This week: Burgers

Market Butchers Beef Burgers

€4.99 for 454g, 10.99 per kg

These are undoubtedly the most upmarket burgers we tried and are both tastefully packaged and tasty to boot. They are made with 99.5 per cent Irish beef and come with an endorsement by celeb chef Derry Clark. There is a subtle hint of garlic, a soupçon of tomato and a whole lot of kibbled onions – that’s chopped and dried ones to you and Pricewatch. While the onions add a little bit of texture – which is needed in the absence of any breadcrumbs – and taste perfectly pleasant, they are a little on the chewy side. And the price is a small concern.

VerdictA damn fine burger

Feasters Quarter Pounder

€1,79 for 200g, €8.95 per kg

Has it really come to this? Really? Could anyone be in such a hurry that they need to eat a burger within 90 seconds of coming home? We suspect that the market for this is people who have absolutely no idea how to cook and no access to a cooker, other than a microwave, and the incredibly drunk, but we could be wrong. The cheese gives processed cheese slices a worse name than they already have, the burger is grey and chewy and the bun way too moist and tasteless. It is not the worst thing we have ever reviewed (take a bow Polish pâté) – but it does come close.

VerdictAwful

Dunnes Quarter Pounders

€6 for 1.2kg, €5 per kg

These looked decidedly ropey, flecked as they were with what appeared to be large pieces of gristly grease, so we were pleasantly surprised by their taste. As we ate one, we were taken with its lovely meaty flavour and the fact that it was not too greasy.

Unlike some of the other burgers, it did not shrink excessively when introduced to the pan. They are also very good value for money. Our love-in came to a shuddering halt with the last mouthful when we chomped down on a big chunk of fatty toughness that we couldn’t identify.

VerdictCheap but a bit gristly

M&S Quarter Pounder

€12.50 for 1.36kg, €9.19 per kg

These burgers were quite small when raw, and got a whole lot smaller when fried. They left a troubling amount of grease after them in the pan and the grease that wasn’t left behind was splattered all over our cooker.

Despite this they are still pretty excellent. They are firm and meaty and filled with flavour. We did buy them on a three for €12.50 special, and at their regular price of more than a fiver a packet they could hardly be considered good value for money.

VerdictExcellent at this price

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