The best summer supermarket products 2016

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Asda Hot Dogs with Spicy Buffalo Sauce Pocket (£2/400g). This innovative hot dog sausage, with hidden pockets of hot sauce, is ‘dirty’ in all the right ways, and extremely moreish.

Best vegetarian burger

What we were looking for: a veggie burger that looks and tastes great and will stand up to be being barbecued.

WINNER: M&S Edgy Veggie Burger (£3/240g). You can really taste the flavours of the various vegetables and fresh herbs coming through in this burger. We love the texture: a proper crust gives way to a soft and moist centre.

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Best BBQ condiment

What we were looking for: something special to dollop on our burgers.

WINNER: Aldi Specially Selected Bloody Mary Ketchup (£1.29/340g). All of the components of a pokey bloody mary in a bottle. Celery – check. Worcestershire sauce – check. Tomato – check. A great match for well-seasoned meat.

Best burger bun

What we were looking for: a bun that could hold a burger. If we’re buying good meat, we’re not prepared to compromise on the bread.

WINNER: M&S Two Ultimate Burger Buns (£1/145g). We were really impressed with the rise and shine of this brioche bun. Not too sweet – perfect for burgers.

Best BBQ seafood product

What we were looking for: fish or shellfish that would impress.

WINNER: M&S Sea Bass in a Corn Husk (£7/281g). These pretty corn husk parcels look great on the BBQ and open to reveal neatly filleted fish seasoned with fresh herbs, and stuffed with a sweet corn and tomato salsa that is a perfect balance of heat and sweetness.

Best show-off salad

What we were looking for: an innovative combination of flavours to up our summer salad-game.

WINNER: M&S Rainforest, Super Grain and Avocado Salad (£2/160g). Contains a healthy mix of brazil nuts, quinoa and avocado, while a fruity mango and chilli dressing supplies a fruity lift.

Best pork pie

What we were looking for: a cracking pork pie that can be eaten cold.

WINNER: M&S Patron’s Lunch Pork Pie (£3.50/454g). This is a proper pork pie with a chunky meaty texture, a crisp hot-water crust and soft jelly with loads of flavour.

Best pâté or terrine

What we were looking for: a pâté or terrine to take on a picnic, to serve on bread or crackers.

WINNER: Aldi Specially Selected Chicken Liver Parfait (£1.19/170g). Smooth and strong, this chicken liver parfait is a moreish spread. We could eat the whole lot.

Best BBQ burger

What we were looking for: a burger, designed to be eaten in a bun and suitable for cooking on the BBQ, that will have everyone asking for more.

WINNER: LIDL Deluxe Scotch Aberdeen Angus Beef Burgers (£2.25/340g). A succulent and juicy burger, that’s substantial and homemade-looking,with a strong black pepper hit.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Morrisons The Best British 6oz Chuck Steak Burger (£3/340g). This juicy burger has a deliciously complex flavour.

If you feel like making your own burger, try one of our burger recipes

Best BBQ banger

What we were looking for: a great sausage with plenty of flavour and a good structure that will stand up to being chargrilled on the barbie.

JOINT WINNER: M&S Smokehouse Pork Links (£3/400g). This show-stopping sausage is enough to feed two and hasa great, authentically smoky flavour.

JOINT WINNER: Aldi Specially Selected British Outdoor Bred Pork and Bramley Apple Sausages (£1.75/400g). A top banger with proper chunks of apple.

Use your sausages in our best ever sausage recipes

Best BBQ skewer

What we were looking for: a meaty skewer for us to fill our pittas.

WINNER: Aldi British Minted Lamb (£1.99/320g). This lean lamb kebab has a clean and complementary mint flavour that we love.

Best vegetarian skewer

What we were looking for: a meat-free kebab with bags of flavour.

WINNER: M&S Chilloumi Cheese Kebabs (£4/225g). These halloumi kebabs have a satisfying squeak when you bite into them, and the fiery tomato marinade really complements the cheese’s natural saltiness.

Best frozen summer dessert

What we were looking for: a summer dessert that can be pulled out of the freezer for an impromptu BBQ or al fresco supper.

WINNER: Iceland Bellissima 2pk Tartufo Nero (£1.50/2 x 90g). These cocoa-dusted rich chocolate-mousse domes are rich with a deep cocoa hit.

Best summer dessert

What we were looking for: a showstopping summer dessert that we’d be happy to serve for a smart lunch or dinner.

WINNER: M&S Dulce de Leche Cheesecake (£6/340g). A good-looking cheesecake with an even, buttery biscuit base, a smooth and creamy topping with some dangerously good dulce de leche swirled through it.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Asda Patisserie Eclairs (£2/2pk). These summery éclairs are an easy-to-serve triumph – thumbs up from all of us. Try our summery strawberry eclairs recipe if you fancy making your own

Best summer wine

What we were looking for: a refreshing wine, ideal for drinking outside in the summer sun.

WINNER: M&S Picpoul de Pinet (£8.50/75clg). This white wine is crisp and zesty with lovely pear notes – great to serve with seafood and summer salads.

Best pre-bottled cocktail

What we were looking for: a ready-to-drink summer cocktail to pour over ice or straight into the glass (or mouth).

WINNER: M&S Papaya Piña Colada (£12/60cl). The papaya is a subtle addition in this pre-made, hassle-free piña colada. Serve over plenty of ice. Naff umbrella and colourful straw optional.

Best savoury snack to serve with drinks

What we were looking for: a savoury, salty snack to eat with a cold drink on a picnic or at a BBQ.

WINNER: LIDL Crusti Croc Cheese Butter Straws (85p/150g). These buttery straws are crisp, have impressive layers, and a strong hint of salty cheese that kept us going back for more, and more.

Best flavoured bread

What we were looking for: a bread to be served at room temperature that we’d want to tear and share on a picnic.

WINNER: Morrisons Lemon and Pumpkin Seed Cob (£1). This cob looks good and has a delicate lemony aroma with a fluffy middle that’s perfect for dipping in olive oil and balsamic.

Check out our exciting bread recipes for baking at home

Best summer dip

What we were looking for: dip, designed for dipping crudités, breadsticks or crisps into, that would make us want to scrape to the bottom of the tub.

WINNER: The Co-operative Loved By Us Middle Eastern Hummus (£1.50/165g). The spice adds a gentle hum to make this creamy chickpea dip a bit more interesting than your average version.

Best ice cream

What we were looking for: the ultimate scoop of ice cream.

WINNER: The Co-operative Truly Irresistible Venezuelan Chocolate Ice Cream (£3.49/500ml). A creamy ice cream that tastes like real chocolate. Perfect for kids and grown-ups.