Who might choose each format

Hosts who want a reduced-sugar tin

You want custard to pour over pancakes without mixing a powder, and a stated sugar reduction against a standard ready-to-serve custard matters to you.

Shoppers flexible about format

You are willing to prepare an instant mix with boiling water if the sugars figure for the prepared custard is your deciding factor.

Shoppers comparing lighter labels

You are considering reduced-fat ready-to-serve custard but want to check its sugars per 100g rather than assume ‘lighter’ also means reduced sugar.

What matters when buying

For Pancake Day custard, decide whether the ready-to-serve format, serving count, prepared sugars figure or lower-fat label matters most to you.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
A reduced-sugar tin Check that the pack is a ready-to-serve can and read both the sugars per 100g and the named product used for any reduction claim. I want to open a tin and serve custard over pancakes without mixing it, while choosing a stated sugar reduction; about 42% of consumers put a reduced-sugar ready-to-serve tin first.
Servings and leftovers Compare the stated serving count with your plans and check the storage instructions for opened custard. If I am serving a small group, I want a pack I can use within its opened-product storage period; for about 25% of consumers, serving size and leftovers are the primary concern.
Sugars across formats Compare sugars per 100g of custard ready to eat, then check the instant mix’s preparation instructions. I can make custard with boiling water if its prepared sugars figure matters more to me than having a tin; about 25% of consumers prioritise that figure over format.
Lower-fat labels Read the sugars per 100g separately from any reduced-fat claim. I may choose a lighter custard for its fat claim, but I do not want to mistake that for a sugar claim; for about 8% of consumers, lower fat is the primary concern.

Checks before you buy

  • Reading ‘reduced sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’

    Ambrosia lists 7.4g sugars per 100g for its Light can. Tesco lists 5.7g per 100g for its No Added Sugar Instant Custard Mix when prepared, but that product is a powder rather than a ready-to-serve tin.

    Decide whether the tin or the prepared sugars figure takes priority, and compare products on a per-100g ready-to-eat basis.

  • Assuming ‘lighter’ means less sugar

    Tesco Reduced Fat Custard lists 11.3g sugars per 100g, while Sainsbury’s Ready To Eat Lighter Custard lists 11.8g per 100g. Their lower-fat claims concern fat, not a reduction in sugar.

    Read the sugars line on the nutrition panel when sugar reduction is your reason for changing custard.

  • Choosing a pack without planning for leftovers

    Ambrosia describes its 400g Light can as three servings and instructs consumers to refrigerate remaining custard and use it within three days of opening.

    Match the pack to the number of pancake servings and follow its instructions for storing any remainder.

    An opened pack that cannot be used within its stated storage period may mean wasted custard.

  • Overlooking the allergen declaration

    Ambrosia Light canned custard contains milk. Tesco’s no-added-sugar instant mix also contains milk and states that it may contain egg and soya.

    Check the current pack’s ingredients and allergen declaration before serving custard to someone who needs to avoid those ingredients.

Relevant brands for reference

Ambrosia

Its Ready To Serve Light Devon Custard is available as a 400g can, offering a ready-to-serve reduced-sugar option for pancakes.

  • Ambrosia states that the Light custard has 30% less sugar and fat than its standard Devon Custard; the can lists 7.4g sugars per 100g.
  • It is not sugar-free, contains milk and has a three-day refrigerated use period after opening.

Tesco

Its no-added-sugar instant mix and reduced-fat ready-to-serve custard answer different buying needs.

  • Tesco lists 5.7g sugars per 100g for its No Added Sugar Instant Custard Mix when prepared.
  • The mix contains sucralose and requires boiling water and whisking. Tesco Reduced Fat Custard lists 11.3g sugars per 100g, so its fat claim should not be read as a sugar claim.

Sainsbury’s

Its Ready To Eat Lighter Custard is a ready-to-eat lower-fat alternative, rather than an established reduced-sugar substitute for the Ambrosia Light can.

  • Sainsbury’s states that this product has 50% less fat than its standard custard.
  • It lists 11.8g sugars per 100g; check that figure separately if sugar reduction is the aim.

Bird’s

Its Reduced Sugar Instant Custard Mix is a preparation-based alternative, not a household ready-to-serve tin.

  • Bestway Wholesale lists it as a 3kg instant mix with a stated sugar reduction against Bird’s food-service instant custard mix.
  • It requires preparation, and made-up custard must be treated as fresh food.

Joybuy custard selection

This 400g Ambrosia custard listing is relevant if you want a tin for Pancake Day. Check the current pack before treating the Low Fat product as the reduced-sugar Light formulation discussed above.

Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g

Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g

Consider this 400g custard if you want a tin to serve with pancakes. Its product name identifies a Low Fat variant; check the current pack for the exact formulation, any reduced-sugar claim and its allergen declaration before buying it for those needs.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is reduced-sugar tinned custard sugar-free?

No. Ambrosia lists 7.4g sugars per 100g for its Ready To Serve Light Devon Custard Can, despite its stated 30% sugar reduction against standard Ambrosia Devon Custard. Read the sugars figure and the named comparison on the pack rather than treating the two descriptions as interchangeable.

Can I heat Ambrosia Light custard in its tin?

No. Ambrosia’s instructions say to empty it into a saucepan for hob heating or a microwaveable container for microwave heating. Heat gently, stir frequently and do not boil.

How should I store opened Ambrosia Light tinned custard?

Remove any remaining custard from the can, refrigerate it and use it within three days of opening, following Ambrosia’s instructions.

Does Ambrosia Light tinned custard contain milk?

Yes. Ambrosia lists milk ingredients in its Light canned custard. Check the current pack’s allergen declaration before serving it to anyone who needs to avoid milk.

Does ‘lighter’ custard have less sugar?

Not necessarily. Tesco lists 11.3g sugars per 100g for its Reduced Fat Custard, and Sainsbury’s lists 11.8g per 100g for its Ready To Eat Lighter Custard. Compare the sugars per 100g rather than relying on a lower-fat description.