Amidst the myriad options of supermarket brioche burger buns, only a select few stand out, with many others falling flat—both literally and in quality. Though traditional brioche is renowned for its rich, buttery taste and texture made from a high butter content, supermarket variants often feature reduced butter percentages or none at all, substituting other fats such as palm oil and rapeseed oil.
Top-rated Brioche Buns
The top spot goes to Waitrose No 1 brioche rolls, available for £1.60 for two buns. These buns are praised for their exceptional size, light and fluffy texture, and nutty taste attributed to brown butter. Notably, they are free from emulsifiers and preservatives, using only basic ingredients like free-range eggs and butter.
The best-value option is the Co-op Irresistible four brioche buns, priced at £1.75 per pack. These large, round buns feature a deep golden colour and a turmeric-yellow interior, coupled with a delectable buttery flavour. However, they do contain emulsifiers and additional flavourings.
Additional Notable Brioche Buns
M&S Collection brioche buns, which retail for £2.20 for two, boast a dark-brown glaze and open crumb enriched with Brittany’s butter, sourdough, and clotted cream, notably without emulsifiers or preservatives.
Aldi’s Specially Selected offers a budget-friendly pack at 99p for four. These French-made buns are glossy and golden, offering a sweet flavour without artificial flavourings, although they do include emulsifiers.
Asda’s Exceptional brioche buns, costing £1.42 for four, embody a classic texture with an airy, carotene-hued crumb. These buns have a rich, sweet profile with free-range eggs but also include palm fat and preservatives.
Mixed Reviews and Low Ratings
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference and Morrisons the Best each sell four-bun packs for £1.50. Both buns are average, with notable richness and sweetness, but are marred by ingredients like palm oil and preservatives in Morrisons’ buns.
Tesco offers the economical Fire Pit range at £1.95 for eight buns. Despite a sweet and soft feel, these party-sized buns are criticised for a sour note and a slightly bread-like texture.
On the lower end, St Pierre offers six-pack brioche buns for £2.90 at Sainsbury’s and Tesco, but these are similarly discounted for their chemical-like aroma and standardised glaze. Lastly, La Boulangère’s long-life French import, found at Ocado for £1.60, uses eggs over butter and is criticised for its chemical scent despite being free from emulsifiers.
Reporting based on coverage first published by theguardian.com.