I tried fish fingers from Aldi, Lidl, M&S and more - winner beats Birds Eye

The Taste Test

Fish fingers are a staple in many UK households, and with a wide range of options from supermarket own-label products to established brands, the choice can be overwhelming. To help settle the debate, two food writers—one from Kentlive and one from Liverpool Echo—conducted their own taste tests, comparing fish fingers from Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, Lidl, Marks and Spencer, Aldi, and the popular brand Birds Eye.

Both writers prepared each product according to its oven-cooking guidelines, aiming to assess whether supermarket versions could rival the brand leader in both flavour and value. The results surprised both testers, leading to a new go-to option for their next purchase.

The Rankings

Sainsbury's finished at the bottom of the list, scoring 3/10 in both tests. Despite having the deepest golden colour and a pleasant coating, the fish was described as excessively chewy and left a peculiar, metallic aftertaste that ultimately let it down.

Asda's fish fingers, priced at £1.61, scored 4/10. They suffered the most breakage during cooking, with the batter peeling away from the fish. While the taste was acceptable, the fish was slightly too chewy, and the coating issues cost it marks.

Tesco's offering scored 5/10. The fish fingers emerged from the oven misshapen, and some were slightly charred. The product contained more batter than fish and had a somewhat greasy taste.

Lidl's fish fingers, priced at £1.99, scored 7/10. They boasted a perfectly golden coating, though it tended to separate while being eaten. However, the fish itself was pleasantly flavoured and less rubbery than other options.

Birds Eye, purchased from Sainsbury's for £4.25, scored 8/10. The fish fingers split during cooking, but the batter adhered well, and the fish was tender. This made it a solid performer, though not the winner.

Marks and Spencer's fish fingers, priced at £2.80, scored 9/10. They were packed with fish, had a soft and buttery texture, and the coating remained crisp and intact.

The Winner: Aldi

Aldi's fish fingers took the top spot in both tests, scoring a 10/10 in the Kentlive test and described as having a golden, crunchy batter that remained intact, with thick, substantial fish and no sogginess. The Liverpool Echo test similarly praised Aldi's offering for its lovely crunch and substantial fish content, noting it surpassed Birds Eye considerably.

The Kentlive writer noted that Aldi's fish fingers "comfortably outperformed Birds Eye" and would "undoubtedly become my first choice." The Liverpool Echo headline emphasized that the winner was £2 less than Birds Eye, combining price and performance.

Birds Eye, despite being one of the most popular brands and generally costing more than unbranded alternatives, was beaten by Aldi's supermarket own-label product in this taste test. The results suggest that budget-friendly options can rival, and even surpass, the brand leader in both flavour and value.