Griller thrillers for your bank holiday barbie
FINGERS crossed the sunshine will show up for the bank holiday weekend.
If it does make an appearance next weekend, grab the chance to fire up the barbie and feast with friends and family. Even if it rains, you can grill inside. We have put barbecue faves from 10 supermarkets to the test so you don’t get a bun deal on burgers.
From Asda’s quirky donut beefburgers with a hole in the middle, and Tesco’s new brisket burgers to Marks and Spencer’s boastful Our Best Ever burgers, here’s our verdict on which were a sizzling success and which were flaming awful. * All prices correct at time of going to press
Finest 2 Ultimate Brisket And Chuck Burgers (340g) £2.50, Tesco
Really chunky burgers that took the longest time to grill (28 mins) and gave off quite a bit of fat. But the meat was well seasoned and tasty. A good, firm, densely packed burger – but just a little on the greasy side.
Verdict: Satisfying 8/10
Deluxe 2 Ultimate Aberdeen Angus Beef Steak Burgers (340g) £2.19, Lidl
Loosely packed with meat, they had very little taste and were on the greasy side. And we kept finding nasty bits like gristle plus a tiny hard white particle that we thought was bone. That was enough to make us bin the burgers and stick to the salad bowl.
Verdict: Ultimately disappointing 3/10
Specially Selected The Perfect Burger (340g) £2.49, Aldi
Very lightly seasoned so they tasted a little bland and we also found they were rather chewy. But they are two goodsized patties that fit snugly inside a bun. To boost the taste, it helps if you add a slice of cheese and a large dollop of ketchup.
Verdict: Fell short of the title 6/10
4 Black Garlic Hereford Burgers (454g) £4.30, Waitrose
These cooked to a deep brown colour and were melt-in-the-mouth glorious. Rich with a rounded, slightly sweet caramel taste, the garlic was a genius addition and all four patties were gone in a flash. With all the elements to build the ideal burger, this was mouthwatering perfection.
Verdict: A taste trip 10/10
Irresistible Hereford 2 Beefburgers (340g) £3.20, The Co-op
Done in 20 mins, they cooked well and were perfectly seasoned, tender and juicy. Easy to eat without any extras, the succulent patties were near perfect but the final mouthful of gristle let them down at the end.
Verdict: Tasty, even when naked 9/10
The Best 2 Beef Burgers With Bone Marrow (340g) £3, Morrisons
Smelled very meaty as they cooked and didn’t shrink much. Set the barbie on fire a few times as quite a lot of liquid oozed out during cooking. While they looked appetising, we didn’t like the consistency and slightly bitter taste or how greasy they were.
Verdict: Chewy and gritty 4/10
2 Donut Beefburgers (280g) £1.97, Asda
We loved the innovative shape with a hole in the middle, which made them perfect for bagels. The lightly seasoned patties were soft and easy to eat and we enjoyed them. But while they had the looks, they lacked that extra pizzazz in the taste department.
Verdict: Missing something 7/10
Our Best Ever Burger With Cheese (2 pack/340g) £4, Marks and Spencer
Cooked to a perfect, even brown and stayed the same, chunky size. Tasted of quality steak with just the right hint of seasoning – even without the addition of the new cheesy, mustard melt that turns it into the ultimate burger. One of the most expensive but worth it. Verdict: How a burger should be 10/10
2 Ultimate 5oz Brisket Burgers (284g) £2.25, Iceland
These had to be fried, which was unexpected and a little messy as they gave off a fair bit of fat that splattered everywhere. They were too salty for us and we were totally put off by the amount of fat that oozed out each time we took a bite. We couldn’t manage more than a couple of mouthfuls. Verdict: Unappetising 3/10
Taste The Difference 2 British Beef Steak Burgers (340g) £2.50, Sainsbury’s
Created a few flames on the barbecue as they oozed a bit while cooking but they only shrank a little. Looked, smelled and tasted really good – just succulent meaty chunks with no nasty gristly extras.
Verdict: Very tasty 9/10