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We asked a panel of four independent experts to blind-taste and rate smoked salmon slices from the supermarkets alongside two big brand options.
The smoked salmon was all mild style, and included H Forman & Son and Loch Fyne smoked salmon, as well as supermarket smoked salmon from the likes of Aldi, Lidl, Tesco and M&S.
The results were varied, with some products impressing our experts and others falling behind. One scored just 44%.
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Only logged-in Which? members can view our full taste test results and tasting notes for each smoked salmon.
If you’re not yet a member, you’ll see an alphabetically ordered list of the smoked salmon on test. To get instant access to these and thousands of other reviews join Which? today.
£3.49 for 100g (£3.49 per 100g)
As one of the cheapest per 100g, Aldi never disappoints when it comes to price. But did this smoked salmon impress our experts on taste?
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Available in-store and online from Aldi.
£4.50 for 100g (£4.50 per 100g)
Did this ‘Extra Special’ smoked salmon from Asda impress our tasters?
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Available in-store and online from Asda. Also comes in a 120g packet for £5.40.
£5.80 for 100g (£5.80 per 100g)
The smoked salmon from the Co-op is part of its ‘Irresistible’ range, but what did our experts think?
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Available in-store and online from Co-op.
£7.35 for 100g (£7.35 per 100g)
As a premium brand, it’s no surprise that H Forman & Sons ranks as the second most expensive smoked salmon in our selection. But how did it fare with our tasters?
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Available online from Ocado.
£3.50 for 100g (£3.50 per 100g)
Did our experts enjoy this luxury smoked salmon from Iceland?
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Available in-store and online from Iceland.
£3.49 for 100g (£3.49 per 100g)
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Available in-store from Lidl.
£7.50 for 100g (£7.50 per 100g)
The priciest per 100g of all our tested smoked salmon. Is this fish from Loch Fyne worth the price?
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Available online from Ocado.
£11.00 for 300g (3.67 per 100g)
Surprisingly, this M&S salmon was below the average price of the fish we tested. But does it deliver on taste?
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Available in-store from M&S. Also available online from M&S in a 100g packet for £5.75.
£4.99 for 120g (£4.16 per 100g)
Morrisons sell this salmon as part of its ‘the Best’ range. Did our expert tasters give their approval?
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Available in-store and online from Morrisons.
£4.75 for 100g (£4.75 per 100g)
Can this cherrywood-smoked salmon topped our leaderboard?
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Available in-store and online from Sainsbury’s.
£4.50 for 100g (£4.50 per 100g)
Did our panel proclaim this Tesco smoked salmon as the ‘Finest’ among the rest?
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Available in-store and online from Tesco.
£6.65 for 100g (£6.65 per 100g)
How well did our tasters rate this Waitrose smoked salmon? Does the chestnut make a difference?
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Available in-store and online from Waitrose.
Price and availability checked December 2023.
Follow our expert tips to help you pick the right salmon for the occasion. We explain how to pick flavoured versions, what's different about gravlax and why colour doesn't equal quality.
All the products we tested are farmed salmon. Most stated they were either RSPCA assured (M&S, Tesco, Co-op, Lidl), 'Responsibly sourced / farmed' (Aldi, Asda, Morrisons, Loch Fyne) or ASC certified (Sainsbury's).
Farmed salmon does have its issues, and the Good Fish Guide recommends that organic, ASC-certified or Wild Pacific salmon is the best option sustainability wise. It is considerably pricier and harder to track down though, which is why we didn't test it this time.
You can also swap to smoked trout, which is less intensively farmed. These are the supermarket options we found:
Find out more in our guide to buying sustainable fish.
Discover which supermarket own-brands came top in our champagne taste test
If a show-stopping salmon starter is what you’re after for your Christmas feast, here are some ideas.
If you have smoked salmon leftovers, our experts advise against freezing it. Once defrosted, the texture can end up mushy.
Fresh smoked salmon typically lasts 4-5 days in the fridge once opened. When storing, make sure to cover the slices with clingfilm or tinfoil to prevent air from ruining the texture. Always check the packaging labels and follow the use-by dates provided.
You'll often find festive-themed flavours in the shops around December time. Here’s what we've found for 2023:
Our panel of four independent smoked salmon experts blind-tasted a selection of supermarket and premium smoked salmon in September 2023. They included:*
The experts rated each smoked salmon on taste, aroma, texture and appearance and told us what they liked and disliked about each one.
The taste test was blind, so the experts didn’t know which smoked salmon they were trying. The order they sampled the smoked salmon were fully rotated to avoid any bias. The overall score is based on:
*Our fourth expert is the managing director of an award-winning smokery supplying high-end retail stores and Michelin-quality restaurants. They have requested to remain anonymous.
Getting ready to shop for your festive food? Read our guide on the best places to buy turkey, trimmings and more