmas cake
- Winner: M&S perfectly matured iced fruit cake (£24)
Best alternative Christmas cake
- Winner: Booths enchanted forest cake (£28)
Best Christmas pudding
- Winner: M&S Collection 12-month matured Christmas pudding with pecans and panettone (£16)
Best pigs in blankets
- Winner: Tesco Finest 10 pork and caramelised onion pigs in blankets (£3.25)
Best gammon
- Winner: M&S slow-cooked bone-in Heritage Gold pork gammon (£36)
Best showstopper dessert
- Winner: Morrisons Signature Collection Belgian chocolate and praline star (£15)
Best trifle
- Winner: Lidl Deluxe Amontillado sherry trifle (£4.99)
Best classic mince pies
- Winner: Morrisons The Best Signature Collection mince pies (£2)Runner-up: Booths six all butter mince pies (£4.50)
Best flavoured mince pies
- Winner: Morrisons The Best cherry bakewell mince pies (£3.50)
Best gluten-free mince pies
- Winner: Waitrose freefrom mince pies (£3)
Best vegan mince pie
- Winner: Waitrose six mince pies (£2.25)
Best biscuit tin
- Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference chocolate chip shortbread present tin (£8)
