Who this is for

Salt-first custard shoppers

You want a ready-to-serve tin and would rather check its salt figure against the NHS per-100g benchmark than infer anything from a “lighter” description.

Calorie-aware custard shoppers

You want to compare the energy and fat in tinned custard alongside salt, including the amount you are likely to pour rather than only the pack’s suggested serving.

Households planning several portions

You may share a tin or keep some for later, making serving size and the opened-pack storage instructions part of the choice.

What to check when buying

For tinned custard, start with the nutrition values per 100g so different tin sizes and suggested servings do not obscure the comparison. Then consider how much you will serve and whether you can use the remainder as the pack instructs.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Salt Compare salt per 100g. The NHS low-salt benchmark is 0.3g or less per 100g; a low-fat label does not establish a reduced-salt claim. If salt is my main concern, I want the figure on the tin rather than an impression from its name. About 40% of consumers put a clear salt comparison first.
Energy and fat Compare kcal, total fat and saturates per 100g, then apply the figures to the portion you plan to serve. When choosing a dessert topping, I may care more about its energy and fat values once its salt meets my criterion. For about 40% of consumers, those values are the primary concern.
Portions and leftovers Check the serving weight and the instructions for storing custard after opening. If a tin will cover several desserts, I need to plan both the amount served and what happens to the remainder. Portion and storage control comes first for about 20% of consumers.

Common buying mistakes

  • Assuming low fat also means less salt

    Tesco Groceries lists 0.12g salt per 100g for Ambrosia Low Fat Custard, while ASDA Groceries lists 0.11g for standard Ambrosia Devon Custard. The low-fat tin is not the lower-salt one in this comparison.

    Read the salt and fat lines separately. If a reduced-salt claim matters to you, check what comparison the current pack makes rather than substituting the NHS low-salt threshold for that claim.

  • Assuming the labelled serving matches your bowl

    Nutrition values for a stated serving describe that amount, not necessarily the quantity you will pour. Action on Salt advises checking the portion size on the packaging.

    Estimate your serving in grams and use the per-100g figures to work out its energy and salt. A 200g portion, for instance, contains twice the stated per-100g amounts.

  • Opening a tin without planning the remainder

    Opened-pack instructions differ: the Ambrosia Devon and Stamford Street Co. tins described by ASDA Groceries and Sainsbury’s specify different refrigerated use periods.

    Choose a pack size that suits the portions you intend to serve, and follow that product’s instructions for transferring, refrigerating and using leftovers.

    Custard left beyond the pack’s stated use period may need to be discarded.

Brands and product lines to consider

These examples show why the product and pack format matter more than the brand name alone. Compare the current label of the exact custard you intend to buy.

Ambrosia

Its Low Fat and standard Devon Custard products provide a direct comparison between two 400g tins.

  • Tesco Groceries lists 78kcal, 2.0g fat and 0.12g salt per 100g for the Low Fat tin.
  • ASDA Groceries lists 96kcal and 0.11g salt per 100g for standard Devon Custard: the lower-energy tin is not the lower-salt tin.

Tesco

Tesco Ready To Serve Custard is an own-label 400g tin to compare with branded options.

  • Tesco Groceries lists 96kcal and 0.10g salt per 100g.
  • Those salt and energy figures alone do not settle a choice in which fat or saturates also matter; check the full panel.

Sainsbury’s

Its Stamford Street Co. custard is a 400g tin; its Ready To Eat Lighter Custard is a different, 500g ambient pack.

  • Sainsbury’s lists 72kcal and 0.10g salt per 100g for Stamford Street Co. Custard.
  • Do not treat the lighter 500g pack as a like-for-like tin when planning portions or leftovers.

Asda

ASDA Groceries lists Ambrosia Devon Custard in a tin and an ASDA own-label 30% Less Fat Custard in a 500g ambient pack.

  • The own-label pack lists 87kcal and 0.09g salt per 100g.
  • It is not a tinned alternative, so check the format as well as the nutrition panel before changing your choice.

Bird’s

Bird’s Original Custard Powder is a make-your-own alternative, not ready-to-serve tinned custard.

  • Preparation lets you decide how to make and serve the custard.
  • Bird’s published 0.15g salt per 100g applies to custard prepared with semi-skimmed milk; the stated method also requires sugar. It is not automatically lower in salt than the tins above.

Tinned custard on Joybuy

This ready-to-serve, low-fat Ambrosia tin is relevant when you want to compare energy and fat alongside salt. Its low-salt value should not be mistaken for a reduced-salt claim.

Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g tin

Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g

Consider this tin if you are comparing the energy and fat of ready-to-serve custard while checking salt independently. Tesco Groceries lists 78kcal and 0.12g salt per 100g for this product; the Ambrosia product information supplied lists 2.0g fat per 100g. The salt figure meets the NHS low-salt benchmark but does not establish that the custard has reduced salt compared with another product. Check the current label for ingredients and allergens.

View on Joybuy

Questions about choosing tinned custard

What counts as low salt for tinned custard?

The NHS defines low salt for food as 0.3g of salt or less per 100g. Use the per-100g line to compare tins with different serving sizes; meeting that threshold does not by itself establish a reduced-salt comparison.

Does low-fat custard also contain less salt?

Not necessarily. Tesco Groceries lists 0.12g salt per 100g for Ambrosia Low Fat Custard, while ASDA Groceries lists 0.11g for standard Ambrosia Devon Custard. Both meet the NHS low-salt threshold, but the Low Fat tin has the higher stated salt value of these two.

How do I compare the nutrition values for the amount I serve?

Multiply each per-100g value by your serving weight divided by 100g. A 200g bowl therefore contains twice the stated per-100g energy and salt; check the pack’s suggested serving, but use the amount you actually plan to pour.

What should I do with custard left in an opened tin?

Follow the instructions on that tin rather than assuming every custard keeps for the same period. The Ambrosia Devon instructions described by ASDA Groceries call for transferring and refrigerating the remainder and using it within three days; Sainsbury’s specifies a non-metallic container, refrigeration and use within one day for Stamford Street Co. Custard.

Can I assume a tinned custard is suitable if I need to avoid milk?

No. Product ingredient and allergen information can differ, and the Ambrosia, Tesco and Sainsbury’s product information discussed here identifies milk or possible milk exposure. Check the current label of the exact tin before buying or serving it.