Supermarket Scotch eggs

[Lysander]

I am something of a Scotch egg connoisseur but I haven't tried all of them in the main supermarkets. I have recently tried Tesco's Ultimate Scotch eggs: they're expensive at £3.40 for two but they're definitely the best I've had. Great seasoning, soft yolk, just delicious. Conversely, I find their standard eggs are better than their "Finest" ones which are just horrid.

From memory I'll try to list those I've had

Tesco's Ultimate - amazing, the best I've had but expensive.
Tesco's standard - actually quite decent for what they are.
Tesco's Finest - horrid, can't eat these. I don't know what they do to the meat but it's always too squidgy and the whole thing is just nasty.
Sainbury's - avoidable. Not a fan. Bland.
M&S - as above but slightly better.
Waitrose Essential - really good, the second best ones I've had. Can't go wrong with these.
Waitose Succulent - too big and just tooo ergghh and fatty. Don't like these.
Co-op - not bad. A little bland and the seasoning's a little odd, but generally quite good.

Any other good ones I could have missed? Which should you avoid?

 

[Lysander]

I'm going to go bold here though, and say that for a supermarket Scotch egg experience my favourite is the Quorn mini eggs. I know, I know. It's not egg, it's not meat, and they're not real Scotch eggs, but they have a satisfying texture and taste really good!

Really?! I'll pick some up tonight! Never been averse to Quorn.

The Jolly Hog one sold in Sainsburys is very good indeed, but pretty pricey.

Always try to avodd scotch eggs which rattle when shaken. Sign of a mass produced scotch egg from a factory machine. Eggs that don’t rattle are usually much better quality as the fresh meat has been moulded around the egg and then hand coated in crumb instead of the usual machine method of stitching 2 pre made halves together around an egg. This is what causes the rattle. Often, the eggs aren’t big enough to fill the entire middle.

Yeah, I know what you mean. As it happens I had two of those Ultimate Scotch eggs for lunch today and it looked like the machine had gone haywire. One of them was split open and the egg had exploded inside, whereas
the other had one and a half eggs in it Still tasted amazing!

The best hand-made ones I've had are from markets or delis. But, yeah, I was wondering about supermarket ones really - I haven't tried the Jolly Hog ones, I'll check them out.

Best one I've ever had was at Cheltenham services. Might be Cotswold Scotch Egg Company? Just Incerdible. Breading was seasoned really well, meat was yielding but not too fatty with a lovely soft yolk in the middle. Partner had a black pudding one which was also grand.

Just had a look...

The Scotch Eggs – The Cotswold Scotch Egg Company

cotswoldscotchegg.co.uk

From that picture, @robfosters would definitely approve.

 

[Lysander]

What is everyone's scotch egg eating procedure btw? I will cut it in half, then into quarters, then fork the egg quarters first and eat them, then go after the meat quarters.

Procedure has always been the same for me. Cut them into quarters and then eat them by hand. I don't think I've ever had them heated up though.

 

[Lysander]

Anyone attempting making these themselves?

Yes my brother has. I'm sure he won't mind my sharing the shots.



Now, before anyone says anything about those yolks, he is of the school that prefers harder yolks rather than hipster soft ones