Following the ‘shocking’ revelations that horsemeat had been found in burgers, it was also revealed that no one was remotely shocked; at least it is meat, said the masses.
At this point it is important to remember that Value food has one purpose: to sit in the back of the freezer and act as an incentive not to go to the pub, save some money, do your work, and get your degree.
However, on the occasion your student loan does not stretch far enough, you may need to consume some smart price, or everyday value, products.
Before this happens I strongly suggest phoning your parents and begging for money, or even contacting Wonga for a short-term loan, but if all else fails you will need to know what value foodstuffs are edible, and what is not.
That’s why I have assembled a crack team of food reviewers, from around my house, to assist you in buying only the very best smart price food.
Reviewing food is what we do when not posing.
First up, ASDA Smartprice Sausages versus Tesco Everyday Value Sausages.
All together: £1.45, 2,460 calories, and 100% shame.
Both brands are similar in terms of price: you will get 12 ASDA sausages for 84 pence, and 8 Tesco sausages for 61 pence. Find me a cheaper sausage, and I’ll show you a horse’s willy.
This means both brands come in at a scarily low 7 pence per sausage. In return each sausage will begrudgingly provide you with, roughly, 120 calories and 6 grams of fat.
In terms of meat content Tesco’s actual pork content came in at 50%, which is higher than ASDA’s 40%.
When cooked, both brands browned up quite nicely, but didn’t give produce any sort of smell.
Tesco left , ASDA right. Note : I mangled the ASDA sausage when cutting it.
When tasted we agreed that the ASDA sausage has a much better texture. That is not to say it had a nice texture, but it was definitely firmer and nicer to bite into than Tesco’s. In comparison Tesco’s sausage felt like a slightly meaty rice pudding encased tightly in cling film, or how I imagine Madonna’s arms to feel like.
However Tesco’s definitely tasted better. Again, we are not implying it had a nice taste, but only that the sausage contained some form of flavour; which was probably down to the slightly higher meat content, and better seasoning. ASDA’s sausage did not taste of much, and by ‘not much’ we mean nothing except a little salty; almost as if the other 60% of the sausage was the pig’s tears.
It seems the two companies went down different paths when it came to designing their budget banger; Tesco sacrificed their sausage’s texture to provide you with more meat for your 7 pence, whereas ASDA sacrificed meat for bulking agents and a better texture.
We ate the sausages plain for the test, and it is unlikely you would do the same. You probably won’t taste either sausage when it takes its place in a full meal. So, if you would prefer the illusion of a meatier sausage as an accompaniment for your beans and mash then ASDA it all the way, but in terms of what we think tastes better: Tesco’s Everyday Value Sausages are superior.
