Are Branston beans any good?

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DoctorOctagonapus@reddit

They managed to convert my father, who was a die-hard Heinz fan for many years. Absolutely the best you can get.

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nikkijxd@reddit

I think theyre better than Heinz, better sauce by miles.

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TemporaryLucky3637@reddit

People saying they taste the same are clearly not the bean experts we are because I agree Heinz bean sauce is a lot worse. 🤣

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purrcthrowa@reddit

Agreed. And even before you taste it, you can see that Heinz is a lot more watery.

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nikkijxd@reddit

I can't have beans often (intolerant) and I'm not willing to waste my tummy aches on sub par beans

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External-Praline-451@reddit

The beans aren't sligjtly mushy either, unlike Heinz.

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FewAnybody2739@reddit

I prefer them to Heinz as the flavour is a bit stronger, but that could go the other way for people. I'd use them the same as other baked beans.

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Internal-Leadership3@reddit

Branston cans are not just better, the tins are also stackable, unlike Heinz.

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NoTry8886@reddit

they are just your common tin of beans for toast jacket potatoes etc

We switched to them from Heinz a while ago as they are cheaper but now wouldn't go back

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th3thund3r@reddit

Heinz beans are getting really gross. Last tin I had tasted really sweet

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DistrustPilot@reddit

They're not even sugary sweet but artificial sweetener sweet which is even worse

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Victorius_Meldrus@reddit

I switched because Heinz beans are fucking shit and Branston aren't. Cost had nothing to do with it.

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prustage@reddit

Whenever anyone does a blind tasting of the different brands of Baked Beans, Branson usually comes out top or near top. It always beats Heinz. So you have some good beans there.

Nevertheless, Heinz remains the brand leader, probably because of better marketing, promotion and the general inertia of the British public to switch brands.

Just microwave them and pour over buttered toast - that's all you need to do. Some people like to add grated cheese, I like to grind some black pepper over them.

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amanset@reddit

I am an outlier.

I don’t think they are very good. People here will say Heinz have too much sauce, I’d say Branston doesn’t have enough. I was very disappointed when I finally tried them.

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Redditors bang on about them like they're the only right choice, but someone posted a blind taste test he did with his mates not so long ago and Branston actually did really poorly in that, below Heinz comfortably.

https://www.reddit.com/r/CasualUK/comments/1qif2ee/i_hosted_a_baked_beans_tasting_party_and_here_are/

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Jeremys_Iron_@reddit

Heinz for the upper middle classes and Branston for the working and lower middle classes.

Source: my backside.

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mothsugar@reddit

can confirm

source: am a gentrifying heinz eater

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blackcurrantcat@reddit

Branston are far superior to Heinz. You can consider them a dish in themselves, whereas Heinz are the sort you’d just chuck in a chilli if you didn’t have any kidney beans in the cupboard. (Obviously after rinsing that horrible sweet sauce off).

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littletorreira@reddit

They were my preferred brand.

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JustAnotherFEDev@reddit

Were?

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littletorreira@reddit

Should read are! They are my preferred brand.

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JustAnotherFEDev@reddit

Ahh, I thought you'd found some even better beans

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ARobertNotABob@reddit

Initially misread, but then thought, "butterbeans in tomato sauce. Intriguing.".

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JustAnotherFEDev@reddit

Anything is worth a go, it sounds like it could work...

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Extension-Worry2253@reddit

In my opinion, top tier beans and my choice of the brands. I always add a splash of Worcestershire sauce when heating especially if I’m having with cheese on bread/ toast or jackets

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Urist_Macnme@reddit

Knob of butter, splash of Worcestershire, pinch of cayenne pepper. On the hob so the sauce reduces a little.

Banging beans.

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mcn999@reddit

Don’t forget the minced onion. And chopped bacon.

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purrcthrowa@reddit

And the haunch of venison

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CarsCarsCars1995@reddit

They were my favourite until I got a dodgy batch. The lid had corroded and leeched material into the sauce. They smelt chemically and wierdly fishy. I complained to Branston and they said it was "normal".

I have tried them since and even on a normal tin, I can still detect a trace of the same smell. Every tin I have ever bought had some level of discolouring on the lid but I never paid attention until the dodgey one. Now I can't eat them at all.

I go with supermarket own brand now but I guess that doesnt help for you in Canada!

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ClarifyingMe@reddit

Branstons,Sainsbury's own and Heinz are it for me.

