Best supermarket frozen roast potatoes named - and the winner may surprise you

Don't be ashamed to swap fresh, homemade dinner items for frozen alternatives, especially during Christmas. While some argue that homemade roasties are unbeatable, those short on time or still perfecting their recipe can rely on supermarket products.

Frozen roasties offer a convenient, cost-effective, and high-quality alternative to homemade ones. But which ones are the best?

A recent taste test by Which? revealed the most delicious frozen roasties. The test compared major potato brands McCain and Aunt Bessie with supermarket own-brand rivals.

Surprisingly, McCain scored poorly, ranking last among the 65 taste-testers, reports the Express.

So, which roast potatoes won?

The best frozen supermarket roast potatoes are:

1. Aldi and Marks and Spencer: These two supermarkets shared the top spot, but Aldi had a slight edge with a Which? 'Best Buy' award for its "great value" frozen roasties.

Aldi's Specially Selected Beef Dripping Roast Potatoes (£2.49 for 1kg) and M&S Maris Piper Roast Potatoes (£3 for 800g) scored 74 percent out of 100 for their appearance, crispy exterior, and "hit-the-spot texture".

The flavour of each was generally well-received, although a stronger taste would have made them even more popular.

The M&S spuds are more expensive than Aldi's, but are around the average price of all potatoes tested.

2. Aunt Bessie's: Aunt Bessie's roast potatoes came in second, offering a delicious and convenient alternative to homemade roasties.

The popular brand scored 72 percent for the Duck Fat Roast Potatoes (£4.50 for 700g) but stunned 80 percent of taste-testers with their appetising colour. According to Which?, the crunchy outside and good inside consistency were popular with most, but the flavour was less enjoyable than the top picks.

Nearly half of the panel liked it, but a third said it was too weak, and 42 percent said the insides were dry. Aunt Bessie uses duck fat, unlike all the other potatoes on the test, which use beef fat.

They're also the priciest on the test and are best on special offer.

3. Morrisons

Morrisons' The Best Beef Fat Roast Potatoes (£2.75 for 800g) scored 71 percent on the test, with top marks for the texture of the insides. Half of the panel deemed the crispy outside just right but a crunchier bite and a stronger flavour would've upped the score of these potatoes.

4. Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's Maris Piper Roast Potatoes with Beef Dripping, Taste the Difference (£2.95 for 1kg) scored 71 percent in the taste test, remarked as "nice-looking potatoes with a generally liked texture, inside and out". Some claimed the spuds lacked flavour, however.

5. Tesco

Tesco's Finest Beef Dripping Roast Potatoes (£3 for 800g) match MandS in weight and price but scored lower at 71 percent. Described as a good all-rounder, the beef dripping roasties lacked flavour, though the texture was well-liked by reviewers.

6. Co-op

Co-op's Irresistible Beef Dripping Roast Potatoes (£3.40 for 750g) are pricier than those from M&S, but they lack the desired crunch. Despite receiving positive reviews for their appearance and inner texture, only half of the panel appreciated their crispiness.

7. Waitrose

Waitrose, the high-end retailer, received a score of just 70 percent for its Frozen Roast Potatoes in Beef Fat (£2.75 for 800g). Two-thirds of the panel liked the look and inner texture of these potatoes, but the outer texture was less popular, with calls for more crispiness and a stronger flavour.

8. Asda

Asda's Extra Special Beef Dripping Roast Potatoes (£2.75 for 800g) were considered lacklustre compared to other potatoes tested. While over half of the panel enjoyed the inner texture, a similar proportion felt the outsides lacked crispiness, and nearly half wanted a stronger flavour.

9. McCain

McCain, the well-known family brand, scored 60 percent for its expensive Triple Cooked Roasts (£3 for 700g). They were described as unappetisingly pale with a weak flavour, losing points for their lack of crispiness.