Baked beans, a staple in many British households, are not only packed with fibre and protein, but can also be a cost-effective lunch option. However, the price of this pantry essential varies greatly across different stores.
A tin from a well-known brand could set you back about £1.40, while most supermarket own-brands hover around the 40p mark. This means that by switching to supermarket brands, you could save approximately £100 annually.
Besides being budget-friendly, half a tin of baked beans on a jacket potato or toast can provide a reasonably nutritious meal. On average, half a tin contains roughly 180 calories, along with about 5g of fibre and 10g of sugar.
Even Professor Tim Spector, co-founder of nutrition brand ZOE and a critic of ultra-processed foods, concedes that he’s “not against” baked beans. Speaking on the Exhibit A podcast with Abbey Clancy, he said: “Baked beans are a really good source of protein. I’m not against people eating a can of baked beans if they pick one that doesn’t have too much sugar in the sauce.”
With all these factors considered, I decided to embark on a quest to find the best supermarket baked bean. Here’s how it went:
Waitrose Duchy Organic Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce (£1, 420g)
Nutritional information per half can: 182 cal, 1.1g fat, 0.2g saturates, 9.2g sugar, 1.11g salt.
The Duchy Organic Baked Beans certainly top the price chart amongst supermarket offerings, but bargain-hunters can also find a more budget-friendly 55p essentials version. When you purchase these beans, you’ll be aiding the Prince of Wales’s charities, giving your lunchtime that added feel-good factor.
The tin itself has a bit more heft than others, weighing in at a substantial 420g. Upon pouring them out, it was evident that the weight came from the beans themselves which adorned the bread and spilled over the sides of the plate.
While some may prefer a thicker tomato base, the quality suggests considerable care went into this product’s creation. RATING: 8/10.
In contrast, Lidl’s Newgate Baked Beans in Rich Tomato Sauce present a decent proposition at just 42p for a 425ml tin. Drenched onto the toast with a liberal serving of sauce, they certainly make for a hearty meal.
However, the herby flavour might not be to everyone’s taste – perhaps due to the “basil extract” listed on the label. If herbs are your thing, you might appreciate these, though those looking for a punchier taste may be left wanting.
RATING: 8/10.
Sainsbury’s Baked Beans (40p, 400g)
This tin remains competitive at 40p for 400g. With half a can containing 168 calories, 0.9g of fat, 0.2g of saturates, 8.5g of sugar and 1.05g of salt, these beans deliver a straightforward option for those who value simplicity.
My initial impression was that the Sainsbury’s offering was rather saucy. However, once combined with my toast, it worked quite well and seemed to pack a bit more of a punch than some of the early tests.
The rich sauce was enjoyable, made with tomatoes instead of puree which appears to be a common cost-cutting choice. A quick look at the ingredients revealed the inclusion of paprika powder and extract, which was a pleasant surprise at lunchtime.
The beans felt perhaps a little firmer than some of the other cans though. It wasn’t at the top of my list for taste, but the price boosted its rating.
RATING: 6/10.
Tesco Baked Beans (42p, 420g)
Tesco’s offering had a thick, strong-coloured sauce that spread across the toast. Overall, it was a solid can of beans, slightly heavier than some of the others too, something that would inevitably please the bean counters.
A quick look at the ingredients – something I became surprisingly passionate about during my taste test – found the presence of clove and capiscum extract. But also the welcome sight of paprika, which seems to elevate the bean to the next level.
RATING: 8/10.
Asda Baked Beans in a Rich Tomato Sauce (42p, 410g)
Nutritional information per half can: 187 cal, 1g fat, 0.2g saturates, 8.6g sugar, 0.96g salt.
After becoming an accidental connoisseur of beans and having the habit of checking labels after the first taste, I was delighted to discover that the faint spiciness was once again thanks to a dash of paprika.
When I served up the Asda beans, the vivid bright orange sauce immediately caught my eye, prompting me to think “solid looking beans”.
My initial impressions were confirmed upon eating – this was indeed a quality tin of beans, although it didn’t quite match some competitors in weight.
RATING: 9/10.
Aldi’s Bramwells Baked Beans (41p, 410g)
Aldi’s option seemed a reliable pick straight out of the tin, balancing sauce and beans well. It was no shock that these baked beans had previously topped a Which? taste test amongst big-brand names.
If I needed to save pennies and pass off a brand without detection, Aldi would likely be my top choice. The only drawback for me was an overly sweet flavour profile, as my tastes increasingly favour those with a paprika twist.
Consequently, the sweetness levels here were noted as slightly higher than others.
RATING: 7/10
Morrison’s Baked Beans (45p, 410g)
On the plate, the nutritional facts were on par with expectations – amidst a competitive scene of sugar and salt content, their offering presented a commendable option.
The first thing that struck me about the Morrisons beans was that they were the only tin to feature two yellow indicators on the nutritional traffic light system, with both sugar and salt exceeding the green threshold. Most cans, on the other hand, were yellow for salt and green for the remaining categories.
It was also the most expensive can of beans outside of Waitrose, albeit by a small margin. The beans boasted a vibrant red sauce as they spread across the bread.
Overall, they perhaps weren’t to my liking, possibly a tad too sweet.
RATING: 7/10
Lidl’s Newgate Baked Beans in Rich Tomato Sauce (42p, 425ml)
Nutritional information per half can: 197 cal, 1.5g fat, 0.4g saturates, 10.3g sugar, 1.05g salt
The Lidl Newgate beans looked a very solid choice at first. Beans spilled out onto the toast with a generous dollop of sauce seeping through the soft middle.
Although, they were maybe a little bit herby for my taste. That appears as though it could be a hint of “basil extract” in the ingredients. If you’re a herb lover, this one may be for you, but I was hoping for a bit more of a kick.
RATING: 4/10
Verdict:
After a week of testing the best own-brand offerings from supermarkets, it was Asda’s 42p can that emerged victorious. It wasn’t overly sweet and had a robust kick from the rich tomato sauce.
While it may have been slightly more calorific than some of the other baked beans on the market, it contained less sugar, which is always a plus for those mindful of their health. And while I wouldn’t necessarily recommend having beans on toast for lunch every working day, it did provide a solid mid-day meal.
What does the NHS say about baked beans?
According to the NHS website, around three heaped teaspoons of baked beans constitute a portion, which is actually only about a fifth of a tin. The British Heart Foundation, on the other hand, states that half a 400g tin or a 200g tin counts as a portion.
The BHF advises choosing a baked bean variety that is low in salt and sugar where possible.