Who is choosing?

Fat-first dessert shoppers

If lowering fat is your main aim, compare the declared fat per 100g rather than choosing by brand name or front-of-pack wording.

Sharers checking sugar too

If you are serving custard to a group, compare fat, sugars and energy per 100g before deciding how much to pour.

Small households planning leftovers

If the can will not be finished on movie night, check its stated servings and directions for storing custard after opening.

What matters when buying?

Start with the per-100g nutrition panel for a like-for-like comparison, then consider how you will serve and store the custard.

ConcernWhat to checkWho this matters to
Fat per 100g Compare the fat row on the same per-100g basis. ASDA Groceries lists 0.6g for ASDA Just Essentials, 1.6g for ASDA Light and 2.0g for Ambrosia Light. If I am choosing custard chiefly to lower fat, differing stated portions should not distort the comparison. About 36% of consumers put declared fat per 100g first.
Fat and sugar together Read fat, sugars and energy per 100g together. ASDA Groceries lists 7.4g sugars for Ambrosia Light and 8.3g for ASDA Light, despite Ambrosia Light's higher fat figure. When sharing dessert, I may care about sugar as well as fat rather than choosing on a single figure. For about 29% of consumers, that combined nutrition check is the primary concern.
Portions and leftovers Check stated servings and the opened-pack instructions. ASDA Groceries suggests two servings for each ASDA can and lists three 130g portions for Ambrosia Light. If only a few people want custard, I need to know whether the can will be finished or stored. Portion fit and leftovers come first for about 21% of consumers.
Serving convenience Check whether the chosen custard can be served cold or how its pack directs you to heat it. For an easy movie-night dessert, I want serving directions that fit the time and equipment available. About 14% of consumers put that convenience ahead of the other concerns.

What is easy to overlook?

  • Assuming “light” means every nutrition figure is lower

    ASDA Groceries lists 1.6g fat and 8.3g sugars per 100g for ASDA Light, compared with 2.0g fat and 7.4g sugars for Ambrosia Light.

    Compare fat, sugars and energy per 100g according to which figures matter to your choice.

  • Comparing different stated portions

    ASDA Groceries suggests two servings for ASDA Light and ASDA Just Essentials, while its Ambrosia Light listing states three 130g portions.

    Use per-100g figures to compare the products, then check the stated portions when planning what to serve.

  • Leaving custard in an opened can

    Tesco Groceries instructs buyers of Tesco Reduced Fat Custard to move unused contents to a non-metallic container, cover and refrigerate them, and consume them within three days.

    Check the storage directions on the can you choose and plan how you will use any remainder.

  • Assuming lower-fat custard is milk-free

    The Ambrosia Light, ASDA Light and ASDA Just Essentials products listed by ASDA Groceries contain milk.

    If milk is a concern, check the ingredients and allergen declaration on the current pack before serving.

Relevant brands for reference

Ambrosia

ASDA Groceries lists Ambrosia Light Low Fat & Reduced Sugar Custard Dessert in a 400g can.

  • The listing declares 2.0g fat, 7.4g sugars and 78 kcal per 100g, with three stated 130g portions.
  • Its declared fat per 100g is higher than that of the two ASDA cans compared here. It contains milk.

ASDA

ASDA Groceries lists both ASDA Light Custard and ASDA Just Essentials Custard in 400g cans.

  • ASDA Light is described as low fat and declares 1.6g fat per 100g; ASDA Just Essentials declares 0.6g per 100g.
  • The Just Essentials listing does not describe it as a low-fat product. Both products contain milk and have two suggested servings.

Tesco

Tesco Groceries lists Tesco Reduced Fat Custard in a 400g pack.

  • Its listing gives instructions for storing unused custard after opening.
  • Compare its current nutrition panel with other cans before choosing on fat per 100g.

Joybuy product selections

This 400g low-fat custard option is relevant if you are planning portions for movie night. Check the pack format if you specifically need a can.

Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g

Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g

For a movie-night dessert where you want a low-fat-labelled custard, this is a 400g option. Check its current pack for fat and sugars per 100g, serving directions, allergens and opened-pack storage; confirm the packaging if a tin is essential.

Joybuy

Questions about tinned custard

Can I serve these custards cold?

ASDA Groceries states that Ambrosia Light can be served hot or cold. Check the serving directions on any other can you choose, particularly if you intend to heat it.

How should I store leftover custard?

Follow the chosen pack's instructions. For Tesco Reduced Fat Custard, Tesco Groceries says to transfer unused contents to a non-metallic container, cover and refrigerate them, and consume them within three days of opening.

Do the compared custards contain milk?

Yes. The Ambrosia Light, ASDA Light and ASDA Just Essentials products listed by ASDA Groceries contain milk. Check the current pack's ingredients and allergen declaration before serving.

Can I use custard after its best-before date?

A best-before date concerns quality. GOV.UK says sight, taste or smell can help you decide whether food is suitable after that date; also follow the pack's storage instructions. Do not apply that approach to a use-by date.