Baked beans on toast is a proper British staple – cheap, cheerful and surprisingly filling. I've always grabbed Heinz without thinking twice, but what if I've been missing out on a better bean experience all this time?
To settle my curiosity, I picked up tins from ten different supermarkets and put them through their paces in a proper taste test at home.
1. Heinz Might Be The Icon – Or Is It Really?
Everyone knows the distinctive turquoise tin, but does Heinz truly deserve its throne in the bean kingdom? I expected perfection from this household name, yet found myself slightly underwhelmed.
The sauce has that familiar sweet-yet-tangy profile, but seemed thinner than I remembered. The beans themselves held their shape nicely without mushiness – a definite plus.
At nearly £1.40 per tin, they're among the priciest of the bunch. While certainly not bad, the nostalgic flavour I was chasing felt somewhat diluted. Has the recipe changed, or have my taste buds grown up?
2. Lidl's Beans Looked The Part – But Fell Short On Flavor
Popping open Lidl's Newgate tin revealed beans that could have been Heinz's twin – plump, uniform, and swimming in vibrant orange sauce. The visual similarity was striking.
Sadly, the first forkful exposed their weakness. The sauce lacked depth, coming across as overly sweet with none of the tomato tang that makes a good bean great. The beans themselves had a decent texture but tasted slightly floury.
At just 32p, these are properly budget-friendly. For beans destined to be mixed into other dishes, they'd do the job, but they're not the ones I'd showcase on a slice of buttery toast.
3. Aldi Offered Quantity And Value – But The Taste Was Just Average
Aldi's Bramwells beans certainly give you bang for your buck – the tin was packed to the brim with no skimping on quantity. At 35p, they're fighting in the same budget corner as Lidl.
The beans had a decent firmness that held up well to heating. However, the sauce leaned toward the watery side, lacking the rich consistency that coats your toast properly.
Flavour-wise, they struck a middle ground – neither offensive nor memorable. There's a hint of sweetness but little depth beyond that. These would work well in a full English breakfast where other flavours can mask their plainness.
4. Morrisons' Beans Smelled Strong – But Split Our Opinions
The moment I peeled back Morrisons' tin lid, an intensely rich tomato aroma filled my kitchen. It promised depth that most of the others lacked, instantly making my mouth water.
These beans divided my household. I appreciated their robust flavour profile – properly tomatoey with a hint of spice that lingered pleasantly. My partner found them too strong, almost acidic.
Texture-wise, they sat in thicker sauce that clung beautifully to toast. At 50p, they represent solid mid-range value. Morrisons has created something distinctive here rather than just another Heinz clone – whether that's good depends entirely on your preference for bold flavours.
5. M&S Gave BBQ Vibes – But Missed The Classic Tomato Punch
Leave it to Marks & Spencer to put their posh spin on the humble baked bean. These beans sported a distinctly different flavour profile – slightly smoky with caramelised undertones reminiscent of American BBQ beans.
The sauce was gloriously thick and rich, coating each bean beautifully. What they lacked was that classic tomato sharpness I associate with proper beans on toast.
At £1.25, they're premium-priced but offer something genuinely different. They'd shine alongside a proper fry-up or as a jacket potato topping, but traditional bean lovers might find them too fancy for everyday toast. Sometimes innovation misses the comfort of the familiar.
6. Tesco Beans Had The Firmest Bite – But The Sauce Let Them Down
Tesco's offering surprised me with beans that maintained perfect structural integrity – no mushiness here! Each bean had a satisfying bite that would please texture enthusiasts.
Unfortunately, the sauce wasn't up to the same standard. It lacked personality – neither sweet enough nor tomatoey enough to leave an impression. The colour was also paler than most competitors, giving the whole dish a somewhat anaemic appearance.
Priced at 40p, they're decent value. I'd recommend these for recipes where you don't want beans disintegrating, like bean salads or mixed into pasta dishes. For the classic beans on toast experience, however, they need a sauce upgrade.
7. Sainsbury's Beans Were Almost Great – Until The Aftertaste Kicked In
Sainsbury's beans started strong – visually appealing with a sauce that struck the right balance between thickness and pourability. The initial flavour hit all the right notes: sweet, tangy, properly tomatoey.
Then came the aftertaste. A peculiar metallic note lingered after swallowing, becoming more pronounced with each forkful. I double-checked the tin wasn't damaged, but everything seemed fine.
At 55p, they're mid-range price-wise. Such a shame about that aftertaste because everything else was spot on. Perhaps it was just my batch, but it's hard to recommend these when that strange flavour undermined what could have been a strong contender.
8. Waitrose Played It Mild – A Love-It-Or-Leave-It Kind Of Tin
Waitrose beans emerged as the sophisticated, understated member of the bean family. Their sauce was noticeably less sweet than competitors, with a gentle tomato flavour that whispered rather than shouted.
The beans themselves were smaller than average but cooked to perfect tenderness. There's a subtle hint of herbs in the background – not enough to identify specifically, but adding a certain something.
Priced at 85p, they're in the upper-middle tier. These would appeal to those who find mainstream beans too sweet or artificial-tasting. They're the grown-up choice – refined and restrained – but might seem bland if you're after that classic, punchy bean experience.
9. Asda's Sweet And Saucy Beans Took The Crown
The dark horse of the competition! Asda's beans arrived with zero expectations from me but left having conquered my bean-loving heart. The sauce hit the perfect balance – properly thick, coating each bean and my toast in tomatoey glory.
Flavour-wise, they nailed it with a sweetness that complemented rather than dominated, backed by a proper tomato depth. The beans themselves had just the right firmness – holding their shape while still being tender.
At just 40p, they're astonishingly good value. I genuinely couldn't believe these budget beauties outperformed Heinz in every department. They've completely changed my bean-buying habits – proof that sometimes the underdog delivers the knockout punch.
10. The Final Verdict
After ten tins, countless slices of toast, and a newfound appreciation for the humble baked bean, I've reached my conclusion. Asda's beans are the unexpected champion – delivering perfect texture, flavour and value that even premium brands couldn't match.
Heinz has been trading on its name recognition rather than superior quality. While not bad, they simply don't justify their premium price tag when compared blindly against competitors.
My cupboard will now be stocked with Asda beans for everyday use, with M&S as an occasional treat when I want something different. This experiment proves that sometimes the best products aren't the ones with famous names or fancy packaging.
Comments
No Comments