Baked Beans

[iluvcatz]

I have been a fan of the humble baked bean for many years. I have tried a few brands including the 'value' ones (they are awful). Until now I have always returned to Heinz because I thought they tasted the best, lovely thick sauce. I have recently tried Branston baked beans, they are just so good, now I would not touch any other brand. What are other people's opinion.

[gary baldy]

I dont know if branston still do it but they used to do hp sauce flavour - they were great (although you make it yourself very easily)
Anyway Morrisons do Buttery Beans and they fantastic - my favourite!

[Buenchico]

The reason which is quoted most often (e.g. on Radio 4's Food Programme) for people preferring Heinz beans is that their recipe contains the highest level of sugar. Strangely, though, the actual figures don't seem to agree with this statement. The value brands tend to have more sugar, rather than less. There's a comparison table for various brands here:
http://www.shoppingbill.com/special_report_bakedbeans.ht ml

I rarely eat baked beans per se. They're usually thrown into something like a quicky version of chili con carne, so one brand tends to taste much the same as another. (I do really love Heinz curried beans though). Even when I do use baked beans to accompany a meal, the other flavours are often so strong that I don't really notice the beans (e.g. this evening I had some heavily-smoked back bacon + black pudding & beans. In that combination all baked beans taste much the same!).

Chris

[tobeloy]

I have recently tried the Branston Beans and after being a great fan of heinz and I still am, I think that the Branston are going to give Heinz a run for their money.....I wont be changing permanately but I will have the branston in my cupboard if I fancy a change

It would be nice to know what other Ab`s think??

[Pinotage]

we've changed to the 'reduced sugar & salt' Heinz beans - we love baked beans but find they taste much too sweet. At the weekend the Heinz ones were sold out so I bought Waitrose own brand 'Perfectly balanced baked beans'.

I still had one can of Heinz left at home so I opened one of each and compared them. The Waitrose were the same size, colour and same thickness of sauce and they tasted the same. I couldn't identify any difference, so from now on we'll get the Waitrose as they are considerably cheaper.

[whiffey]

I love beans too, and absolutely agree with you on the new Branston ones.

Also, try Marks and Spencer own brand, my favourite. Pretty can too !

[parkers]

I too was a Heinz only girl for many years, until my friendly milkman left me a small tin of Branston beans as a sample... oh my god they are great... that was about 2 months ago and I haven't touched Heinz since... never thought that I would ever say that !!

[Lonnie]

I'm a Baked Beans lover, never tried the Branstons, but I will now.

[Footbath]

I had a go at a blind tasting run by Branston last year,and picked the wrong one -as far as Branston was concerned,because it tasted too sweet.However although we use quite a few baked beans we usually rinse all the gunge off and use them in casseroles-so the cheaper ones-Lidl -work just as well

[Narolines]

Another vote for Waitrose Perfectly Balanced - most others (including Heinz) taste far too sweet for my liking. What is it these days with all food having to be sweet, by the way? It's very difficult to find a decent piccalilli because they're nearly all sweeter than they used to be ("New Improved " - oh yeah? Says who?); bread's getting sweeter, like American bread (always tastes to me as though someone's spread sugar on it) so I make my own a lot of the time; sauces, ketchups & pickles generally are loaded with sugar; everything has to be "honey-drenched" or "sweet and tasty" - NO! "Sweet" and "tasty" are NOT synonyms! There, I feel better for that! Oh, it was beans we were discussing, wasn't it.....?

[Solarjunkie]

Tesco value beans are made by Heinz - same beanz, just thinner sauce. Perfectly good for adding to casseroles! I don't know if Tesco's "ordinary" beas are Heinz though - does anyone?

[Pinotage]

Fans of Branston Beans might like to know they are a half price in Morrisons, thats 20p a can

[whiffey]

Continuing the bean discussion, whenever I have beans, I always cover them with loads of white pepper and have hot chilli sauce and salad cream with the meal as well, so I'm probably missing any nuances of sugar content.