Latest news with #LYNSEYHOPE
Scottish Sun
28-05-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
I tried supermarket Cornish pasties – my 99p own-brand winner tastes better and is cheaper than Ginsters
Plus we reveal more ways you can save on your supermarket shop UPPER CRUST I tried supermarket Cornish pasties – my 99p own-brand winner tastes better and is cheaper than Ginsters Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A WHOPPING 120 million Cornish pasties are baked every year in the UK, making them one of the nation's favourite snacks. Genuine bakes must be made in the namesake country, contain at least 12.5 per cent beef and 25 per cent root veg. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 We tested a whole range of pasties Credit: Oliver Dixon But not all of us can make it to the South West to try one, so how do the supermarket options measure up? LYNSEY HOPE finds out: Ginsters Original Cornish Pasty (227g) £1.95 (£1.95 each) Nutrition: 597 calories, 35g fat, 3.7g sugar, 2.1g salt 9 Ginsters had a staggering 35g fat Credit: Oliver Dixon Lynsey says: "Given the high price and the somewhat shocking calorie, fat and sugar content, I didn't want to like these. "But I did. "There was a good filling with 15% British beef as well as the traditional potato, swede and onion. "It was big with a staggering 35g fat and nearly 600 calories - and very filling - definitely a meal as opposed to a snack. "The pastry was rich and flavoursome though I didn't like the added turmeric. "Why mess with a classic?" Taste: 4/5 Value: 4/5 Overall score: 8/10 Shopping discounts - How to make savings and find the best bargains Tesco Cornish Pasties (520g) £2.50 for 4 (62.5p each) Nutrition: 364 calories, 23.3g fat, 9.5g fat, 2.6g sugar, 0.98g fat 9 Lynsey said: "A crowd-pleasing family pack for a good price" Credit: Oliver Dixon Lynsey says: "These pasties came out smelling very appetising and they had a lovely pepperiness on the tongue. "They are huge, proper wedges, and I liked the flakiness of the puff pastry. "There's a good helping of beef at 18 per cent and these had one of the highest levels of swede, at nine per cent. "A crowd-pleasing family pack for a good price." Taste: 4/5 Value: 5/5 Overall score: 9/10 Asda Cornish Pasties (520g) £2.74 for 4 (68.5p each) Nutrition: 364 calories, 23g fat, 2.3g sugar, 0.86g salt 9 The pasties were 18% beef Credit: Asda Lynsey says: 'Not the tastiest but they are good value and they are filled with a generous 18 per cent beef. "The filling was dense but a lot of it was onion and it was definitely lacking in swede. "It's alright for a meal or snack but I fear pasty purists would not like this.' Taste: 2/5 Value: 2/5 Overall score: 4/10 Morrisons Cornish Pasties (520g) £3.20 (80p each) Nutrition: 373 calories, 25.1g fat, 2.1g sugar, 1.16g salt 9 Morrisons' pasties could have had more vegetables Credit: Oliver Dixon Lynsey says: "Very similar to the Tesco pasties with a generous 19 per cent beef. "The pastry was well cooked and they gave a nice peppery hit on the tongue. "Perhaps too much spud - I'd have preferred more vegetables. "Whilst there was seven per cent swede, there was no carrot that I could detect and too much onion. "Overly salty, too. "Over 17p more each than the Tesco pasties and not as nice." Taste: 3/5 Value: 3/5 Overall score: 6/10 M&S Cornish Pasties (300g) £3.50 for 2 (£1.75 each) 9 Lynsey said: "It was incredibly tasty" Credit: Oliver Dixon Lynsey says: 'Unlike lots of other pasties we tried, this one was made with flaky pastry. "It was a little fragile with lots of pastry breaking off when I tried to heat it in the oven. "It was incredibly tasty though. "The pastry was well-baked and the pasty itself was generously filled with heaps of meat, potato and swede. "The meat is beef skirt, as per the traditional recipe, which made this juicy and lovely. "Pricey - but a cut above the other supermarket options.' Taste: 5/5 Value: 4/5 Overall score: 9/10 Aldi Crestwood Beef and Vegetable Pasty (200g) 69p for 1 (69p each) Nutrition: 544 calories, 28.5g fat, 3.1g sugar, 1.55g salt 9 Aldi's filling was bland and sloppy Credit: Oliver Dixon Lynsey says: 'Aldi's pasty has a Devon 'crimp' which means it is sealed on the top rather than traditional Cornish-style on the side. "It looks great, very substantial and you can't argue with the price. "But the filling was bland and sloppy. "It was lacking meaty flavour and the chunky texture you'd expect. "Although there was 17 per cent beef, it was potato heavy and the carrots and swede inside were a bit mulchy. "Very high in fat and calorific too." Taste: 2/5 Value: 3/5 Overall score: 5/10 How to save money on your supermarket shop THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop. You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they've been reduced. If the food is fresh, you'll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time. Making a list should also save you money, as you'll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket. Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too. This means ditching "finest" or "luxury" products and instead going for "own" or value" type of lines. Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they're misshapen or imperfect. For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50. If you're on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too. Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund. Waitrose Mini Cornish Pasties (180g) £3.75 for 6 (63.5p each) Nutrition: 90 calories, 5.60g fat, 0.60g sugar, 0.19g salt 9 Waitrose's pasties come to 63.5p each Credit: Oliver Dixon Lynsey says: "Little pockets of delicious pastry but filled with air. "The filling was nice but there was really only a teaspoon in each one. "I enjoyed them immensely and loved the tiny size for a snack. "They were incredibly moreish and I kept eating one every time I opened the fridge. "I liked the meaty flavour of the beef and there was lots of swede. "Whilst they contained palm oil like many of the others, it was sustainable. "However, for the price, I'd have liked them to be fuller." Taste: 4/5 Value: 3/5 Overall score: 7/10 Lidl Chef Select Cornish Pasty (200g) 99p (99p each) Nutrition: 597 calories, 35g fat, 3.7g sugar, 2.1g salt 9 Lynsey said "you could easily make a meal out of this" Credit: Oliver Dixon Lynsey says: "Lidl's pasty was hefty and one of the most appetising on offer. "After 20 minutes in the oven, the pastry was really nice and flaky and the filling was hearty and flavoursome. "The meat was tender and not chewy and there as no gristle. "Surprisingly, it was more expensive for a single pasty than many others, but it was huge so I still felt for less than a £1 it was excellent value for money. "You could easily make a meal out of this." Taste: 5/5 Value: 5/5 Overall score: 10/10 Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? 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The Sun
30-04-2025
- General
- The Sun
I tried Magnum supermarket dupes and a 47p winner are as good as the real deal and cheaper than Aldi and Lidl
PARTS of Britain are set to bask in temperatures of 29C this week - so a nice ice cream might cool you down. A Wall's Magnum is la crème de la crème but as they cost significantly more than most supermarket rivals, are they worth it? 6 A three pack will now set you back £3.50 - 25p more than even last year - and twice now, Magnums have also been outed for shrinkflation. A year ago, the ice cream was downsized from 110 to 100ml and then this year, it reduced the number in the pack from four to three whilst keeping the price the same. This effectively bumps the price of each ice cream up by a third. You can pick them up for less than 50p each at Lidl. But do they stack up on taste? LYNSEY HOPE finds out: Magnum Classic £3.50 (£1.16 each) Nutrition: 231 calories, 14g fat, 20g sugar Lynsey says: "Deliciously thick chocolate which is the making of the Magnum for me and why these ice creams are such a hit. "The vanilla ice cream is creamy and perfectly sweet. Whilst delicious, they used to have branding on the chocolate which has disappeared so it's actually quite hard to tell them apart from the own brands. "They are actually a little smaller than most at 100ml, rather than 110ml, so not only are they more expensive but you're getting less for your money." Taste: 8/10 Value: 4/10 Overall score: 12/20 Milk Chocolate Ice Creams by Sainsbury's £1.86 for 4 (46.5p each) Nutrition: 247 calories, 15.9g fat, 18.5g sugar 6 Lynsey says: "You get in four in the pack at Sainsbury's which makes these brilliant value, costing less than 50p each. "Exceptional value, beating even Lidl and Aldi on price per lolly. The chocolate on these Sainsbury's ice creams isn't quite as luxurious as the Magnum Classic, but it has a lovely smooth flavour and isn't too rich. "It's quite thin but moreish. The ice cream has a strong vanilla flavour, which dominates and they are a good size at 110ml each." Taste: 