Marks & Spencer dominated the annual BBC Good Food Christmas dinner taste test, emerging as the top performer in six out of 17 categories. The supermarket excelled in various items, including jointly winning the best turkey crown and coming out on top for the best gammon and Christmas pudding.
The M&S Oakham hot maple-glazed turkey crown, priced at £50, impressed the judges with its sticky and peppery hot maple glaze, along with a fruit-packed stuffing. It shared the top spot with Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference British free-range bronze turkey crown, which featured a pork, apricot, pear, cranberry, and candied ginger stuffing, priced at £22.75 per kg, lauded for its golden glaze and crispy bacon.
In the dessert categories, M&S secured the best Christmas pudding title with its Collection 12-month matured version containing pecans and panettone, valued at £16, described as delicious with generous fruit and nut chunks.
Morrisons excelled in three categories, clinching the top spot for best showstopper dessert, best classic, and best flavored mince pie with its Cherry Bakewell variation. Tesco stood out with the best pigs in blankets, while Lidl was awarded for the best trifle, and Aldi shared the victory with M&S for the best smoked salmon. The taste test evaluated a total of 185 Christmas products spanning 17 categories.
Lulu Grimes, the managing editor of Good Food, highlighted that supermarkets offer exceptional main dishes and traditional desserts, allowing individuals to create memorable Christmas meals without extravagant costs. Cassie Best, the head of food at Good Food, emphasized the tough competition among the 13 participating supermarkets and expressed confidence in the final list of winners showcasing the best holiday offerings available this season.
Additionally, combining store-bought items with homemade dishes from Good Food’s tested Christmas recipes ensures a spectacular and budget-friendly Christmas feast for all.
