HP Baked Beans, 24X415g

Product Information

Waitrose Essential Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce (55p/400g) – 71% Which? said: "The texture of the sauce was just right according to most, but they were thought to be too weakly flavoured by nearly half our panel. Around a third also found the beans too firm and not sweet enough. The only fault I could find was the price, as it was one of the most expensive options on the list. However, on balance, I think it's work paying a little extra for the delicious flavour.

Unfortunately, Co-op's beans didn't quite hit the mark for me. Once again, I found the texture a little soft and the sauce quite runny - a theme which appeared among many of the cheaper supermarket own-brand versions.Lidl Newgate Baked Beans (45p/420g) – 72% Which? said:"These split our panel. Half loved the flavour, but the rest found it either too weak or too strong. Most agreed that the texture of both beans and sauce was about right, though." Most baked bean brands have low-sugar/low-salt versions, so you may want to give them a try if you're watching your intake. We only included standard versions in our taste test to ensure products were comparable. The highest scoring branded beans were Branston, which came a middling joint-fourth place and were second-most expensive. Heinz and HP came joint-fifth, ahead of only Sainsbury's, Co-op and M&S. Drain the white beans and put them in a large pan. Cover with water and bring to the boil. Drain again and return to the pan. Cover with water and cook for approximately one hour, or until just soft. Remove from the heat and drain.

You’re not alone, this is a not an uncommon problem. From Fine Cooking: “Some beans refuse to soften. You can soak them overnight and then simmer them all day long, and they’re still hard as pebbles. The main causes of this are age and improper storage.” Which? asked a panel of consumers to blind-taste and rate 12 different brands of baked beans, from Heinz, Branston and KP to Aldi, Tesco, Lidl and more.

Sainsbury's was one of the cheapest options but sadly had everything I dislike in a baked bean. I found the sauce was watery and sweet, with no detectable tomato flavour. The beans were among the smallest I tried, and whilst the texture was ok, it left me feeling underwhelmed. They may be a hit for those who prefer their baked beans a little sweeter, but for me the thin, sugary sauce didn't hit the spot. While we are clearly obsessed with this beloved comfort food, many would argue there's not much that can beat a generous serving of beans on toast. This classic dish feels like home, stirring childhood memories of inhaling the dish in record time and inevitably spilling bean juice down your jumper in the process. Reena Sewraz of Which? said: “Our latest taste tests reveal that supermarket own-label baked beans have beaten the established brands including Heinz, and the great news for shoppers is that the winning products cost less than half the price compared to the offerings from some rivals. Many households are looking for ways to cut their spending due to the ongoing cost of living crisis. Opting for supermarket own-label groceries is not only a great way to save money, but you often get tastier products as well.”

Beans no longer has to mean Heinz for cost-conscious shoppers, who preferred supermarket brands - some costing much less than half the price - to the market leader. Many households are looking for ways to cut their spending due to the ongoing cost of living crisis. Opting for supermarket own-label groceries is not only a great way to save money, but you often get tastier and better quality products as well."As they are a fixture of most UK households, we decided to put several supermarkets' offerings to the test, and it was no easy task. I tried nine tins of baked beans over the course of several days, which had an impressive combined weight of more than 2.4kg. Do you have a Power of Attorney? MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis explains how this crucial protection works, why it's more important than a will, and how to get one in the latest episode of ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show Live.