Fat-label readers
If the fat figure is your main concern, compare the per-100g nutrition panels of ready-to-serve tins. A “light” or “reduced fat” name alone does not tell you which tin has the lowest declared figure.
Who is choosing custard?
Easter lunch hosts
When custard is for a shared pudding, the stated servings and your intended portions matter alongside the pack size. Check the serving and after-opening instructions before deciding how many cans you need.
Shoppers checking the whole label
If sugars, saturated fat or a guest’s milk allergy affect the choice, read those parts of the current pack as well as its fat figure. Lower-fat wording does not answer those separate questions.
What matters when buying?
For a ready-to-serve tin, settle the fat comparison first, then check whether the pack covers your planned portions and whether its other label details suit the table.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Declared fat | Compare fat per 100g across ready-to-serve tins; read “light” and “reduced fat” alongside the nutrition panel. | When choosing custard for Easter pudding, I want the lowest declared fat figure rather than relying on the name. About 42% of consumers put that comparison first. |
| Servings and leftovers | Check stated servings against your planned portions, then read the after-opening storage instructions. | For a shared dessert, I need enough custard for the table without losing track of what to do with an opened can. Consumers who put serving quantity and leftover handling first account for about 33%. |
| Sugars and milk | Read sugars and saturates per 100g, and check the current ingredients and milk-allergen declaration. | If I am comparing sugars or serving someone with a milk allergy, the fat line cannot settle the choice. About 25% of consumers prioritise these other label checks. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Taking “reduced fat” to mean the lowest fat
A reduced-fat statement compares a product with a reference product. It does not, by itself, compare every tin on the shelf.
Use the declared fat per 100g to compare ready-to-serve tins on the same basis.
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Reading the fat claim as a sugar claim
The Ambrosia and Tesco tins each declare 7.4g sugars per 100g, while ASDA Light Custard declares 8.3g per 100g, according to their product information.
Read sugars separately and consider the amount of custard you intend to serve.
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Counting cans rather than portions
ASDA describes its 400g Light Custard as two servings, while the Ambrosia 400g can states three. The same pack weight need not mean the same stated number of portions.
Plan around your dessert portions, and follow the pack’s instructions for refrigerating leftovers. For opened cans that require it, transfer the remaining custard to a non-metallic container.
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Overlooking milk on a lower-fat label
The Ambrosia, ASDA and Tesco tins discussed here contain milk. Their fat descriptions do not make them suitable for a guest with a milk allergy.
Check the current ingredients and allergen declaration on the particular pack before serving it.
Brands to consider
These examples include both tins and a carton; check the format before treating a lighter custard as a substitute for a tin.
Ambrosia
Ambrosia Low Fat Custard comes in a 400g ready-to-serve can.
- The can states three portions, can be served hot or cold and declares 2.0g fat and 7.4g sugars per 100g.
- It contains milk. Ambrosia’s “30% less sugar and fat” wording compares it with standard Ambrosia Devon Custard; it does not mean sugar-free.
ASDA
ASDA Light Custard is a 400g ready-to-serve can, distinct from its 500g 30% Less Fat Custard product.
- The Light can declares 1.6g fat per 100g and is described as two servings.
- It also declares 8.3g sugars per 100g and contains milk; check the current pack information before serving.
Tesco
Tesco Reduced Fat Custard is a 400g ready-to-serve tin.
- Tesco lists 1.7g fat and 7.4g sugars per 100g for this tin.
- Tesco listed the product as out of stock. Check availability before including it in your lunch plans.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s Ready To Eat Lighter Custard is a 500g, four-serving alternative if a carton suits your plans.
- Its product information declares 1.5g fat per 100g.
- It is not tinned custard. It declares 11.8g sugars per 100g, contains milk and requires refrigeration after opening.
Tinned custard on Joybuy
For a ready-to-serve 400g tin intended for a shared Easter pudding, this Ambrosia can provides a stated three portions. Compare its label with your planned serving size and guests’ requirements.
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Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g can
The stated three portions make this ready-to-serve can an option to assess for a shared pudding. It declares 2.0g fat and 7.4g sugars per 100g and can be served hot or cold. It contains milk; follow the pack instructions for refrigerating any custard left after opening and using it within three days.
Questions about serving custard
Does “low fat” mean low sugar?
No: the fat wording does not describe the sugar content. Ambrosia Low Fat and Tesco Reduced Fat each declare 7.4g sugars per 100g, while ASDA Light declares 8.3g per 100g. Check the sugar line on the pack you choose.
How many tins should I plan for Easter lunch?
Start with the stated portions and adjust for how much custard you intend to serve with the pudding. Ambrosia states three portions for its 400g can; ASDA describes its 400g Light can as two servings.
Can I serve ready-to-serve custard warm?
The Ambrosia 400g can can be served hot or cold. Follow the heating directions on the particular pack, including its container and stirring instructions, rather than assuming timings are the same across products.
What should I do with custard left in an opened can?
Follow that can’s storage instructions. The Ambrosia and ASDA product information calls for remaining custard to be transferred from the can, refrigerated and used within three days of opening.
Is one of these lower-fat tins suitable for a guest with a milk allergy?
The Ambrosia, ASDA and Tesco tins discussed here contain milk, so their lower-fat descriptions do not make them milk-free. Check the current ingredients and allergen declaration on any product you are considering for that guest.