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From treacle beef brisket to vegan pulled pork, the best new summer food launches your guests will love
Make your summer menu sing (and guests come back for more), with these fresh new launches.
Tested by JoJo AnastasiouFood and Drinks Tester
We’re proud to unveil the new summer launches that had the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute drooling during our annual BBQ Taste Test.
These products don’t fit into any of our traditional barbecue categories – and some are better cooked in the oven than on the grill – but they’re the dishes our experts have flagged as “must-order” for sharing this summer.
From authentic Spanish pil pil prawns to succulent slow-cooked, marinated meat, these are the products to turn to even if your barbecue is rained off or the grill is already at max capacity. Because when the products are this good, there’s always space at the table for another plate.
Best summer launches for 2025
Read on for more BBQ taste tests: Best burgers | Best sausages | Best kebabs | Best ribs | Best chicken | Best steak | Best meat-free burgers | Best meat-free sausages | Best hot sauce | Best ice cream
How we test summer "hero" launches
Our experts sampled the standout launches for summer, looking for top-notch ingredients and exciting new recipes. Each was blinded to avoid brand bias and feedback considered aroma, taste and texture. Read on for what we’re calling the must-buy products for summer.
Score: 88/100
Bacon on the barbecue might sound extravagant, but when the chop is this thick cut and high quality, it would be silly not to! Pre-cooked and hot-smoked, it’s prepped for the grill, and the black treacle glaze adds a sweetness that balances the salty meat.
Score: 87/100
Inject a little Spanish sunshine into your spread with these meaty king prawns, served in an authentic garlic and chilli oil. They’d make a great starter served with wedges of crusty bread (just pop them in the oven, while you heat the grill).
Score: 84/100
For when your barbecue plans get rained off, but you still want that sweet and smoky flavour, stick this sous vide pork in the oven. With just a touch of chilli, it’s mild enough for the whole family and there's a generous amount of marinade for the slow-cooked meat to soak up.
Once cooked, simply shred and serve. We like ours on top of nachos as a sharing-style starter.
The Newt in Somerset Spiced Treacle Beef Brisket 500g
Score: 83/100
Enjoy the flavour of The Newt’s Somerset country estate from the comfort of your own home with this ready-to-heat range of mains for two.
Our top choice for summer is the beef brisket, which is slow-cooked for 12 hours and richly spiced with fennel, cinnamon, smoked paprika and treacle. It has a heat that builds on the palate, and it couldn’t be more convenient – simply reheat and enjoy with fries and slaw after a long day in the office.
Score: 82/100
Hot honey has been a major food trend this year, pepping up a whole range of dishes with its sweet and spicy flavour. Here, the sweet, sticky glaze complements the slices of smoky pork belly perfectly.
Available 30 April 2025
Score: 80/100
Looking for an elevated seafood dish? Here, the red shrimp adds a fresh pop of colour to the plate, and the meaty monkfish takes on the bold flavours of garlic, chilli, lemon and paprika. Serve as a starter with crusty bread to soak up the rich, buttery sauce.
Helen Browning's Slow Cooked Organic Pulled Pork with BBQ Spices 360g
Score: 78/100
If organic meat is non-negotiable, Helen Browning’s slow-cooked pulled pork will make the perfect centrepiece this summer. Each pack serves two, and comes with plenty of chilli, garlic and paprika.
The spices take on a gnarly, charred texture during cooking – as though it’s done on the grill – but the joint takes just 20 minutes in the oven!
Score: 76/100
Discover the smoky flavours of the Deep South with The Jolly Hog’s pork belly. It’s precooked for you, so it takes just five minutes on the barbecue, resulting in tender, shreddable meat. The black pepper and chilli crumb are the dominant flavours, giving each bite a punchy level of heat.
Score: 73/100
Most of our testers described this vegan pulled “pork” as tasting meaty, although not all were hoodwinked. But for those who don’t eat meat, this plant-based alternative will make a great filling for Mexican carnitas or sandwiches. Granted, it was a little on the dry side, but nothing our winning barbecue sauce won’t fix.
Score: 70/100
We’ve established that hot honey is set to be the condiment of the summer; sweet and savoury, its versatility makes it a favourite for drizzling over fried chicken, pizza and even ice cream. We suggest using it in a marinade to slather on your favourite meat before grilling.
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
Joanna Anastasiou is our Food and Drinks Tester, and has completed certifications in Sensory Foundation and WSET Wine Level 2 training. Prior to this she studied geography with conservation biology at the University of Exeter and trained at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. Through this she has developed a passion for sustainability within the food and agricultural sectors. Joanna also volunteers in kitchens with FoodCycle, as well as on multiple wildlife conservation projects, where she formed a particular love for bees!
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