Sausage Review - we review sausages

M&S British Outdoor Bred - Cumberland

Called in to Marks & Spencer on the Brookfield Centre, Cheshunt, HERTS and we were surprised to see the food hall had been seriously expanded. We explored a bit and saw these sausages and thought, cripes, we last tried some of these nearly 13 years ago...

Now M&S sausages have sadly never been our go to produce, but the prospect of 85% BRITISH outdoor bred pork from selected farms with RSPC assured welfare, gluten free and more's the point, they're in NATURAL pork skins rather than those collagen tubes, really swung it for us...mind you the 2 packs for £6.50 offer did have a bearing too if we're honest...

Our last review in October 2012 didn't score these particularly well but given the elapsed time, an update was way over due we thought.

We'll also be upfront to say we are firm supporters of BRITISH farming. Our eldest daughter's partner is a farmer, so we try to always buy "British" if we can. Yes it may cost a little more we agree, but if we don't support the British farmers, who will? The present "government administration" don't seem to give a stuff. So there you go. OK down from soap box...

Fair looking sausages in the raw, although they did appear quite small. Each weighs in a 65g approx. and are 100mm x 28mm, so perhaps an average size super market sausage? Comparable anyway.

Good to see realistic cooking recommendations although we note there's only panfry and grill methods listed. Perhaps by air fryer needs a listing? Just a thought.

We pan fry with all our sampling so in to the pan they went along with just a dot of oil.

As they warmed through though we encountered a repeat of our last sampling way back in 2012. A small amount of pale jelly like substance started exuding from the skins. The residue from this combined with the oil in the pan started to get sticky and burn. Mind you it wasn't as dire as last time when we had to remove the sausages, clean the pan, reheat with new oil. 

Anyway, the natural skins did brown but for some reason this did take longer than the 18 mins suggested. On a medium heat, induction hob, non-stick pan, it took more like 22 mins, and then some as a couple of the sausages were not completely browned, yet thankfully when tested exceeded the required 71°C for 20 seconds to make sure they were cooked sufficiently.

No skin failures at all we are pleased to report and this does make a pleasant change. They cooked up with a medium texture, cut nicely and retained good succulence.

Tastewise, yes they had that expected cumberland "peppery-ness" which was good with a fair bite and chew.

We did unfortunately see a bit of weight loss.  Eaten cold though, not bad at all.

These sausages in our opinion, are superior to those of 2012, but if honest they were only OK and not outstanding.

Look they wouldn't be something we would specifically purchase again, but thumbs up to M&S for continuing to use British pork in and NATURAL SKINS on their produce.


M&S British Outdoor Bred - Cumberland (Oct 2012 / Aug 2025)

Here's the sample details:
100x28mm before cooking, 95x27mm after.
65g before cooking, 56g after.
That's a shrinkage of approx 5% & weight loss of approx 13%.
6 packaged sausages £4.25 from eg. Ocado (approx £10.60/kg) or 2 packs for £6.50 M&S in store offer.

 

 

 

2012  2012
 

www.marksandspencer.com