Tinned tuna in spring water is a store cupboard staple, and can be used in a wide range of dishes from pasta bakes to salads. But how do the own-brand versions from UK supermarkets compare?
Tuna, a food rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids and essential vitamins, is a versatile ingredient. Its mild, meaty flavour pairs well with various seasonings and cooking methods, making it a great choice for a quick summer meal.
Recently, I conducted a taste test of tinned tuna in spring water from supermarkets including Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, Lidl, Aldi, M&S and Waitrose to see how they compared to each other and to the popular brand John West. The results were both surprising and intriguing, reports the Express.
Waitrose – £1.25 per tin
Waitrose’s tuna was meaty, tasted fresh and was delicious despite lacking slightly in flavour.
When combined with mayonnaise, this tuna proved to be quite delicious compared to some of the others tested.
Score: 9/10
M&S – £1.30 per tin
M&S’ tinned tuna was the second-most expensive in the taste test, but it wasn’t anything special.
While Waitrose’s tuna was meatier, M&S’ was slightly more watery, but still tasty when mixed with mayo.
Score: 6/10
John West – £2 per tin
I thought I would be able to taste John West’s tuna a mile away, as I’ve been eating it my whole life, but I was shocked.
It was flavoursome, but a bit too watery and lacked enough chunky tuna in the tin for my liking.
Score: 7/10
Lidl – prices vary
Lidl’s tuna came last in the taste test as it was salty, had a metallic flavour and was very mushy.
This one tasted very artificial, and there wasn’t enough meat in the tin at all. In fact, even my cats wouldn’t touch this tuna.
Score: 1/10
Aldi – prices vary
Similarly, Aldi’s was slightly too salty for me compared to the other ones I tried, but it wasn’t awful.
When mixed with mayonnaise, it tasted very similar to some of the others in the taste test, but it didn’t require extra salting.
Morrisons – 95p per tin
Morrisons’ tuna was tasty and had proper chunks of meat in the tin, and overall was nice.
Score: 8/10
Tesco – 65p per tin
The tinned tuna in spring water from Tesco had slightly more flavour than others in the taste test, but it was slightly too salty.
After rinsing away a little of the salty water, this tuna was delicious in a salad.
Score: 7/10
Asda – 72p per tin
I wasn’t that keen on Asda’s tuna compared to the others in the taste test, but it wasn’t horrible.
It had decent chunks of meat, but I found the flavour to be off compared to the others.
Score: 5/10
Sainsbury’s – 65p a tin
Sainsbury’s won the taste test for me with proper chunks of tuna, a great flavour and not too much water.
It was scrumptious and paired perfectly with my tuna pasta.
Score: 10/10