This $3.99 supermarket sausage beat 13 rivals, but what’s actually in it?

Sausages are a weekly staple for many families, especially if you have kids. They’re quick, easy, and everyone loves them. But which ones are the best?

We set out the answer to this question recently in the BHG office by taste-testing 14 supermarket sausages. While the Aldi thin sausages came out on top, we had some questions after reading the label.

The taste test verdict 

One taste tester noted Aldi’s thin sausage had a “good balance of salt, not too gamey, slightly crunchy casing” and would “go great with bread and tomato sauce.” 

Others agreed, calling out the satisfying crispiness and nostalgic flavour, “like a sausage I loved as a kid”, with more than one tester drawing the ultimate Australian comparison: “tastes like a Bunnings BBQ.” 

“I will only buy Aldi sausages”

“I will only buy Aldi Sausages, I reckon they are the best, they cook beautifully in my Air Fryer,” said one commenter. 

Another added: “Aldi sausages are the bomb” 

“Aldi is definitely the best.” 

Aldi thin sausage taste test winner

But what’s actually in it? 

For all the love, the label gave us pause. The first ingredient is meat (71%), a good sign, but the brackets just say “beef, lamb, or chicken.” So which is it? We asked Aldi.

An Aldi spokesperson told us the Ready, Set… Cook thin sausages are made with 100% Australian beef, lamb, and/or chicken, with the exact mix determined by what’s in supply and in accordance with Australian food regulations, so the quality stays consistent.

The only thing not local: the casings, which are sourced overseas.

“We’re proud that a product made with Australian-grown meat available at ALDI prices has been voted the best,” the spokesperson said.

The upside is it’s genuinely Aussie meat. The trade-off is you can’t know the precise blend on any given day, which is worth knowing if you steer clear of a particular meat. But it’s less of an issue if you just want a delicious sausage.

Our Facebook community had other ideas

Turns out plenty of our readers don’t want a supermarket sausage at all. For every commenter who backed Aldi, more than two said skip it and head to the butcher.

“Local butcher is the best. Yes, costs a bit more, but worth eating a healthier option.” 

“My small butcher is the best” 

“Butcher every time. Support local, Australian farmers.” 

“I only buy from the local butcher. The taste is so much better” 

The verdict?

Aldi takes the crown for taste, value and 100% Aussie meat. If knowing the exact blend in your snag matters to you, the butcher’s still worth the extra few dollars, but for a backyard barbie, Aldi’s thin sausages will more than satisfy a crowd.