Which supermarket's sirloin steak should be the star of your meal?

HOW WE CONDUCTED OUR TASTE TEST

IT'S FREE AND FAIR!

The Taste & Tell series is a monthly feature where the same or similar supermarket items are put to a taste test by a panel; we gather a different group of people to be part of the panel for each tasting. (This one was made up of chefs from Capsicum Culinary Studio in Randburg, Joburg.)

A theme for each tasting is selected by Sunday Times food editor Hilary Biller, who goes out and shops as a consumer would.

The tasting takes place at a facility that offers a professional kitchen and a room where the panel can evaluate the food.

We work with chefs who assist with any preparation that's necessary;  reheating and cooking is done strictly to package instructions. Items are categorised, numbered and stripped of all their packaging before being served. A food expert in the kitchen oversees the entire process.

The tasters undertake a blind tasting and the food is judged on a score sheet and is rated according to appearance, taste, quality of ingredients and whether the taster would consider buying the product. Each category is judged out of 10 points: 10 is excellent, 5 average and 1 extremely poor.

An auditor checks each score sheet and collates the results.

THE RESULTS

FIRST PLACE: WOOLWORTHS

Our Butcher Beef sirloin steak

Price: R169.99 per kg.

What the judges said:

• Pierre: Very nice tender steak, beautifully marbled and good amount of fat.
• Awande: Beautiful piece of meat, fantastic quality.
• Yolanda: I enjoyed every bite.
• Andrew: Extremely tasty.
• Tyrone: Great taste, very tender , fat quality good. quality.

SECOND PLACE: PICK N PAY

Butcher's Promise, 28 days lazy aged Porterhouse steak

Price: R149.99 per kg.

What the judges said:

• Yolanda: Tender, sweet and juicy.
• Andrew: A little on the tough side but good.
• Tyrone: Nice and juicy.
• Pierre: Good, tender and nice flavour.
• Awande: A fairly good steak.

THIRD PLACE: SPAR

The Steak Co. Class A Sirloin

Price: R119.99 per kg.

What the judges said:

• Pierre: Good steak, beautiful size and tenderness.
• Yolanda: An average steak.
• Andrew: Good flavour.
• Tyrone: Average, a bit on the chewy side.
• Awande: Lovely piece of meat.

FOURTH PLACE: CHECKERS

Steakhouse Classic Porterhouse, Class A Local Beef 

Price: R100 per kg.

What the judges said:

• Awande: Average steak, Good for a braai.
• Yolanda: OK, but nothing exciting about it.
• Andrew: Not bad, but not as good as some of the others.
• Tyrone: OK.

FIFTH PLACE: FOOD LOVER'S MARKET

Porterhouse steak

Price: R89.99 per kg.

What the judges said:

• Pierre: Good size, bit sinewy and could be more tender.
• Awande: Acceptable steak.
• Yolanda: I found the steak dry and a bit chewy.
• Tyrone: Above average.
• Nico: Nice thick cut, average flavour.