I compared the supermarket’s own chips with McCain’s – the winner was half the price
CHIPPY tea and home fries are expected to rise in price due to poor potato harvests.
The situation has been described as “dire” by northern fish and chip shop supplier PG Chips.
And while the nation loves making McCain’s at home, they cost double the price of many supermarket brands.
Thea Jacobs tests six own-brand alternatives and rates them out of five.
McCain Home Cut Straight, Tesco £3.20 (1kg)
8
As the nation’s favorite, it’s no wonder these are crispy and fluffy, even if they don’t look as tasty as I would expect.
The golden color is mottled brown despite following the cooking instructions.
Tasty, but I can’t justify the price for the amount you get.
Rating: 3
Iceland Ridiculously Crispy, Straight Cut £2.75 (1.44kg)
8
These look more like fries than straight-cut chips and take on a nice golden color during cooking.
Crispy on the outside, super light and airy on the inside.
A great bag of chips, just a shame they are a bit on the expensive side.
Rating: 4
Tesco Homestyle Straight Cut £2.20 (950g)
8
STRAIGHT out of the package these look promising.
But despite following the cooking instructions, a few come out a little burnt at the ends.
They are much firmer on the inside than McCain’s, but they would be great for dipping in gravy.
Not bad, but not the best.
Rating: 4
Sainsbury’s Crinkle Cut £1.99, (1.5kg)
8
AFTER ten minutes in the oven, the ends start to burn.
They look very patchy, which I think is the wrinkled cut.
Somewhere between smooth and fluffy on the inside, and that’s not what I want in a chip.
The best can be left on the shelf.
Rating: 1
Asda Just Essentials £1.62 (1.5kg)
8
These chips are MORE yellow than golden and look burnt after 20 minutes.
But when I put them in, they don’t taste fully cooked.
No sign of a pinch point and in fact a bit slimy inside.
These may be cheap, but I just wouldn’t waste the money.
Rating: 2
WINNER! Aldi Straight cut€ 1.65 (1.5 kg)
8
To turn them golden brown, they need a little longer than the recommended cooking time.
They are thicker than many of the others, and crispy but super light inside, and are almost as tasty as my local chippy.
Great value and an ideal replacement.
Rating: 5
Lidl Homestyle €1.49 (1kg)
8
YET another batch that looks a little burnt in places before being fully cooked.
They do not turn golden brown like frying chips and lack a crispy crust, but are fluffy on the inside.
Good value for money, although you do sacrifice some quality.
Rating: 3