Salt-first family dessert shoppers
If several people will share a tin, compare salt per 100g and consider the amount in each planned portion.
Who is this for?
Family quantity planners
Check the stated servings as well as the can size, then consider whether opened custard will be used within the time on the pack.
Shoppers considering a light tin
Check which nutrients a light claim refers to. Lower fat or sugar does not, by itself, establish lower salt.
What matters when choosing?
For a family dessert, compare the nutrition panel on a common per-100g basis, then plan portions and opened-can storage.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Salt contribution | Compare salt per 100g, then consider the amount in the portion you intend to serve. NHS inform defines low salt as 0.3g or less per 100g. | If salt is my main concern, I want to know what each bowl contributes when several of us share dessert; about 42% of consumers would put salt contribution first. |
| Servings and leftovers | Read the stated servings and the instructions for refrigerating and using custard after opening. | When I am buying for a shared dessert, I need enough custard without opening more tins than we can use; about 33% of consumers would make quantity and avoiding leftovers their primary concern. |
| Fat or sugar alongside salt | Compare fat, sugars and salt separately per 100g, including the product named in any reduction claim. | If I am considering a light tin for its fat or sugar content, I still need to check its salt separately; about 25% of consumers would put fat or sugar first. |
Buying pitfalls
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Assuming ‘light’ means less salt
Ambrosia lists 0.12g salt per 100g for Light Devon Custard and 0.11g per 100g for its standard Devon Custard. Its lower-fat-and-sugar claim does not describe a salt reduction.
Choose according to the nutrient you are comparing, and read each relevant line on the nutrition panel.
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Comparing only the per-serving figures
The checked 400g tins do not all define the same number of servings: Ambrosia states three portions, while the checked Sainsbury’s, Asda and M&S tins state two.
Compare salt per 100g first, then work out the amount for the portion you plan to serve.
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Opening more tins than the family will use
Opened-storage instructions differ between the checked products, so the number of tins that makes sense depends on when you plan to serve them.
Read each pack’s refrigeration and use-within instructions before opening another can.
Custard left beyond the pack’s stated period may need to be discarded.
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Treating custard powder as a ready-to-serve tin
Bird’s custard powder needs preparing with other ingredients. Its finished nutrition and yield depend on the recipe, so it is not a like-for-like salt comparison with a tin.
If you prefer to make a batch, assess the complete recipe rather than relying on the powder’s name alone.
Brands to consider as a reference
Ambrosia
Ambrosia’s ready-to-serve Devon Custard and Light Devon Custard come in 400g cans, each stating three portions.
- Ambrosia lists 0.11g salt per 100g for the standard tin and 0.12g per 100g for Light.
- The manufacturer describes Light as lower in fat and sugar than its standard custard, not lower in salt. Both products contain milk ingredients.
Sainsbury’s
Stamford Street Co. Custard is a ready-to-serve 400g can stating two servings.
- Sainsbury’s lists 0.10g salt per 100g and 0.20g per stated half-can serving.
- It contains milk ingredients; the product instructions say to transfer leftovers to a non-metallic container, refrigerate and use within one day.
Asda
Asda Light Custard is a ready-to-serve 400g can with two suggested servings.
- Asda lists 0.10g salt per 100g and describes this product as having less fat than its standard equivalent.
- The fat comparison does not establish a reduction in other nutrients. The product contains milk and has a three-day refrigerated use-within instruction after opening.
M&S
M&S Silky Smooth Custard is a 400g ready-to-serve can stating two servings.
- The product information published by Ocado lists 0.10g salt per 100g.
- It contains milk; the checked instructions say to refrigerate leftovers and eat them within two days.
Bird’s
Bird’s is relevant if you would rather prepare custard from powder than open a ready-to-serve tin.
- Preparing it yourself allows you to make a batch for the occasion.
- The finished quantity and nutrition depend on the ingredients and amounts used; check the exact powder’s instructions and allergens.
Ready-to-serve tins on Joybuy
These 400g Ambrosia tins are options for a ready-to-serve family dessert. Compare the current packs for salt, portions and storage instructions before deciding how many to buy.
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Ambrosia Devon Custard 400g
For a shared dessert where stated portions help with planning, Ambrosia lists three portions for this 400g tin and 0.11g salt per 100g. It contains milk; follow the pack’s instructions for transferring and refrigerating leftovers after opening.
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Ambrosia Strawberry Flavour Devon Custard 400g
For a strawberry-flavoured custard, this 400g tin is a ready-to-serve option. Compare its current salt-per-100g figure with other tins and check the stated servings before planning a family dessert. Check the milk allergen information and opened-storage instructions on the pack.
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Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g
If you are considering a low-fat custard alongside your salt comparison, check both nutrients separately on this 400g tin’s current label. Read the stated servings, milk allergen information and directions for storing any leftovers before choosing the quantity for your household.
Common questions
What counts as low salt on a custard label?
NHS inform defines low salt as 0.3g or less per 100g. Compare that figure rather than relying on a brand’s stated serving size: the checked Ambrosia, Sainsbury’s, Asda and M&S 400g tins list 0.10g–0.12g salt per 100g.
Does ‘light’ custard have less salt?
Not necessarily. Ambrosia says its Light Devon Custard has less fat and sugar than its standard Devon Custard, but lists 0.12g salt per 100g for Light versus 0.11g for standard. Check the salt line independently of the light claim.
How long can I keep custard after opening a tin?
Follow the instructions on the specific pack and refrigerate leftovers as directed. The checked Sainsbury’s product states use within one day, M&S within two days, and Ambrosia and Asda within three days; check the current label before storing a newly opened tin.
Should I check allergens when buying a familiar custard?
Yes, if an allergen matters to anyone eating it. The checked ready-to-serve tins contain milk ingredients, and the current pack is the place to check the information for the particular product you are serving.