Bean Test

[16vCento]

As I have been particularly bored of lunch recently, I decided to try find which the best baked beans were, this has been a particularly flatulent time, but I think the end result was worth it.

A clear champion, others are not even close as a well rounded package.

I did this so you don't have to.

1st - M&S Beans - least salty sauce, sufficiently thick to ensure adhesion to the toast when in flight, a good texture of bean, easily the tastiest beans by far.

2nd - Sainsbury's Beans - a decently tomatoey sauce, a close second in toast adhesion, let down by slightly hard beans.

3rd - Branston Beans - a good bean, however the sauce is a bit on the watery side these days, leading to many ruined shirts. The dogs favourite beans, as most likely to involve spillage.

4th - Waitrose Beans - even more watery than Branston, however good bean choice, but not the best flavour from the sauce tbh, I expected more.

5th - Heinz Beans - almost sweet rather than savoury sauce, lots of bean skins floating around, very poor toast adhesion, the linglong ditchfinder of bean sauces. Actual beans are decent texture though.

Other brands are available, please keep this updated with your equally exciting bean quests.

[Beany]

For clarity, nothing to do with me.

[mik]

It’s bean a while since the last discussion back in 2020, so I guess an update is fair.

I have not tried your winner or runner up. I shall correct this.

[Beany]

Fix that spelling in your post Mik, or you're toast.

[16vCento]

I knew we had done this before somewhere.

Interesting my taste has since changed, or the beans have

[jamcg]

Please now progress to the best toast to accompany said beans, with a rating of with or without butter. Please and thank you

[mik]

Please now progress to the best toast to accompany said beans, with a rating of with or without butter. Please and thank you

One of the worst breads to eat as bread - heavy and stodgy. It does however make truly fabulous toast. And the answer on butter is - always.

[dinny_g]

I find baked beans of any persuasion end up with a nice thick sauce if you cook them very slowly over a period of 10 minutes or so...

Branston are for me the best bean...

[jamcg]

Mik- Unfortunately I’m going to have to declare if it’s not available nationwide it’s can’t be included an option. I can’t be taking trips beyond the wall to get bread for toast

[16vCento]

I've been having M&S wholemeal bread (75p) as it's a good sturdy carrier of beans, but will also absorb just the right amount of juice.

[mik]

Unfortunately I’m going to have to declare if it’s not available nationwide it’s can’t be included an option.

[dinny_g]

@Mik - I guess the bread you linked is similar in nature to this from back home. It is, indeed, the finest for toast

[JonMad]

I'd moved to Branston from Heinz on recommendation of this forum. Might need to try M&S. Thanks for the dedicated research.

[integrale_evo]

Aldi beans are nicer than Heinz. It was initially a try it and see situation, but now I would definitely choose them even ignoring cost. More tomatoey, not as sweet, sauce not as thin and watery.

[duncs500]

I can't abide any beans that leave a residue in the can that doesn't easily rinse back to clean metal. I question what needs to be in the beans to allow that to happen, and it only appears to occur with cheaper beans.

I believe Sainsburys beans do this, so I'm out. Branston's seem to be our current bean of choice but @dinny_g is correct in that you can cook off excess moisture to achieve your desired consistency.

[mik]

Un bean reduction.

[Beany]

Aldi beans are nicer than Heinz. It was initially a try it and see situation, but now I would definitely choose them even ignoring cost. More tomatoey, not as sweet, sauce not as thin and watery.

See, I don't mind sweet beans as I usually have salted butter on the toast which gives a nice savoury counterpunch.

I've not had beans on toast in ages now I think about it, should do something about that.

[Matty]

You're also missing a key question. Cooking them:

Microwave, or stove?

[mik]

Hob! Only animals would use a micro

[integrale_evo]

A specific plastic bean pot with lid in the microwave. Ain’t nobody got time for a the hob.