9/10 Value: 10/10 Overall score: 20/20 Tesco Milk Chocolate Ice Creams £2.10 (70p each) Nutrition: 229 calories, 14.1g fat, 18.5g sugar Lynsey says: "The chocolate on the Tesco ice creams was too thick and I didn't like the texture or flavour. "The chocolate was overpowering, almost burnt tasting. The ice cream was too dense and heavy. "They've also jumped in price from 45p in 2023 to 53p in 2024 and they are now 70p each. They are a good size, at 110ml, but probably my least favourite." Taste: 3/10 Value: 4/10 Overall score: 7/20 Lidl Bon Gelati Ice Creams £2.85 for 6 (47.5p each) Nutrition: 268 calories, 17.1g fat, 22g sugar Lynsey says: 'Not only are Lidl's ice creams the most generous in size at 120ml, they are amongst the best value too. "They had a lovely aroma as I tore off the wrapper, the chocolate was the thickest and the ice cream was creamy with just the right hint of vanilla. "They didn't melt too quickly and I Ioved the texture too. A worthy winner.' Taste: 10/10 Value: 10/10 Overall score: 20/20 How to save money on your supermarket shop THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop. You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they've been reduced. If the food is fresh, you'll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time. Making a list should also save you money, as you'll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket. Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too. This means ditching "finest" or "luxury" products and instead going for "own" or value" type of lines. Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they're misshapen or imperfect. For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50. If you're on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too. Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund. M&S Chocolate Sticks £2.40 for 3 (80p each) Nutrition: 229 calories, 13.5g fat, 22.5g sugar Lynsey says: "I really loved the flavour of the M&S ice creams. The ice cream was milky and creamy without being too sweet. "The chocolate was thinner than others but it had a nice 'snap' and a rich, decadent flavour. "These really melted in the mouth. Again they are smaller than others at 100ml per ice cream - and more expensive." Taste: 9/10 Value: 5/10 Overall score: 14/20 Asda Milk Chocolate Ice Creams £2.10 for 3 (70p each) Nutrition: 230calories, 14g fat, 19g sugar Lynsey says: "Loved the chocolate on the Asda dupes, which was thick with a creamy and rich flavour. It really melted in the mouth. "However, the ice cream tasted a little watery and this let them down. "They are a good size at 110ml but they've also gone up quite a lot in price, now costing 70p each. "Reasonable value compared to the big brand but Sainsbury's and Aldi both offered better value for money." Taste: 5/10 Value: 4/10 Overall score: 9/20 Aldi Gianni's Milk Chocolate Ice Creams £1.99 for 4 (49.7p each) Per ice cream: 234 calories, 13.6g fat, 18g sugar, 0.11g salt 6 Lynsey says: "Quite close to the Magnum in texture, with a smooth and dense ice cream which tasted lovely but was less sweet. "The chocolate was a little grainy, but it had a nice flavour and just the right snap as you took a bite. "One of the lowest in sugar and fat too, so that's a bonus. At just 49.7p per ice cream, these are a bargain." Taste: 9/10 Value: 10/10 Overall score: 19/20
The Sun
29-04-2025
- General
- The Sun
I tried supermarket marmalade – a 99p own-brand winner tastes better than M&S and Aldi
MARMALADE has been in decline with most households preferring nut butters or Nutella on their morning toast. Not even the release of the Paddington movies has helped sales. 10 And those who do buy it are mainly over 65, making up around 60% sales. However, we think younger generations are missing out. There's nothing better than a deliciously tangy marmalade on your morning toast and it's cheap, too. LYNSEY HOPE finds out which taste the best, and which ones you might want to leave on the shelf. Morrisons Fine Cut Orange Marmalade (420g) 79p 19p per 100g Lynsey says: "Very amber in colour, this had an alright flavour but it was lacking in peel. "There is only 20g of fruit per 100g in this jar and the peel that was there was a little thick and got stuck between the teeth, which I didn't enjoy. "I thought the marmalade was overly sweet and sugary and lacking in bitterness. The price is good." The Granny Cool marmalade that was rejected by Dragons Den but now sells worldwide Taste: 2/5 Value: 3/5 Total score: 