Cheaper than you can make it! Hot or cold, rice pudding’s one of my favourite comfort foods and when supermarket value rice pudding costs just 20p for a large can who wouldn’t like it? That’s two generous portions, 10p per portion!

I’ve tried several over the years, but which is the best supermarket value rice pudding? Supermarket rice pudding isn’t all thin and runny – but you might have to try 2-3 shops before you find one you like.

You might also be limited by which shops you have access to. The two shops I buy own brand rice pudding from are Tesco and Aldi – both are thick creamed rice and taste lovely.

12p Dessert!

Costing approximately 20p per full sized can, half a can of value rice pudding and some supermarket budget jam is a real treat – a dessert for just 12p. I find the Tesco Stockwell strawberry jam to be the best of the bunch. A jar of Stockwell strawberry jam contains 454 grams of jam and costs 30p; a 30gram portion of jam costs 2p!

Caveat: Of course, shops are notorious for changing recipes and not telling us, so any one brand can improve without notice….

How Long Can You Keep An Open Can of Rice Pudding?

Once you have opened the can, if you transfer the pudding into an airtight non-metallic container, you can put it in the fridge to be used within 3 days . This helps you to break up the cycle of having to eat the same food for days on end. One can = 2 portions, so you can eat one today and put the second portion in a lidded pot in the fridge for 2-3 days’ time when you fancy it. Hot or cold remember….. your choice.

Which Supermarkets Sell Value Rice Pudding?

Some lines disappear, or reappear under new names – and some supermarkets don’t have a searchable website. Below are some shops where you can buy rice pudding/creamed rice for 20p/can:

• Sainsburys: Hubbard’s Foodstore, 400 grams, 20p
• Aldi: Everyday Essentials Rice Pudding, 400 grams, 20p
• Tesco: Stockwell, 400 grams. 20p – this used to be the Tesco Every Day brand name
• Asda: Smart Price Rice Pudding, 400 grams, 23p
• Lidl: I’ve not been to Lidl in recent months, but Salco Rice Pudding, 425g, has been sold in the past. I can’t look up the price as they’ve no searchable website.
• Morrisons: Savers Rice Pudding, 400 grams, 200 – I’ve not tried Morrisons as they’re not close to me!

I’ve been mostly buying Tesco value rice pudding for the last 2-3 years, but I’ve also tried Aldi – and both are nice and thick! I wasn’t overly impressed with Lidl when I last tried it, but once you get one you like you tend to stick with it, so I’ve had no need to buy it elsewhere.

The CoOp also do a cheaper rice pudding, but it’s not in the same price bracket as those above; CoOp Honest Value Rice Pudding is 400 grams and costs 48p.

Serve Rice Pudding Hot or Cold

Cold rice pudding is just as nice as hot rice pudding – Muller Rice have made a market out of it! You can reheat the contents of the can in a saucepan or a microwave – a microwave is quicker, so cheaper.

What toppings go with rice pudding?

I tend to head for jam as a topping, but here are some other ideas:

• A spoon or two of jam, or marmalade.
• A spoon of chocolate spread
• A sprinkle of cocoa powder lightly across the top
• A few slices of tinned fruit, or fresh fruit. I’m partial to adding a few tinned mandarins!
• Soft, brown sugar – one of my favourites from school dinners! I usually “make do” with plain granulated sugar
• Dried sultanas are great, as are any other mixed fruits you have.

Give value brands a chance – they’re 1/5th of the price of big names and it’s a cheap treat!