From turkey to mince pies, BBC Good Food reveals this year's best Christmas foods

If you’re already wondering how to up your Christmas dinner game this festive season then grab a paper and pen, as the best food items on offer for 2018 have been revealed.

BBC Good Food magazine asked an expert panel to blind-taste 166 products from the UK’s 11 leading retailers with the likes of Marks and Spencer and Morrisons taking part.

But how did the rival supermarkets fair in the challenge?

From the all-important turkey to juicy mince pies, no further for the best spots in town when crossing off your Christmas dinner shopping list this year…

The best turkey

Marks and Spencer came up trumps after winning a grand total of five listings this year and the Brit staple won over the judges in undoubtedly the most important category of all – for best turkey.

The retailer’s Pembrokeshire Bronze Free Range Turkey (£10 per kilogram) was named the tastiest of the bunch thanks to its “moist and succulent” meat.

For those on a budget, Aldi’s £8.99 Specially Selected Exquisite Ramburgh Farm British free range whole turkey came in close second.

The best stuffing

Lidl won in the stuffing category thanks to the budget supermarket’s Deluxe Apricot and White Stilton Stuffing which comes in at a surprising £2.39.

The judges loved the “neat, fruit-studded appearance and balance of sweet apricot and savoury stilton” that the stuffing gave. Sounds like a winner to us.

The best alternative meat centrepiece

For those of you on the lookout for a second meat centrepiece or an alternative to turkey, Marks and Spencer’s £45 British Sirloin of Beef won over the judges this year.

In second place came Lidl’s Bone Marrow Pie which retails at £14.99.

The best smoked salmon

ASDA stole the top spot when it came to smoked salmon thanks to its Extra Special Heather Honey and Black Pepper Smoked Salmon which costs just £3.99.

The Co-op came in second place with the supermarket’s £5 Irresistible Smoked Salmon.

The best Christmas pudding

For those with a sweet tooth, make sure to check out ASDA as the supermarket’s £6.50 Extra Special Christmas Pudding won the taste test this year.

The judge’s described the pud as having a “glossy exterior” with “plenty of nuts and plump cherries”. What more could you ask for?

In regards to the gluten free option, Waitrose & Partners’ £5 Free From Richly Fruited Christmas Pudding came top of the leaderboard.

The best mince pies

It’s not Christmas until you’re slouched onto the sofa in a mince pie-induced food coma.

So for those of you on the lookout for the best, make sure to head to Morrisons for the supermarket’s six pack of Deep Filled Mince Pies (£2).

The judges described the Christmas staple as having “buttery, almost shortbread-like pastry” which boasted a juicy filling of “whole raisins and sultanas and a nice balance of sweetness and booze”.

Anyone else already craving December?

The high street retailer unsurprisingly secured a top spot for its gluten free variety too.

Other winning Christmas foods to add to your shopping list this festive season:

Best Christmas cake: Morrisons’ The Best Poinsettia Christmas Cake, £12

Best stollen: Lidl’s Deluxe Luxury Stollen with Jamaican Rum, £3.99

Best panettone: Aldi’s Specially Selected Exquisite Panettone, £6.99

Best centrepiece dessert: Marks and Spencer’s Belgian Chocolate & Cherry Dessert, £20

Best vegan canapé: Waitrose & Partners’ Vegan Jackfruit Tacos, £7

Best vegetarian canapé: Waitrose & Partners’ Feta, Spinach and Pine Nut Spanakopita, £7

Best savoury canapé: Marks and Spencer’s 10 Spicy Pulled Pork Tacos, £7

Best sweet canapé: Aldi’s Specially Selected Snowflake Tiffin in Honeycomb & Orange, £3.29

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