Frosties are a childhood favourite, but at £3.50 a box they’re not exactly cheap – so I taste-tested the own-brand frosted flakes from five major supermarkets to find the best value alternative
Which version of Frosties is just as good as the real thing? (Image: Nicola Roy)
A bowl of cereal makes for the ideal quick breakfast, and they taste so nostalgic too. Indulging in this childhood classic truly transports you back to more carefree days, especially those you were only allowed on special occasions – like Frosties.
These were an absolute treat during my younger years, but I hadn’t eaten them in quite some time. Recently, however, I experienced an intense craving for Frosties, and you can picture my shock when I discovered that just one small box at Tesco was priced at £3.50.
I suspected this was about to become my new breakfast obsession, so to prevent draining my finances, I decided to try Frosties from the main supermarkets to determine whether any matched the real deal.
I headed to Lidl, Asda, Aldi, Morrisons and Tesco to pick up every imitation box of frosted flakes available. The only retailer where they appeared unavailable was Marks and Spencer, but with six varieties to try including authentic Frosties, I began my experiment.
Six bowls of frosted flakes were pit together in a blind taste test(Image: Nicola Roy)
Actually, I got my parents to do the testing for me. I served six identical-appearing bowls of cereal and had them perform a blind tasting.
Alongside asking which they thought were the authentic Frosties, I also asked they select their favourite option – and while some were extremely underwhelming, one rivalled the genuine brand, perhaps even beating it – and cost half the price as well.
I attempted to source similarly-sized packages, though the majority weighed approximately 500g. Costs varied from 95p right through to £3.50, so here’s our verdict on each variety.
Most supermarkets make their own knockoff version of Frosties – but which is best?(Image: Nicola Roy)
Sixth place – Tesco
Bottom of the pile were Tesco’s frosted flakes. At just 95p for a 500g box, these were the most economical option – though regrettably, this was reflected in their taste.
From the initial mouthful, it was evident that the sugary-sweet flavour was absent. We all found them utterly bland, yet bizarrely they left an odd aftertaste afterwards – genuinely a lose-lose scenario.
In my opinion, they resembled cornflakes more than Frosties. That’s fine, but it’s simply not what you expect from a bowl of frosted flakes, and I certainly wouldn’t be rushing to purchase these again.
Score: 1/5
Fifth place – Asda
Only slightly superior were Asda’s frosted flakes, priced at £1.15 for a 500g box. These actually were quite pleasant when eaten dry, directly from the packet, though in milk they were highly underwhelming.
The sugary coating vanished instantly, and once more, they brought to mind plain cornflakes instead. They also turned soggy most rapidly – we’re talking minutes – which is enough to turn your stomach.
They earn an additional point for being enjoyable when dry, though if you prefer them with milk, steer clear of these.
Score: 2/5
Lidl and Aldi frosted flakes were almost on a par with each other(Image: Nicola Roy)
Fourth place – Aldi
In fourth position was Aldi’s frosted flakes, which I initially considered quite pricey at £1.45, before realising it was actually a 750g box. Visually, they appeared the most golden in colour, which raised my expectations.
They weren’t disappointing at all – though perhaps slightly lacking in flavour. By this stage, I began questioning whether the sugar tax might be responsible for this muted taste, which seems likely, and could explain why they weren’t quite as delicious as I recalled.
I’d likely purchase these again, however, as they were perfectly fine, and my parents agreed.
Score: 3/5
Third place – Lidl
Close behind was Lidl’s 500g box of frosted flakes, priced at £1.15 – identical to Asda, but definitely superior. They delivered a considerably sweeter taste and maintained their crunch in the milk for longer as well.
I hadn’t expected these would be particularly impressive, given their lighter appearance, but that just shows that looks aren’t everything. If you’re seeking an affordable alternative to Frosties, this is a genuinely solid choice that won’t strain your wallet.
Score: 3/5
Kelloggs are good, but Morrisons frosted flakes took the crown(Image: Nicola Roy)
Second place – Kelloggs
Interestingly, the authentic Frosties only secured second place in the taste test. The moment my parents spotted them in the bowl, they remarked that they didn’t look very nice, which was quite funny.
I had to disagree – I couldn’t see any issue with their appearance. But naturally, it ultimately boiled down to the actual flavour.
As expected, they were pretty good. They were almost identical to how I recalled them, though a little less sweet.
Nevertheless, they were satisfyingly crispy and retained their shape well, and after munching on a few dry handfuls, I can confirm they’re very enjoyable eaten this way too.
Unsurprisingly, they were the priciest at £3.50 for a smaller 470g box, which seems excessive. Fortunately, one supermarket alternative was even better at half the cost.
Score: 4/5
First place – Morrisons
I don’t have a Morrisons that close to me, so visits are few and far between. However, I’m actually delighted I picked up this cereal, as it was the clear winner.
Both my parents preferred this one above all others, and they were convinced it was the real thing. They were the sweetest and crunchiest of the bunch, priced at £1.75 for 500g.
There was none of that unpleasant aftertaste, and I honestly believe you’d struggle to tell these apart from actual Frosties. Half the price and arguably tastier, it’s an absolute no-brainer.
Score: 5/5