‘The quality and variety are exceptional’: the best supermarket mixed nuts, tasted and rated

Nuts are a nutritious whole food and my family’s go-to snack, but they are expensive and vary wildly in quality: some are stale and bitter, while others are creamy, sweet and well balanced.

The combination of nuts in a mixed bag matters enormously, too. After all, if your least favourite nut dominates a particular packet, it will be a chore to get through. Also, some nuts are more expensive than others, with macadamia, pecans and cashews fetching a higher price per kilo than the humble peanut (which is actually a legume), say. The formula affects both price and profit, so for today’s test I’ve listed the most prominent nuts in each packet to help you choose one that suits you.

Due to their high fat content, nuts are particularly prone to oxidation, so their freshness can deteriorate fast, leading to rancid flavours and bitterness, and that freshness depends on when the product was harvested and how it was packaged. This information isn’t generally available on packets, but the use-by date is, so always pick a bag with the longest possible shelf life – at least six months ideally. To keep your nuts fresh, store them in an airtight container and, if possible, in the fridge.

The best supermarket mixed nuts

Best overall:
Waitrose mixed nuts

★★★★☆

Lots of super-crunchy almonds and large walnuts, with a good ratio of brazil nuts, and a scattering of hazelnuts and sweet pecans. A few nuts were crushed from rough transportation, but overall one of the freshest packets I tried. Great quality and well balanced. Packaging recyclable in-store.

Best bargain:
Natural Days mixed nuts

★★★★☆

Beautiful, big walnut halves, crunchy almonds, a sufficient quantity of sweet cashews and a few tasty hazelnuts scattered throughout. A fresh aroma, with the walnuts dominating, and the quality and variety are exceptional for this price point and the types of nuts included. Sadly, though, these have non-recyclable packaging.

And the rest …

Sainsbury’s So Organic mixed nuts

★★★★☆

A bountiful mix of brazils, walnuts and hazelnuts with a smaller but sufficient ratio of almonds and creamy cashews. Consistently fresh. Good value for an entry-level organic product that doesn’t compromise on quality. Packaging not recyclable.

Asda mixed nut selection

★★★☆☆

Equal quantities of almonds, cashews, pecans and peanuts combine in a more economical bag than most. A sweet aroma, but the peanuts overpower the more delicate nuts. Overall, good freshness and great value for an everyday mix. Nonrecyclable packaging.

Fudco deluxe assorted nuts

★★★☆☆

Mostly creamy cashews and sweet almonds, with some disappointing walnuts, and a limited number of delicious pecans and brazil nuts. Good value for a rich and diverse combination, though freshness varied. Packaging recyclable in-store.

Sainsbury’s mixed nuts

★★★☆☆

A pretty even mix of crunchy almonds, walnuts and cashews, plus a scattering of brazil nuts. A fresh aroma and flavour throughout. Decent value. Packaging not recyclable.

Morrisons the Best chunky mixed nuts

★★★☆☆

Lots of crunchy hazelnuts and regular almonds, a fair few brazil nuts, some tasty flat marcona almonds, and some sweet and delicious pecans. A generous mixture with good variety, though the freshness was mixed. Packaging not recyclable.

Tesco mixed nuts

★★☆☆☆

A high ratio of crunchy but bitter hazelnuts, lovely, amaretto-flavoured almonds and rather less tasty blanched almonds, with a few sweet cashews and delicious walnut halves. Good value, but loses points for its poor ratio and variable quality. Packaging recyclable in-store.

Co-op mixed nuts

★★☆☆☆

An even mix of large almonds, creamy cashews, hazelnuts and generous walnut pieces. The balance is sound, though freshness was less consistent. Grab-bag-size for snacking on the go. Packaging recyclable in-store.

Crazy Jack organic mixed nuts

★★☆☆☆

A near-even mix of fresh and tasty hazelnuts, shrivelled and poorly flavoured almonds, large and notably delicious walnuts, and juicy brazil nuts and cashews. The organic certification is added value, but these are ultimately let down by the sub-par almonds (hopefully a one-off with my packet). Packaging recyclable in supermarkets.

For more, read the best supermarket granola and the best supermarket marmalade