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Lyrakish@reddit

As people have said they're better than Heinz. Less sugar and better flavour. Better sauce as well, not so thin. Heinz have just gotten worse over the years and pack in the sugars.

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-_Error@reddit

I tend to just get the cheapest supermarket own brand.

Beans are beans as far as I'm concerned, I can't justify paying extra for heinz or branston. Sure they might be slightly better, but definitely not enough to pay extra for

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Shrimp_Watch101@reddit

I know someone in the canned food trade.

Branston are manufactured by Princes, who also make most British supermarket own-label beans. (So not Aldi or Lidl, but nearly everyone else.)

So the actual haricot beans are identical - it's only the sauce recipe that differs.

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jizzyjugsjohnson@reddit

Perfectly decent beans

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GreekVicar@reddit

Top stuff as far as I'm concerned - Heinz taste so sweet and "thin" if I have to go back to them

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Urist_Macnme@reddit

They are perfectly adequate.

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Kamoebas@reddit

The best imo. Right amount of sauce to bean, good texture and taste not too sweet.

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poutinewharf@reddit

We jumped over to them as we don’t buy American (am Canadian in the uk). Rate them highly and had some yesterday on a jacket

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loafingaroundguy@reddit

Normal beans. Replaced Heinz in my household.

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Radiant-Mycologist72@reddit

Our house prefers them over Heinz Beans.

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Due_Poetry6044@reddit

Abso fucking lutely gorgeous mate. They have a slightly thicker sauce than being but the secret is add some Worcestershire/Lancashire sauce to the beans either in the can or bowl. Amazing taste. Everyone should try it.

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Ok-Sir8025@reddit (OP)

I'm from Lancashire originally too 🤣

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Carl0s_H@reddit

Better than Heinz, watery muck they've become.

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Ok-Sir8025@reddit (OP)

Yeahi know, i get them all the time here, not cheap either. But damn do i need a straw

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Chopsticks_Charlie@reddit

Branston beans all day long bruvaaa

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SnooDonuts6494@reddit

Yeah, they're nice. And yeah, treat them like Heinz; nothing specific.

They don't taste exactly the same, but not in a bad way. Just slightly different. I'm sure lots of people prefer one over the other, but I think they're both nice. Not identical, but so what? Like a different variety of apple... they can both be good.

I think they're best on toast, but you can certainly use 'em in thousands of other ways. Add a tin to a curry or chilli; have some over a pie or with chips; and of course with a full English. Eh, anything, really.

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SkipsH@reddit

Branston are more like old recipe Heinz, I prefer them.

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RegretEasy8846@reddit

They’re the only other ones I’d say compete with Heinz. They’re stronger tasting tomato imo, they’re nice. Definitely don’t taste like cheap crap which most other beans do.

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Whole-Strawberry3281@reddit

The best normal baked beans

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jmabbz@reddit

Yes, they are nice. Cheap beans have quite watery sauce and the better ones a thick sauce. Branston's is one of the thickest. That said I don't think there's much of a difference in how much I enjoy them.

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UndulatingUnderpants@reddit

They're just beans, heat them in a pan with salt and pepper till they go a bit cludgy, then eat them on toast.

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No_Usual_572@reddit

They're better than Heinz and anyone that says otherwise hasn't tried Branston.

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ResponsibilityNo3245@reddit

Generally either that or heinz are on special, I'll pick up whichever is cheaper.

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OmniWise@reddit

I bought some recently because they were 50% cheaper than Heinz. I wouldn't honestly be able to tell the difference between Branstons or Heinz. So basically from here on in, I'll just buy which ever is cheaper.

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NerveAffectionate318@reddit

Much better than heinz

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TemporaryLucky3637@reddit

If we’re talking branded they’re the best ones imo. M&S own brand beans are comparable though and are half the price.

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captain_crackerjack@reddit

I feel I’ve found my people on this thread - Branston are the GOAT of beans

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anotheraccount4stuf@reddit

No they are not 'good'.

They are the best!

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FallZealousideal3337@reddit

Treat them like normal beans but expect them to taste like beans that finally got their life together.

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Ok-Sir8025@reddit (OP)

🤣🤣 will do!

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LiamJonsano@reddit

Rarely get them due to being more spenny but yeah they’re top tier. Nice thick sauce if that’s your sort of thing

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Ok-Sir8025@reddit (OP)

Cheers Liam, definitely like the thicker sauce for sure

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