Which supermarket makes the most awesome burger patties?

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. (This one was made up of teachers from Bryanston High School.)

We work with chefs who assist with any preparation that's necessary. (In this case, the burger patties were cooked in identical griddle pans according to the 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

BEEF BURGERS

FIRST PLACE: CHECKERS

Champion Burger Patties

Price: R87.99/kg

Weight of 1 patty: 200g

What the judges said:

• Bronwyn Looks delicious. Flavourful and beefy with perfect amount of salt.
• Phuti Juicy, appealing from the get-go. The coriander flavour comes through. Lovely thick patty.
• Dean Great patty - juicy and tasty and left a great after-taste. Seasoned to perfection.

SECOND PLACE: SPAR

4 Beef Mega Burgers

Price: R49.99/kg

Weight of 1 patty: 134g

What the judges said:

• Brad Good depth of flavour. Enjoyed the charred flavour. Very nice.
• Stefan Robust flavour, I like it a lot.
• Wian Looks great, tastes goooood.

THIRD PLACE: FOOD LOVER'S MARKET

Rustler Beef Burgers

Price: R89.99/kg.

Weight of 1 patty: 98g

What the judges said:

• Smuts Less beefy flavour but still good.
• Mia There's no aroma and needs more herbs and spices. Grainy.
• Phuti Well cooked, bit too smoky for me and it's a firm patty.

FOURTH PLACE: PICK N PAY

4 Beef Burgers

Price: 400g for R37.90

Weight of 1 patty: 100g

What the judges said:

• Dean Didn't taste beefy but well seasoned.
• Mia The patty is flavourful. However, quality is lacking and too fatty.
• Sam Tastes like boerewors, a bit dry.

FIFTH PLACE: WOOLWORTHS 

8 Thick Beef Burgers

Price: R89.99

Weight of 1 patty: 100g

What the judges said:

• Bronwyn I found it oily, fatty and mushy.
• Phuti Doesn't taste like beef, bland and grainy. Smells vinegary.
• Adam Juicy, but too soft.

FREE-RANGE BURGER PATTIES

FIRST PLACE: PICK N PAY

4 Free Range Thick Beef Burgers

Price: R79.99

Weight of 1 patty: 174g

What the judges said:

• Yvonne: Well seasoned with beefy flavour.
• Smuts: Very good flavour like quality beef.
• Phuti: This burger takes me back to my childhood, I enjoyed every bite.

SECOND PLACE: WOOLWORTHS

4 Free Range Burgers

Price: R89.99

Weight of 1 patty: 170g

What the judges said:

1. Dean: Looked good but tasted bland and a bit chewy.
2. Bronwyn: Looks beefy. Could have more flavouring. There's a wild taste.
3. Phuti: Smell and appearance is deceptive because it's juicy but lacking in flavour.

CHEESE BURGERS

FIRST PLACE: CHECKERS

Homeburger, Cheese Burgers

Price: R79.99/kg

Weight of 1 patty: 114g

What the judges said:

• Dean: This burger made me very happy.
• Phuti: Smoky aroma, cheese is visible. Smells like a Spur chargrilled burger.
• Sam: Well-balanced burger - moist and juicy. Cheese flavour well balanced.

SECOND PLACE: FOOD LOVER'S MARKET

Beef Burgers Cheese

Price: R89.99/kg

Weight of 1 patty: 104g

What the judges said:

• Wian: Rich cheese taste with chewy bits of cheese in patty. Aftertaste lingers too long.
• Phuti: Looks amazing but has vinegary aroma. It's like a tuck- shop burger.
• Adam: Cheese tastes like processed cheese, grainy texture.

THIRD PLACE: SPAR

Beef Mega Burgers with Cheese

Price: R49.99/kg

Weight of 1 patty: 138g

What the judges said:

• Bronwyn: Deceiving appearance, looks compact and doesn't smell beefy. Too watery?
• Phuti: The sweetness of pork comes through in taste. High water content and pasty.
• Sam: A mushy, chewy patty.