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The best smoked salmon to kick off your Christmas dinner in style
The Good Housekeeping Institute tried 26 varieties to find the best for your table
Tested by Callum BlackFood and Drink Testing Manager
It simply wouldn’t be Christmas without smoked salmon making an appearance. Whether it’s served on blinis, alongside scrambled eggs on your Christmas morning bagel, or as a canapé with a glass of the very best champagne.
So, the Good Housekeeping Institute set out to find the best smoked salmon for your festive feast, whatever your budget.
From rich and fatty to lean and mild, our panel worked their way through a wide selection of traditional and flavoured smoked salmon from the supermarkets and independent smokehouses, so we’re confident we’ve found the tastiest options for the big day.
Best smoked salmon 2026
Best supermarket smoked salmon
Rick Stein with Waitrose Scottish Traditionally Smoked Salmon 120g
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Joint runner-up supermarket smoked salmon
Co-op Irresistible Hickory & Alder Smoked Salmon 140g
Read review
Joint runner-up supermarket smoked salmon | Best for bold smoke
Exceptional by ASDA Rich & Intense Scottish Smoked Salmon 100g
Read review
Best flavoured smoked salmon
Morrisons The Best Signature Collection Scottish Smoked Salmon with Cornish Seasalt & Black Pepper 145g
Read review
How we test smoked salmon
Our team of smoked salmon specialists (they enjoy hundreds of slivers every Christmas, so they know what they’re looking for) sampled 26 varieties from supermarkets and small independent brands to find their favourites for 2026.
They judged the aroma, appearance and freshness of the fish, as well as the texture and overall flavour balance (a touch of salt and a slightly sweet finish is key). For the flavoured entries, the panel were looking for well-integrated, robust flavours that complemented the natural taste of the salmon.
These are their winners.
Daylesford Royal Fillet 180g
Daylesford Royal Fillet 180g
Score: 86/100
Granted, it's not cheap, but our top-scoring smoked salmon is a real showstopper. The organic, sushi-grade fillet is sold unsliced, so you can cut it as thickly or thinly as you like. Its buttery texture was a real highlight, with testers saying it melted in the mouth, while the rich, clean, naturally smoky flavour was popular across the panel.
Available 19 November 2026
Rick Stein with Waitrose Scottish Traditionally Smoked Salmon 120g
Rick Stein with Waitrose Scottish Traditionally Smoked Salmon 120g
Score: 84/100
Our best supermarket smoked salmon impressed with its clean, delicate flavour, which testers described as ‘the perfect balance of smokiness and brininess’. As with our winner, the buttery texture was a high point, making it an excellent choice for everything from bagels to elegant starters.
Available 25 November 2026
Co-op Irresistible Hickory & Alder Smoked Salmon 140g
Co-op Irresistible Hickory & Alder Smoked Salmon 140g
Score: 83/100 Testers praised these traditional ribbons of salmon for their smooth, clean, natural flavour and subtle smokiness that should appeal to the whole family. The silky texture makes it a top buy for your festive brunch.
Available 10 December 2026
Exceptional by ASDA Rich & Intense Scottish Smoked Salmon 100g
Exceptional by ASDA Rich & Intense Scottish Smoked Salmon 100g
Score: 83/100
For those who prefer a bolder smoky flavour, this Asda smoked salmon delivers. Testers praised its pronounced yet well-balanced smokiness, which lingers pleasantly alongside the fish's natural sweetness. The smooth texture and generously thick slices make it versatile enough for everything from breakfast to canapés.
Morrisons The Best Signature Collection Scottish Smoked Salmon with Cornish Seasalt & Black Pepper 145g
Morrisons The Best Signature Collection Scottish Smoked Salmon with Cornish Seasalt & Black Pepper 145g
Score: 82/100
Flavoured with fennel and served with an earthy beetroot and zesty lime sauce, this flavoured smoked salmon will add a festive flourish to the table. Testers praised the sauce, saying it was the perfect balance to the succulent salmon, complementing the fish without overpowering its delicate flavour. Beautifully presented, it's made for festive entertaining.
Available 9 December 2026
Tesco Finest Cold Brew Coffee Infused Thick Cut Smoked Salmon 100g
Tesco Finest Cold Brew Coffee Infused Thick Cut Smoked Salmon 100g
Score: 80/100
We normally like our espresso served alongside breakfast, but Tesco has combined the two with this cold brew coffee-infused smoked salmon. It's a bold idea that works surprisingly well, adding an unusual yet complementary bourbon-like finish to the thick-cut slices. A great choice if you’re looking for something a little different.
Exceptional by ASDA Honey & Orange Scottish Smoked Salmon 100g
Exceptional by ASDA Honey & Orange Scottish Smoked Salmon 100g
Score: 80/100
For a subtle twist on the traditional, try ASDA’s smoky slices, which come with a touch of sweet honey and bright orange. While the flavoured element was hard to detect in our blind tasting, testers did enjoy the soft, buttery texture.
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Maple & Orange Scottish Smoked Salmon 100g
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Maple & Orange Scottish Smoked Salmon 100g
Score: 80/100
The vibrant orange flavour was much more apparent here, providing a fresh seasonal spin that our testers said, ‘screams Christmas’. The soft, creamy slices were lifted by the bright citrus notes, giving this smoked salmon a distinctive festive character.
Available 9 December 2026
Fortnum & Mason Organic Smoked Salmon Long Slice 200g
Fortnum & Mason Organic Smoked Salmon Long Slice 200g
Score: 79/100
Fortnum & Mason’s welfare-accredited organic fish would make a lovely gift (but we won’t tell if you keep it to yourself). Hand-filleted and perfectly cured, our testers loved the natural delicate flavour, pronounced smoke and buttery texture. A real crowd-pleaser, it's also available in larger 400g and 1kg packs.
These also passed...
- Field & Flower Land-Based Silverscale D-Cut Smoked Salmon, £14.70 for 200g, Score: 78/100
- Co-op Irresistible Dill & Lemon Smoked Salmon, £5.95 for 100g, Score: 78/100
- Tesco Finest Thick Cut Gravadlax with a Mustard & Dill Sauce, £8 for 140g, Score: 78/100
- Morrisons The Best Strong & Intense Smoked Scottish Salmon, £4.75 for 100g, Score: 76/100
- Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Discovery Signature Cure Applewood Smoked Hebridean Salmon, £6 for 100g, Score: 75/100
- Aldi Specially Selected The Ultimate Himalayan Salt Aged Smoked Salmon, £3.99 for 100g, Score: 75/100
- Lidl Deluxe Beetroot & Gold Smoked Salmon Slices, £3.49 for 100g, Score: 73/100
- Tesco Finest Hickory & Oak Wood Scottish Smoked Salmon 100g, £4.95 for 100g, Score: 72/100
- Morrisons The Best Scottish Spiced Whisky, Orange and Pink Pepper Smoked Salmon, £4.75 for 100g, Score: 72/100
- H.Foreman & Sons London Cure Smoked Salmon, £30.55 for 350g, Score: 71/100
- Lidl Deluxe Ultimate Smoked Salmon Ribbon Slices, £3.99 for 100g, Score: 71/100
- Aldi Specially Selected Christmas Cure Flavoured Smoked Salmon, £3.79 for 100g, Score: 71/100
- Lidl Deluxe Fig & Christmas Spice Smoked Salmon Slices, £3.49 for 100g, Score: 71/100
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
