Beans doesn't have to mean Heinz. You can save on this store-cupboard staple without compromising on flavour by going for a cheap supermarket tin instead. Heinz baked beans may have been around for more than 130 years, but the iconic brand didn't stand out in our taste tests. In fact, most supermarket own-brands scored higher, with two cheaper cans impressing our panel of baked bean enthusiasts beyond all others. If you swap from Heinz, and get through around two tins a week, this switch could save you nearly £100 per year. The baked beans were assessed in February 2023 by a large panel of consumers who regularly buy and consume baked beans. The make-up of the panel broadly represents the demographic profile of adults in the UK. Each brand of baked bean was assessed by 82 people. The panellists rated the taste, texture, aroma and appearance of each brand of baked beans and told us what they liked and disliked about each one. The taste test was blind, so the panellists didn’t know which brand they were trying. The order in which they sampled the beans was fully rotated to avoid any bias. Each panellist had a private booth, so they couldn’t discuss what they were tasting or be influenced by others.
