Choosing the best of the best of pantry goods isn’t easy. The BHG team, led by senior food editor Sarah Murphy, sifted through hundreds of contenders to narrow the field for some completely honest taste testing.
Now it’s over to you to vote for the winners using the form below – plus, every vote goes in the draw to WIN a Ninja Swirl by CREAMi valued at $549.99!*
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Meet the finalists
Convenience
These cookies are great value and not stingy on the chocolate, with 40 per cent choc chips. While they are great as they are, we think they are more delicious warmed up slightly. Yum!
The squeezable, clever packaging got top marks for convenience. Our judges loved the packaging solved the problem of easily stirring the natural oils back into the peanut butter, and the squeezy tube meant it was perfect to take on holidays or for the kids to use with no knives needed.
Made from 100 per cent dried mangoes, we love the bite-size pieces, with multiple judges declaring them delicious. A lovely sweet treat snack.
The ultimate multipurpose snack, we loved the versatility of the crostini. It’s a super tasty snack, but can also be loaded up for entertaining or added to a salad as croutons.
Good Value
Aldi Damora Gluten Free Apricot & Sunflower Seeds Crackers
With a great price point and a delicious crunch to match, the team declared these the ultimate cheese platter bickie. And they are much cheaper than similar products.
Even though the cost of a cafe coffee keeps rising, we can’t face switching to instant. This is a great value substitute. You pop a cute coffee bag over your cup and pour over boiling water a few times. It’s worth the wait: satisfying home coffee. And the bags are compostable.
Chocolate is also facing price rises, and it’s worth finding a quality, affordable option. This is smooth chocolate with a delicious salty pop. The team loved the packaging too.
Healthier Choices
We didn’t expect coconut water to taste just like chocolate milk, but it does. Refreshing! The team liked the twist-top lid design for practicality.
Only needing seven minutes’ cooking time and with three times the fibre of regular pasta. The surprise? It tastes just like normal pasta.
The versatility of these rice cakes for snacks and lunches made them a clear favourite. They are sturdy enough to hold lunch toppings with one judge noting that they don’t break apart easily, like other brands do.
Fresh and a little peppery, the team agreed The All Rounder name was perfect for this Aussie olive oil and we would use it on nearly everything.
Flavour Fiends
We love the strong beetroot flavour of this versatile condiment. It would be the perfect accompaniment to your grazing board or cheese sandwich. We also scored it highly for a short ingredients list with recognisable ingredients.
Think all pepper is the same? This newcomer blew the judges away. The impressive flavour profile was the talk of the tasting room, along with the fun packaging design, quality of grinder and thoughtful design (the refill boxes turn into a funnel to get your peppercorns back in the grinder with ease).
Yes, you either love it or hate it. But as a pantry staple for generations, it’s no wonder Vegemite is such a favourite. We love its intense flavour and versatility.
The punchy flavour of this vibrant condiment had our judges excited to use it on sandwiches and to add it to cheese boards. We love the slight chilli kick.
Special Diets
While smaller than their traditional counterparts, the flavour of the gluten-free chicken Crimpies won over our judges. Next challenge: try not to eat the whole box in one sitting!
Plant-based and gluten free, the impressive thick honeycomb slab was a favourite. We love its perfect texture and generous size.
Gluten-free and dairy free, the team demolished these at testing. They are delicious, light and crispy. The perfect savoury treat.
The versatility of these gluten-free breadcrumbs made them stand out. When used as a coating for chicken schnitzel, they gave a clean, even coating which cooked perfectly. We love the serious crunch.
Time Savers
Ready in just 90 seconds, and with 7g fibre per serve, these individual sachets were praised for making mornings easier, while being good for you, too.
We tested a range of chicken stocks and this was the runaway favourite by a mile. We love the depth of flavour, sure to elevate many meals.
This was the standout against multiple meal bases, for both cooking time and ease. This clever product only requires you to add your own protein to the mix; you don’t need to purchase additional ingredients to add in unlike many other meal bases. We love it’s classic curry flavour, just as good as a takeaway.
These clever cookies require only a wooden spoon and a few ingredients to make. The cinnamon flavour shines and the instructions on the box are clear, with options to adjust timings if you prefer a softer or firmer biscuit.
How we chose the finalists
From chutneys and coconut water to chocolate and pepper, we sampled, debated and discussed everything. Flavour came first, of course, but we also considered if a product was value for money and easy to use. Where reheating or preparation was required, we followed the packet instructions exactly to check they made sense.





