MEATY MAINS

BEST BEEF WELLINGTON Waitrose Entertaining beef wellington

£60 (1.42kg) The pretty lattice design looks special and cuts nicely. The pastry is crisp and encases a generous piece of beef and large chunks of seasoned mushroom. It also has good red wine flavour.

BEST CRANBERRY SAUCE Waitrose & Partners

cranberry sauce £2.25 (300g)

A stand-out winner, this loose-textured sauce is mild and not too sweet. Tart, whole cranberries balance the flavour to make it a good all-rounder.

BEST PIGS IN BLANKETS

Asda Extra Special 10 pigs in blankets

£2.25 (210g) Crisp, smoky bacon evenly coats mini sausages, which bake to darkly golden perfection. The sausages are well-seasoned, with salt and smoke, and don’t dry out during baking. BEST GAMMON (not pictured)

Lidl Deluxe mulled wine gammon joint £9.99 (1.2kg) With the best all-round flavour and texture, this has subtle smoky flavour that’s salty without being overpowering. The festive glaze tastes homemade, and it can be served hot or cold, so any leftovers make great sandwiches.

BEST GRAVY

M&S Collection turkey gravy

£4 (500g) Described by the judges as the gravy closest to tasting homemade, this has a strong poultry flavour, good consistency and an attractive, dark golden colour with plenty of glossy shine.

BEST ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS MAIN Sainbury’s Taste the Difference outdoor-bred

British pork rib roast £10.50 (1.45kg) Voted by judges as almost better than turkey for Christmas, this has succulent meat thanks to being cooked on the bone. The highlight is the great crackling: wonderfully crisp and crunchy, it protects the flavoursome meat underneath.

BEST TURKEY CENTREPIECE

M&S The Perfect Turkey Joint

£45 (2kg) Here’s a centrepiece worthy of the Christmas table. The turkey is moist (even when it goes cold, so ideal for Boxing Day leftovers), with crisp, flavourful bacon protecting the tender meat. The herby stuffing is peppery and well-seasoned, adding lots of flavour to the succulent meat.