I tested potato salad from M&S, Tesco, Sainsbury's & Waitrose — 1 beat the rest
Potato salad is a staple side dish. I tried four own-brand potato salads from Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S, and Waitrose to find out which is the best one
Potato salad remains a staple side dish, providing a light, creamy contrast to heavier fare. However, I've always considered potato salad rather uninspiring; it's drowning in mayonnaise and devoid of any notable taste.
Despite my personal objections, whether purchased ready-made at the supermarket or prepared at home, potato salad remains a favoured accompaniment. But the genuine question is, which supermarket produces the best version? I assessed four supermarket own-brand potato salads from Tesco, Sainsbury's, Marks and Spencer, and Waitrose, to determine the superior choice.
I judged them according to three criteria: the finest flavour, the ideal potato-to-dressing ratio, and the best potato preparation.
Tesco - £1.25 for 300g
Tesco is typically my first choice for a meal deal, though I'll only buy one if I'm particularly desperate. Tesco's potato salad, like the others, is laden with mayonnaise, obscuring any chunks of potato I might find.
It had the poorest potato-to-mayo ratio of the four potato salads, with an excessive amount of mayo and sour cream. The packaging indicated the salad contained onions, chives and lemon... yet I couldn't detect anything remotely resembling those ingredients.
The mayo wasn't as dense as the others, making it somewhat less effective at maintaining its consistency. Another drawback was the softness of the potato pieces, which were sufficiently small to resemble pebbles and practically fell apart when eaten.
Tesco represents precisely what concerns me regarding potato salad: an overwhelmed, soggy disaster with more dressing than potatoes.
Total - 3/10
Waitrose - £1.30 for 300g
Having sampled Waitrose's initially, the most striking contrast between theirs and Tesco's was the "doneness" of the spuds. While Waitrose's potato salad contained considerably more potatoes, they were somewhat firm.
Rather undercooked, one might say. Nevertheless, this did offer a textural contrast to the dressing.
The small chunks possessed minimal potato taste themselves, though the mayonnaise dressing carried a delicate onion note. The mayo was dense, yet its gentle flavour proved too understated for a compelling bite.
The sole aspect I feel confident guaranteeing is the plentiful quantity of potatoes in each mouthful. Make no mistake, it surpassed Tesco, but didn't quite match Sainsbury's and M&S.
Total - 5/10
Sainsbury's - £1.30 for 300g
At first glance, Sainsbury's dressing featured specks of herbs absent from the others. What became apparent was that those chives weren't merely decorative; they were distinctly detectable in the sauce, alongside the onions.
Indeed, Sainsbury's delivered the boldest of all the mayonnaise dressings. It proved far and away the most flavourful, which served to counterbalance the richness of the mayo.
Sainsbury's also provided a well-balanced ratio of potato to mayonnaise, ensuring diners weren't overwhelmed by excessive sauce. Sainsbury's potato salad represents a definite improvement in quality.
When it comes to selecting which supermarket potato salad delivers the finest taste, Sainsbury's consistently takes top honours. The chives weren't excessive, yet they unmistakably distinguished Sainsbury's potato salad from the competition.
Total - 9/10
M&S - £2.80 for 300g
Marks and Spencer pledges shoppers a "rich and creamy" encounter with its Baby Potato Salad, and it absolutely delivers on that promise. The mayonnaise possesses an almost whipped quality, producing a meringue-style consistency.
The substantial texture of the mayonnaise prevented the dressing from slipping off the potatoes or leaving an oily sensation. Similar to the others, its dressing features onions and chives, though it lacked the impact that Sainsbury's achieved.
Nevertheless, I'll grant M&S some credit as it truly excelled with the potato element. Genuinely substantial chunks - complete with skin - positioned the spuds as the star attraction, exactly where they belong.
Rather than tiny cubes, you're presented with genuine potato pieces that are cooked to perfection. Admittedly, M&S's potato salad costs £1.50 more than alternatives, but on this occasion, I genuinely believe the quality justifies the premium.
If you're seeking refined subtlety, M&S offers the solution to your potato salad requirements. Though if you're chasing bold flavour, it's Sainsbury's without question.
Total - 8/10
