A budget favourite was named the UK’s cheapest supermarket in the latest Which? price comparison, topping the table for a list of 95 groceries08:01, 27 Jul 2026Breakfast is often billed as the most important meal of the day. but for many shoppers, stretching the weekly food budget matters just as much. Earlier this month, Aldi was named the UK’s cheapest supermarket in the latest Which? price comparison, topping the table for a basket of 95 everyday groceries. Aldi’s total came to £163.34, with Lidl close behind at £164.92 — just £1.58 more.‌With more people swapping big-name brands for supermarket own-label alternatives, the savings can add up quickly — even on everyday staples. And you very often don't sacrifice on quality. We recently tried own-brand olive oil, dishwasher tablets and baked beans and decided we would never go back to branded products.‌Porridge is another product supermarkets make under their own brand. While Quaker is a familiar fixture on supermarket shelves, there are cheaper unbranded products ranging from basic oats to flavoured options such as golden syrup.‌For my taste test, I stuck with original pots from seven well-known high-street supermarkets and pitted them against Quaker, but which one emerged victorious? Check out the verdict below.8) Morrisons' Original Porridge - 55p for 55gBeginning with one of the sweetest contenders on the list, Morrisons' Original simply didn't hit the mark for me. I found it almost overly sweet and missing that coveted creamy consistency, despite thorough stirring.‌The outcome was a rather thin pot that left bits in my mouth, and while it didn't require my usual dollop of honey, it remained a letdown. A quick check of the nutrition label also revealed it contains 12.2g of sugar.Rating: 4/107) Lidl's Crownfield Instant Oats -37p for 50gLidl's version of the classic oats delivered a similar consistency to Morrisons, with the mixture still failing to thicken quickly and maintaining that bitty texture. Even so, one aspect gave it a slight advantage.‌In contrast, Crownfield's sugar content stood at just 5.9g. It's apparent when you taste it, too. Naturally, sweetness comes down to individual preference, but I chose to drizzle in a bit of honey.Rating: 5/10‌6) Asda'sAsda's produced a lovely, thick porridge, but this creamy mixture tasted noticeably bland and left an unpleasant aftertaste. It contained 8.2g of sugar, yet I still felt it required sweetening.Following the addition of a drizzle of honey, it improved significantly and was actually quite pleasant. That said, if I were after a plain variety, I'd likely opt for one of the alternatives.‌Rating: 6/105) Aldi's Golden Bridge Original Porridge - 37p for 50gAldi's represented a clear improvement on texture, proving considerably thicker and boasting a more natural flavour, though it remained slightly watery. Despite containing 6.4g of sugar, it didn't taste particularly sweet, and I felt it was enhanced by a swirl of honey.It appears thickness is something I appreciate in a porridge, so this one climbed two points in my rankings. At merely 37p, it's also an excellent budget choice - an absolute no-brainer for anyone wanting to save money.‌Rating: 7/104) Sainsbury's Original Porridge - 65p for 50gBreaking into elite territory, Sainsbury's Original proved to be another wonderfully thick porridge, boasting a soft and inviting texture. It remains a relatively plain option despite containing 6.8g of sugar, though a touch of honey transformed it entirely.Once I added that, it emerged as a genuine challenger for first place.‌Rating: 7.5/10‌3) Quaker Original - £1.30 for 45g (from Morrisons)More expensive in comparison, Quaker's £1.30 for 45g represents noticeably more for noticeably less, yet there's a good reason it continues to be popular. As anticipated, it produces a thick, creamy porridge with a reliably smooth consistency.It contains 5.3g of sugar, though taste-wise, I felt it was somewhat plain. Whether with or without honey, it comfortably secured a place in the top three, but cost factored heavily in my assessment, so it lands in a respectable third position.Rating: 8/10‌2) Tesco's Instant Oats Original - 41p for 55gAn unexpected frontrunner, Tesco's Instant proved impressively thick, immediately elevating it. It was creamy with a lightly sweet flavour - though I subsequently learned it contains 9g of sugar.In truth, I didn't add any honey whatsoever, as the sweetness seemed just right. I even felt it surpassed Quaker, primarily on cost, though it didn't quite secure the overall victory.Rating: 8.5/10Article continues below1) M&S' Traditional Porridge - £1 for 70gRising above the competition, M&S' Traditional Porridge produced a beautifully thick, creamy pot that was thoroughly satisfying without any honey, despite containing merely 4.1g of sugar.On taste alone, it was the undisputed champion, with a consistency almost more akin to creamy rice pudding than instant oats. I added a modest drizzle of honey purely out of interest, and it transformed into something verging on pudding - easily surpassing Quaker.Rating: 9/10