Top 10 main course buys for Christmas 2014
Over five weeks, the BBC Good Food team blind-tasted hundreds of supermarket products to create the ultimate best buys collection. Discover our pick of the best nibbles, smoked salmon and starters.
Best... Turkey
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Norfolk Black turkey parcel
This hefty parcel is no-carve and rather cleverly cuts into neat slices. Wrapped in bacon, this divine parcel of turkey meat, cranberries and stuffing stays succulent.
£50, from Sainsbury's
Best... Multi-bird roast
Asda Extra-Special British six-bird roast
This mix of turkey, chicken, duck, pheasant, pigeon and partridge is well balanced without being overwhelming. The stuffing in the centre cuts through the meaty blanket in fine fashion.
£40, from Asda
Best... Roast pork
Morrisons three-pork roast
Pork tenderloin and crispy crackling, plus a hearty pork, sage & onion stuffing - this roll is packed with different tastes and textures and proved very popular with our testers.
£6.99, from Morrisons
Best... Centrepiece
Booths apple-fed cockerel cushion
This dome-shaped treat will get people talking. The tender cockerel breast meat is wrapped around herby, soft stuffing, adding depth of flavour. Perfect for those looking for something less traditional.
£45, from Booths
Best... For smaller groups
Ocado Hampshire venison steak
This beautiful piece of game meat is perfect either as a main course for two or three, or as an addition to your larger roast bird, this cut is delicious. We like its simplicity.
£6.12, from Ocado
Best... Game bird
Aldi Specially Selected whole stuffed pheasant
We loved the texture of this small bird – the ideal size for two people or to supplement a turkey. The nutty stuffing has great flavour and the bacon was a lovely touch.
£7.99, from Aldi
Best... Whole side of salmon
Morrisons lightly smoked salmon side
Simple and delicious. The fish cooks with its herby butter, so you can add extra flavours or eat with different side dishes.
£12.99, from Morrisons
Best... Vegetarian option
Waitrose cranberry, spinach & goat's cheese filo parcels
A pretty filo pastry with umami mushroom flavours and a sharper cranberry filling - so good they'll have the meat-eaters drooling in envy.
£5.99 for two, from Waitrose
Best... Stuffing
Morrisons M Signature pork & festive fruit stuffing parcels
These multi-dimensional fruity sausagemeat bundles wrapped in bacon are a cross between pigs in blankets and traditional stuffing.
£2.99, from Morrisons
Best... Ham
Sainsbury's Butcher's Choice orange & malt whisky honey-cured gammon
This meat is subtly flavoured with festive ingredients and makes an attractive Christmas centrepiece thanks to the fruit topping.
£10, from Sainsbury's
For more taste-tested products, equipment rundowns and buying advice, visit our review section, plus our Christmas kitchen contains everything you'll ever need for perfect festive feasting.
