Salt-label comparers
If salt is your priority, compare the figure per 100g across the exact tins you are considering. The NHS describes 0.3g salt or less per 100g as low; the amount in your serving also depends on how much custard you pour.
Who this is for
Pancake Day hosts
For several servings, pack size and leftovers matter alongside the nutrition label. The reviewed Ambrosia tins can be served hot or cold, and their opened-pack instructions call for refrigeration and use within three days.
Shoppers comparing more than salt
A low-fat label answers a different question from the salt line. In the reviewed Ambrosia comparison, the Low Fat 400g tin lists less fat per 100g than the standard 750g tin, but slightly more salt.
What matters when choosing
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Salt per 100g | Compare the salt line on the exact tins using the same per-100g measure; check your intended serving amount separately. | If salt will decide which custard goes on the pancakes, the per-100g figures need to be comparable. About 50% of consumers put that salt comparison first. |
| Servings and leftovers | Check pack weight, stated portions and the instructions for storing custard after opening. | When serving several people, I want enough ready-to-serve custard without opening more than we can use. That is the primary concern for about 30% of consumers. |
| Wider label and dietary fit | Compare other nutrition values per 100g, then read the ingredients and allergen statement on the exact pack. | If fat or an ingredient restriction matters too, a salt figure alone cannot settle the choice; about 20% of consumers make this wider label check their priority. |
Buying pitfalls
-
Assuming low fat means less salt
Tesco lists 0.12g salt and 2.0g fat per 100g for Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g. The standard Ambrosia Devon Custard 750g reviewed by Asda lists 0.11g salt and 2.9g fat per 100g.
Compare salt directly, then decide whether the separate fat difference matters to you.
-
Comparing unequal portions
The reviewed standard tin states a 125g portion, while the Low Fat tin states 130g. Their per-portion figures therefore do not describe equal amounts of custard.
Use per-100g figures to compare tins, then consider how much you plan to serve with each pancake.
-
Opening a tin without a leftovers plan
The reviewed Ambrosia tins instruct you to refrigerate custard after opening and consume it within three days.
Choose a pack size that fits your servings, or plan another use for the remainder within the pack's stated storage period.
-
Treating every custard format as a tin
Custard listings can include ready-to-serve tins, chilled products and powder that needs preparation. Those formats are not interchangeable if an ambient, ready-to-serve tin is what you need.
Confirm the format and preparation directions before comparing the product's nutrition label.
Brands and formats to consider
Ambrosia
Ready-to-serve tins include the reviewed Devon Custard 750g and Low Fat Custard 400g.
- Asda lists 0.11g salt per 100g for the reviewed standard tin; Tesco lists 0.12g for the reviewed Low Fat tin.
- The Low Fat label does not identify the lower-salt choice in this comparison. Check the current pack, particularly when choosing another size or flavour.
Tesco
Tesco lists its own 400g Ready To Serve Custard among tinned custards.
- An own-brand ready-to-serve option to compare with the Ambrosia tins.
- Use the exact tin's current salt-per-100g figure before deciding where it fits in a salt comparison.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists ready-to-eat own-brand custard alongside tinned products.
- Its listed 500g ready-to-eat custard offers another pack size to consider for servings.
- Check the specific product's container and salt label if you need a tin rather than another ready-to-eat format.
Bird's
Bird's Original Custard Powder is a make-at-home alternative.
- Worth considering if preparing custard is part of your Pancake Day plan.
- Powder is not a ready-to-serve tin; compare the nutrition information for the product and preparation you actually intend to use.
M&S
M&S lists chilled custards, a different format from an ambient ready-to-serve tin.
- A format alternative if chilled custard suits the planned dessert.
- A chilled product's nutrition values do not establish the values for an M&S tin. Check the exact product and its storage instructions.
Joybuy custard selections
These Ambrosia 400g products offer standard, strawberry-flavoured and low-fat choices for a Pancake Day custard topping. Check each exact pack's salt label before choosing on that basis: the standard 750g tin used in the comparison above is a different pack.
Image unavailable
Ambrosia Devon Custard 400g
Consider this standard 400g variant if you want custard without the strawberry flavour or Low Fat variant. For a salt-first choice, compare its own label with the other tins you are considering rather than applying the figure for the reviewed 750g pack.
Image unavailable
Ambrosia Strawberry Flavour Devon Custard 400g
Choose this 400g variant only if strawberry flavour suits the topping you have planned. Read its own salt-per-100g and allergen information before comparing it with unflavoured custard.
Image unavailable
Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g
Consider this tin when fat content matters alongside salt. Tesco lists 2.0g fat and 0.12g salt per 100g for this 400g product; the reviewed standard 750g Ambrosia tin lists less salt, at 0.11g per 100g. Check the pack's milk-allergen information before serving.
Common questions
How can I tell whether a tinned custard is low in salt?
Read the salt amount per 100g on the exact tin. The NHS describes 0.3g or less per 100g as low; Asda's reviewed Ambrosia Devon Custard 750g lists 0.11g, and Tesco's reviewed Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g lists 0.12g per 100g.
Does low fat mean less salt in custard?
No. Tesco's Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g lists 0.12g salt per 100g, compared with 0.11g for the standard Ambrosia Devon Custard 750g listed by Asda. Compare the salt lines separately from the fat figures.
Can I serve the reviewed Ambrosia tins hot with pancakes?
Yes. The reviewed standard and Low Fat Ambrosia custards can be served hot or cold. If warming one, follow the heating directions on its pack; the reviewed instructions say not to boil it.
How long can I keep an opened tin?
The reviewed Ambrosia products instruct you to refrigerate the remaining custard after opening and consume it within three days. Follow the directions on the exact pack you buy.
Are the reviewed Ambrosia custards suitable for someone with a milk allergy?
No. The ingredient information for the reviewed standard and Low Fat products includes milk-derived ingredients. Check the exact pack's allergen statement before serving custard to anyone who must avoid milk.