M&S and Waitrose beat budget rivals in Good Housekeeping’s annual Christmas taste test

FROZEN TURKEYS AND CROWNS (11 TESTED)

Winner: M&S British Stuffed Oakham Turkey Crown, £28 for 2kg. 92/100

Runner-Up: Aldi Specially Selected Stuffed Turkey Crown, £17.99 for 1.8-2.3kg. 88/100

GRAVY (11 TESTED)

Winner: M&S Onion Gravy, £2 for 350g. 81/100

Runner-Up: Aah! Bisto Onion Gravy Granules, £1.50 for 170g. 77/100

MEAT STUFFING (14 TESTED)

Joint Winners: Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference 6 Pork, Chestnut & Bacon Stuffing Parcels, £7 for 252g. 82/100

Farmison & Co Free Range Pork, Plum Pudding & Apple Brandy Stuffing, £6.95 for 450g. 82/100

Runner-Up: Pipers Farm Sage and Onion Stuffing, £11.90 for 500g. 80/100

Bleiker’s Smokehouse, Yorkshire Peat Smoked Salmon (pictured) is the best traditional smoked salmon 

PIGS IN BLANKETS (15 TESTED)

Winner: Farmison & Co Luxury Chestnut, Sage and Apricot Pigs In Blankets, £7.95 for 300g. 86/100

Runner-Up: M&S British Outdoor Bred Pork 12 Pigs in Blankets wrapped in Oak Smoked Bacon, £3.50 for 282g. 84/100

TRADITIONAL SMOKED SALMON (15 TESTED)

Winner: Bleiker’s Smokehouse, Yorkshire Peat Smoked Salmon, £3 for 100g. 87/100

Runner-Up: ASDA Mild & Delicate Smoked Salmon, £4 for 120g. 84/100

FLAVOURED SMOKED SALMON (11 TESTED)

Winner: Booths Gravadlax Smoked Salmon, £6 for 100g. 95/100

Runner-Up: Bleiker’s Scotch Whisky Smoked Salmon, £3 for 100g. 82/100

MEAT FREE MAINS (12 tested)

Winner: Lidl 2 Caramelised Onion & Goat’s Cheese Tartlets, £1.69 for 240g. 82/100

Runner-Up: Waitrose & Partners Vegan Festive Swirls, £6.99 for 481g. 79/100

MINCE PIES (15 TESTED)

Winner: Costa Coffee All Butter Mince Pie, £2 for one mince pie. 90/100

Runner-Up: Iceland Luxury 6 Mince Pies, £1.89 for pack of six. 87/100

GLUTEN-FREE MINCE PIES (11 TESTED)

Winner: Costa Coffee Gluten Free Mince Pie, £2 for one mince pie. 73/100

Runner-Up: M&S Made Without Gluten Free 4 Mince Pies, £2.50 for 205g. 72/100

MINCE PIES WITH A TWIST (12 TESTED)

Winner: PAUL Mince Pie Croissant, £2.65 for 116g. 92/100

Runner-Up: Waitrose & Partners 9 Mini Mince Pies Selection, £3 for 240g. 86/100

CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS (13 TESTED)

Winner: M&S Vintage Christmas Pudding, £15 for 800g. 92/100

Runners-Up: Daylesford Organic Traditional Christmas Pudding, £20 for 900g. 87/100

CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS WITH A TWIST (8 TESTED)

Winner: Sainsburys Taste the Difference Salted Maple & Pecan Christmas Pudding, £6 for 400g. 86/100

Runners-Up: M&S Collection Chocolate & Orange Pudding, £12 for 700g. 84/100

CHRISTMAS CAKE (15 TESTED)

Winner: Waitrose & Partners No.1 Richly Fruited Christmas Cake, £16 for 1.3kg. 82/100

Runner-Up: M&S Christmas Collection Christmas Cake, £10 for 907g. 75/100

YULE LOG (11 TESTED)

Winner: Waitrose & Partners Christmas Chocolate Yule Log, £5 for 825g. 81/100

Runner-Up: M&S Woodland Yule Log, £20 for 1.05kg. 80/100

DESSERT CENTREPIECE (13 TESTED)

Winner: Morrisons The Best Chocolate Orange Pudding, £6 for 500g. 86/100

Joint Runner-Up: Aldi Specially Selected Golden Twist Sticky Toffee Pudding, £5.99 for 700g. 82/100

Joint Runner-Up: 82/100 Co-op Truly Irresistible Fully Loaded Billionaires Dessert, £6.00 for 600g

CHAMPAGNE (11 TESTED)

Winner: Waitrose & Partners Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut NV Champagne, £23.99 for 75cl. 84/100

Runner-Up: Aldi Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut, £12.69 for 75cl. 81/100

PROSECCO (11 TESTED)

Winner: Ocado Abbazia Fiorino Prosecco d.o.c., £9.99 for 75cl. 90/100

Runner-Up: Aldi Organic Prosecco, £7.99 for 75cl. 87/100

FESTIVE LIQUORS (14 TESTED)

Winner: Tesco Finest Gingerbread latte Irish Cream Liquor, £10 for 70cl. 90/100

Runner-Up: M&S Luxurious Chocolate Salted Caramel Brownie Cream, £12 for 70cl. 84/100

PRE MIXED NEGRONI (8 TESTED)

Winner: Primo Aperitivo, Primo Aperitivo Negroni, £27 for 50cl. 83/100

Runner-Up: Master of Malt Sacred Negroni, £29.95 for 70cl. 81/100

VINTAGE PORT (8 TESTED)

Winner: Graham’s LBV 2015 – Bicentenary Edition, £13.99 for 70cl. 85/100

Runner-Up: Cálem LBV 2015, £20.29 for 70cl. 79/100

RUBY AND CRUSTED PORT (11 TESTED)

Winner: Adnams Finest Reserve Port, £13.99 for 70cl. 85/100

Runner-Up: Rozes Port Ruby, £12.99 for 70cl. 81/100