If lower sugar and fat than standard Ambrosia Devon Custard matter most, Ambrosia Light is a tinned option; Ambrosia states that its Light custard contains 30% less of each. Ambrosia Deluxe offers another tinned choice, while the cream-and-egg custards from Tesco, Sainsbury's and M&S are chilled instead. Compare nutrition per 100g, the amount you plan to serve and the current allergen label before deciding what suits your lunch.
If custard is a small part of your lunch, compare energy, sugars, fat and saturates per 100g, then consider the amount you will serve. The NHS recommends using food labels to compare products rather than relying on a range name.
If cream, egg yolk and Madagascan vanilla are what you mean by luxury, the chilled Tesco Finest, Sainsbury's Taste the Difference and M&S Collection products offer those ingredient profiles. They need refrigerated storage, unlike unopened ambient custard cans.
If you want ready-to-serve custard on hand for a later lunch, Ambrosia instructs shoppers to keep its unopened standard and Light cans in a cool, dry place. After opening, the remaining custard needs different storage.
Decide whether nutrition, richer ingredients or unopened cupboard storage will drive your choice, then check the label of the product and portion you intend to use.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrition and portion | Compare energy, sugars, fat and saturates per 100g, then check the amount you will actually serve. | If I want custard after lunch but am watching what goes into that portion, a smaller serving figure alone will not settle the choice. About 40% of consumers put nutrition and portion size first. |
| Luxury ingredients | Check for cream, egg yolk and vanilla in the ingredients, alongside saturates per 100g and chilled-storage instructions. | If the appeal is a cream-and-egg custard, I may accept a chilled product rather than insist on a tin. Richer ingredients are the main priority for about 30% of consumers. |
| Cupboard convenience | Read the unopened storage instructions and the directions for keeping any custard left after opening. | When I am stocking up for lunches later in the week, being able to keep an unopened can in the cupboard matters more than a chilled ingredient profile. About 30% of consumers make ready-to-serve cupboard storage their primary concern. |
Cream and egg yolk describe an ingredient choice, not a lighter lunch dessert. Tesco lists 7.5g saturates per 100g for Finest Vanilla Custard, Sainsbury's lists 7.7g for Taste the Difference Vanilla Custard, and M&S lists 8.2g for Collection Madagascan Vanilla Luxury Custard.
Compare the nutrition panels and decide how much custard you plan to serve, rather than choosing by the range name alone.
Ambrosia's 400g cans state a 130g portion, while the Tesco Finest and Sainsbury's chilled custards state 125g servings. Figures per serving therefore describe different amounts of food.
Start with values per 100g, then use the amount you expect to put in the bowl.
The Tesco Finest, Sainsbury's Taste the Difference and M&S Collection options discussed here are chilled products. Ambrosia says its unopened standard and Light cans can be kept in a cool, dry place.
Check the storage and date instructions before choosing a product for a lunch you are planning ahead.
The Ambrosia canned products contain milk ingredients, while the chilled Tesco, Sainsbury's and M&S products contain milk and egg ingredients. Tesco Finest and M&S also carry nut-related information that matters to shoppers with allergies.
Read the label on the pack you buy, including any precautionary allergen statements, rather than relying on a previous purchase.
Ambrosia has standard Devon Custard and Light Devon Custard cans; Tesco also lists an Ambrosia Deluxe Custard can as a separate tinned option.
Tesco lists ready-to-serve tinned custard as well as Finest Vanilla Custard, which is a chilled alternative rather than a luxury tin.
Taste the Difference Vanilla Custard is a chilled, ready-to-eat option with free-range egg yolk and Madagascan vanilla, not a tinned custard.
M&S Collection Madagascan Vanilla Luxury Custard is a chilled product made with Channel Island milk, British cream, egg yolks and Madagascan vanilla extract.
Tesco lists Bird's Original Custard Powder and Instant Custard sachets. These are preparation options rather than the ready-to-serve tinned custard at the centre of this choice.
These Ambrosia Light products relate to the lighter, ready-to-serve custard choice. Check the 1kg product's packaging if you specifically need a tin.
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A ready-to-serve 400g can for shoppers comparing a lighter custard with standard Ambrosia Devon Custard. Ambrosia states that its Light 400g custard has 30% less sugar and fat than the standard product. It contains milk; check the current pack for allergens and storage directions.
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A 1kg ready-to-serve option if you want to portion custard for more than one serving. Check its own nutrition and allergen label when comparing it with the 400g can, and confirm the packaging format before ordering if a tin is essential.
No: a luxury range name does not describe its nutrition. Tesco Finest, Sainsbury's Taste the Difference and M&S Collection chilled custards list 7.5g, 7.7g and 8.2g saturates per 100g respectively. Compare their labels and the portion you intend to eat.
Compare energy, fat, saturates, sugars and salt per 100g first, then look at the labelled serving and your intended portion. The NHS advises using food labels for comparison; the stated serving need not match what you put in a bowl.
Ambrosia says its unopened standard and Light 400g cans should be stored in a cool, dry place. After opening either can, remove the remaining custard, refrigerate it and consume it within three days.
The Ambrosia canned products contain milk ingredients; the chilled Tesco, Sainsbury's and M&S custards discussed here contain milk and egg ingredients. Tesco Finest says it may contain peanuts and nuts, while M&S says its Collection product is not suitable for people with nut or peanut allergy. Always check the current pack.
The Ambrosia cans and the Tesco Finest and Sainsbury's chilled products discussed here provide heating directions. Follow the instructions for the exact product and pack size, including the stated container, stirring and boiling precautions.