EXCLUSIVE: I in contrast rooster soups from six main UK supermarkets alongside Heinz and Baxters, and there was a transparent winner – it wasn’t what you’d count on.
The winner took me abruptly (Picture: Parul Sharma)
Few issues in life are as comforting as a piping scorching bowl of rooster soup and I’m keen to die on this hill.
I’ve been requested what I’d wish to have as my remaining meal on this Earth numerous instances through the years, and in some way, I all the time discover myself answering with – my mum’s rooster soup.
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Now my mum lives all the way in which again in India, in order that bowl of scrumptious, soul-warming goodness is extra elusive to me on most days than a leprechaun with a pot of gold.
Whereas I’m all the time on the hunt for that good bowl of rooster soup right here within the UK, the search stays ongoing. Typically although, that yearning for a hearty bowl of rooster soup overpowers each rational thought I’ve and I collapse to my craving.
That’s precisely what occurred on this case, as a result of I’ve tried each can of grocery store rooster soup on the market in a bid to seek out myself the yummiest bowl. If, like me, you too are a sucker for a pleasant, hearty, flavoursome bowl of rooster soup, you’ve come to simply the fitting place to discern the place to spend your hard-earned £££s.
The burning query – is there a grocery store rooster soup that tastes higher than Heinz and Baxters? The reply? A convincing sure.
There was one clear winner and it wasn’t Heinz or Baxters (Picture: Parul Sharma)
The contenders within the equation had been: Heinz, Baxters, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, M&S, and Waitrose.
I attempted the above listed manufacturers’ canned 400g Cream of Hen soups and me and my pockets had been pleasantly shocked at which contender got here out on prime.
The standards I judged on had been – Hen flavour depth, variety of rooster chunks, texture and creaminess, and general flavour which in my books interprets to — would I eat it once more?
All of the soups had been heated within the microwave on the identical settings — and there was a transparent winner.
Tesco
Tesco’s Cream of Hen soup, retailing at 59p, had a fairly skinny and watery consistency, and a fair texture. The can had virtually subsequent to no massive rooster chunks, though weirdly sufficient, it was loaded with skinny, shredded strands of rooster that ought to’ve achieved quite a bit for its style however didn’t. The rooster style within the soup was neither too robust, nor too gentle — very center of the pack vibes, and the general style and deliciousness had been nothing to write down house about. Am I going to purchase this once more? Most likely not.
Ranking: 5.5/10
Waitrose
Waitrose, at 80p per can, was the most important letdown on the listing. There have been a sum complete of two measly rooster chunks in the entire can — I do know as a result of me and my spoon whirled round every can of soup searching for chunks. This soup’s consistency was someplace between watery and thick, with barely any type of flavour in any respect, rooster or in any other case. It positively wouldn’t be discovering a spot on my repeat order listing.
Ranking: 4/10
Heinz’s Cream of Hen soup ranked fairly excessive on the listing (Picture: Parul Sharma)
Morrisons
Morrisons canned Cream of Hen soup, retailing at 65p per 400g can, was one other massive disappointment on this style check. With a consistency just like Waitrose, I wasn’t too impressed to start with. And whereas there was some rooster in there, the items had been simply shy of being correct chunks and might be described extra as slivers. The style in itself was fairly bland and didn’t really feel very chicken-forward. I discovered myself concluding I wouldn’t be reaching for this bowl of soup anytime quickly.
Ranking: 5/10
Baxters
Baxters Favourites Cream of Hen soup, retailing at £2.10, was the most costly can of soup on this listing, and for me, a giant letdown. The soup’s largest saving grace was that it was loaded with massive, juicy wanting rooster chunks, with each spoonful catching no less than a number of items. For canned soups, that’s saying quite a bit, and for that value level, it’s the least they may do. Baxters was additionally the soup with the thickest consistency. However that’s the place any and all positives ended for me although.
Whereas checking off two main standards on the listing, Baxters’ general deliciousness for me, didn’t land in any respect. If I closed my eyes and did a blind style check, I’d discover myself simply mistaking this bowl of rooster soup for a French onion soup. It simply didn’t style very chicken-y in any respect, even with these large chunks. The consistency of this soup felt just a little gluey to me, and it was just about up there with Waitrose as being my least favorite of the lot.
Ranking: 5.5/10
Heinz
Subsequent up, Heinz. A famend international model for soups, it positively lived as much as its identify. At £1.75 a pop, Heinz’s Cream of Hen soup was yum. The most important unfavorable could be the variety of rooster chunks within the soup, of which there have been barely any, nonetheless that was the one actual space wherein this bowl of soup lacked. It had the second thickest consistency after Baxters, and the second-best flavour, rooster and in any other case. The truth is, it was one of many few soups on the listing the place I might style the rooster flavour really coming by means of. I’d most likely purchase this once more once I want a quick-fix for my rooster soup craving.
Ranking: 8.5/10
M&S
Tying for the quantity two spot with Heinz was Marks and Spencer’s Cream of Hen soup. M&S’s providing sells for 60p and for that value, it didn’t disappoint in any respect. With the third most quantity of rooster chunks and third thickest consistency, M&S has concocted a scrumptious recipe in comparison with different grocery store manufacturers. The rooster flavour was nicely and actually felt, together with a pleasant and even texture, making this a really well-balanced bowl of soup. A particular reorder on my listing.
Ranking: 8.5/10
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s Cream of Hen soup, retailing at 59p, was one other center of the pack contender. It did have a number of good rooster chunks within the can, and its consistency was virtually thick however not fairly. It was the flavour that was a little bit of a letdown, with no precise rooster flavour actually coming by means of. It was additionally the soup that tasted essentially the most prefer it was a ‘cabinet’ merchandise, however with that mentioned, it was nonetheless higher than many others on the listing. Would I purchase this once more? Most likely not, however was it horrible? Additionally no.
Ranking: 6/10
Asda’s rooster soup is surprisingly scrumptious (Picture: Parul Sharma)
Asda
Coming in on the primary spot, and an entire shock to me, was Asda’s humble providing.
At 59p, it’s one of many least expensive on this listing. Now, full discretion, it utterly failed within the ‘variety of rooster chunks’ standards, with not one single full chunk present in all the can. Its consistency was additionally fairly skinny and water-like, however that to me isn’t a giant deal breaker. The place Asda actually took the cake for me was its flavour — rooster and general. It was merely essentially the most scrumptious soup among the many contenders, with the rooster flavour shining by means of, and the general flavour hitting the mark as nicely.
It was the one soup that felt even vaguely seasoned and correctly balanced, flavour-wise. Contemplating I added zero seasonings to any of the bowls, this felt like an essential marker. Giving its ingredient listing a fast look, it isn’t even the can with essentially the most salt content material, with 1g per half can (200g), whereas many others clocked in at 1.1g or greater for a similar. I can wholeheartedly say this may be the one can of rooster soup from this listing I’d attain for once more with out a second thought.
Ranking: 9/10
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