5/10 Wilkin and Sons Limited Old Times Orange Marmalade (340g) £2.60 76.5p per 100g Lynsey says: "Incredibly pretty in colour with a real amber glow. It looks pure and clear but it wasn't as sweet or as bitter as I'd have liked. "There's a generous amount of fruit with 30g per 100g of spread. It's made with Seville oranges and the orange flavour was spot on. Shame it's SO pricey. "Own brand jars were a third of the price." Taste: 4/5 Value: 3/5 Total score: 7/10 Aldi Grandessa Fine Cut Marmalade (454g) 75p 16.5p per 100g Lynsey says: " Aldi is normally a firm favourite for delicious food finds, but this was a disappointment. "It was thick, like a jelly cube and there was no taste of fruit. "The overwhelming taste was sugar. The orange flavour was lacking, there was no bitterness and hardly any peel. "It was the cheapest jar, but it'll likely end up in the bin." Taste: 1/5 Value: 2/5 Total score: 3/10 Asda Tangy Fine Cut Orange Marmalade (454g) 79p 17.4p per 100g Lynsey says: "A lovely amber coloured spread with decent-sized bits of peel included. "It's tangy, mildly bitter and whilst it is quite sugary, there's no nasty glucose fructose syrup, which is sometimes found in cheaper brands. "There is 20g fruit per 100g, and no artificial colours or flavours. It's great value, too." Taste: 4/5 Value: 5/5 Total score: 9/10 How to save money on your supermarket shop THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop. You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they've been reduced. If the food is fresh, you'll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time. Making a list should also save you money, as you'll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket. Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too. This means ditching "finest" or "luxury" products and instead going for "own" or value" type of lines. Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they're misshapen or imperfect. For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50. If you're on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too. Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund. Lidl Maribel Fine Cut Orange Marmalade (450g) 99p 22p per 100g Lynsey says: "An impressive marmalade for the price. The jar was a little smaller so it wasn't as cheap as some supermarkets but this was worth ab it extra. "It contained a generous 35 of fruit per 100g and the ingredients list was simpler than some others containing nothing other than sugar, oranges, water, citric acid and a gelling agent. "It was a thinner consistency than some but I liked the shade of orange and there was just the right amount of peel. "It had a lovely flavour, bitter, but no aftertaste. My favourite jar." Taste: 5/5 Value: 5/5 Total score: 10/10 Tesco Fine Cut Orange Marmalade (454g) 80p 18p per 100g Lynsey says: "A budget offering beaten only by Aldi and Asda on price, but this tasted more like jam. "It had a jelly like consistency and whilst there was a nice orange flavour, it didn't really taste like marmalade at all. "There wasn't enough fruit though it was on a par with some of the other budget jars, containing 20g fruit per 100g spread." Taste: 3/5 Value: 3/5 Total score: 6/10 Essential Waitrose Fine Cut Seville Orange Marmalade (454g) £1 22p per 100g Lynsey says: "A delicious, well-balanced flavour with a generous amount of orange peel that gives a good, bitter kick. "It felt like a good quality spread, and good value. A lovely, spreadable consistency though it could possibly do with a bit more fruity flavour. "At 35% fruit though, there's quite a lot in the mix for your money." Taste: 4/5 Value: 4/5 Total score: 8/10 M&S Seville Orange Marmalade Fine Cut (340g) £2.25 66.2p per 100g Lynsey says: "I had high hopes for the M&S spread given the price and usual M&S quality but this marmalade was too thick and gloopy and it tasted very bitter and overly strong. "It looked very dark compared to the others and there was so much peel it was difficult to spread. "It did contain a very high amount of fruit with 38g per 100g of spread, but this didn't do it any favours." Taste: 2/5 Value: 2/5 Total score: 4/10 Sainsbury's Fine Cut Orange Marmalade (454g) 85p 19p per 100g Lynsey says: "This looks rather luminous in colour but the texture is spot on and it has a good, deep, bittersweet flavour. "It's quite sugary when lathered on toast and has around 26g of fruit per 100g of marmalade. "Overall, inoffensive, easy to eat and a reasonably priced option."
