Salt-first home bakers
If you are choosing custard for cakes, crumbles or puddings with salt in mind, compare the figure per 100g rather than relying on light wording.
Who this is for
Bakers comparing sugar and fat
If sugar and fat also affect your choice, read all three figures on the same per-100g basis. Ambrosia declares less sugar and fat for its Light tin than for its standard tin, but not less salt.
Convenience-led pudding bakers
If you want ready-to-serve custard with a bake, check how the exact tin should be warmed and what you will do with any leftovers after opening.
What to check when choosing a tin
Start with salt per 100g, then consider how you will serve the custard and how much your recipe needs.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Salt per 100g | Compare the current salt figures on the exact tins. Ambrosia declares 0.11g per 100g for standard Devon Custard and 0.12g for Light. | If salt is my deciding factor, I need a like-for-like label comparison rather than a light claim; about 36% of consumers put salt comparison first. |
| Serving and heating | Check that the custard is ready to serve and follow the tin’s instructions if warming it for a cake, crumble or pudding. | When I want custard ready for a baked dessert without preparing it from powder, ease of serving matters most; roughly 29% of consumers prioritise that need. |
| Sugar and fat | Compare sugar and fat per 100g alongside salt. Ambrosia declares 7.4g sugars and 2.0g fat for Light, versus 10.6g and 2.9g for standard Devon Custard. | If I am choosing between these tins partly on sugar and fat, those label figures lead my decision; about 21% of consumers make that their primary concern. |
| Quantity and leftovers | Match the tin size to your recipe and check its after-opening storage directions. Ambrosia instructs users to decant leftovers, refrigerate them and consume them within three days. | For a bake that uses only part of a tin, I need a plan for the remainder; around 14% of consumers chiefly consider usable quantity and leftovers. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Assuming light means less salt
Ambrosia’s Light tin has lower declared sugar and fat than its standard Devon Custard tin, but declares 0.12g salt per 100g rather than 0.11g.
Read the salt-per-100g line on the current tin before choosing between them.
-
Comparing different serving sizes
A per-serving figure is harder to compare when tins define servings differently.
Compare salt per 100g first, then consider the amount your recipe will use.
-
Heating custard in the can
The checked Ambrosia tins call for custard to be transferred before heating and warmed gently without boiling.
Use a saucepan or microwaveable container, and follow the exact pack’s heating instructions.
-
Opening more custard than the bake needs
Ambrosia instructs users to remove leftovers from the can, refrigerate them and consume them within three days.
Choose a quantity you can use and plan how to serve any remainder.
Custard left unused beyond the stated storage period may go to waste.
Brands to consider for this comparison
Ambrosia
Ambrosia provides nutrition figures for its standard and Light 400g Devon Custard tins, allowing a direct comparison of these two variants.
- The manufacturer declares 0.11g salt per 100g for standard Devon Custard and 0.12g for Light.
- Both checked tins contain milk. Check the current pack for ingredients and nutrition information, which can change.
Tesco
Tesco lists a 400g Ready To Serve Custard tin as an own-label option.
- Its 400g format gives shoppers another tin to compare for a bake.
- Read the exact tin’s current salt-per-100g label before comparing it with Ambrosia.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists ready-to-eat custard and the Ambrosia Light tin in its custard range.
- Shoppers can compare the listed Ambrosia Light tin with other custard formats.
- Sainsbury's declares 0.15g salt per 100g for its 1kg ready-to-eat custard; that figure does not describe a Sainsbury's tin.
Bird's
Bird's custard powder and instant sachets are preparation-method alternatives, rather than tins in this comparison.
- A powder allows the preparation method to be chosen separately from a ready-to-serve tin.
- Compare the exact product and prepared custard’s nutrition information before drawing a salt comparison with a tin.
Joybuy tinned custard selections
These 400g Ambrosia custards offer standard, strawberry-flavoured and Low Fat options to assess against your baking plans. Check the current pack label when salt or milk ingredients affect your choice.
No image available
Ambrosia Strawberry Flavour Devon Custard 400g
Consider this strawberry-flavoured variant if its flavour suits the pie or crumble you are serving. Compare salt per 100g and check the milk allergen declaration on the current pack.
No image available
Ambrosia Devon Custard 400g
For a standard ready-to-serve custard with cake or crumble, Ambrosia declares 0.11g salt per 100g for this tin. It contains milk; if serving it warm, transfer it from the can and follow the pack’s heating instructions.
No image available
Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g
Consider this tin when its sugar and fat figures matter alongside salt. Ambrosia declares 7.4g sugars, 2.0g fat and 0.12g salt per 100g for the Light custard, so its low-fat description does not make it the lower-salt choice against the checked standard tin. It contains milk.
Questions about tinned custard
What does low salt mean on a custard label?
For comparison, look at salt per 100g. nidirect describes 0.3g salt or less per 100g as low salt; Ambrosia declares 0.11g for its standard Devon Custard tin and 0.12g for Light. Check the current labels before choosing.
Is light tinned custard lower in salt?
Not necessarily. Ambrosia’s Light 400g tin declares 0.12g salt per 100g, compared with 0.11g for its standard Devon Custard tin, despite its lower declared sugar and fat.
How should I warm tinned custard for a crumble?
For the checked Ambrosia tins, transfer the custard from the can, heat it gently and stir; do not boil it. If using a microwave, use a microwaveable container and follow the exact pack’s directions.
What should I do with custard left in an opened tin?
For the checked Ambrosia tins, remove the remaining custard from the can, refrigerate it and consume it within three days. Follow the storage directions on the exact product you open.
Are the checked Ambrosia tins suitable for someone with a milk allergy?
No. The checked standard and Light Ambrosia custards contain milk; check the current allergen declaration on any alternative before using it.