Fish fingers

Blue Plate Supersaver Fish Fingers 2.99 for 500g 5.98 per kg

Highs:These fish fingers have a large breadcrumb coat, which turns a lovely brown colour when cooked. Apart from the rather unappetising allusion to "minced white fish", the ingredient list is impressively wholesome sounding, and they are also quite cheap.

Lows:As ingredients go, "minced white fish" is just a little vague for PriceWatch's taste as it explains neither the exact type nor part of the fish that was used in the making of this finger. We couldn't work it out by taste either, as these have a notable absence of flavour. A panel of five children drafted in for the tasting were not overly impressed with these and found then to be "a bit chewy and soggy".

Verdict:Cheap and chewy

Star rating: **

Birds Eye Fish Fingers €1.99 for 300g €6.63 per kg

Highs:Clearly it is not for nothing that Bird's Eye has been sitting on top of the fish finger tree for generations. These are very good, widely available and utterly reliable. They are made with 64 per cent cod, more than any of the competition and taste a whole lot better for it. They have a nice golden hue, both going into and coming out of the oven. The cod fillet is flaky and moist, and the breadcrumbs are nicely seasoned and have a pleasing lightness to them.

Lows:They are slightly on the pricey side - although not as pricey as you might think - and, if we were to be very picky, the breadcrumb coat could perhaps have been a little thicker.

Verdict:Top nosh

Star rating: ****

Donegal Catch Fish Fingers €1.99 for 300g €6.63 per kg

Highs:These fish fingers from an Irish company were deemed to be the nicest, having just seen off a strong challenge by Birds Eye. The fish is wonderfully succulent and flaky, and actually looks and tastes like real fish. The breadcrumbs are lovely, beautifully crisp and filled with flavour.

Lows:While the packaging does warn of the presence of the odd bone, we were still mildly surprised to actually find one in a finger. While on one level it does suggest these have a closer relationship with the fish they came from than some of the competition, on another level a bone in your fish finger is a little troublesome.

Verdict:Excellent

Star rating: *****

Ross Fish Fingers €1.99 for 240g €8.29 per kg

Highs:This is a well-known British brand of fish finger. The breadcrumbs crisped up quite well and the manufacturer promises that no artificial colours have been used.

Lows:Beyond that, however, there is little to recommend them. You might expect that because of their high price, they would be made with the finest fillet of cod, but you'd be wrong. Like the cheapest , nastiest options on the market, they're made with unspecified minced fish - and, if this packet is anything to go by, a minced grey and chewy fish. Apart from salt there was no discernible taste of the sea, and none of the child tasters was able to finish their portion. In fact the only tester to eat more than a mouthful was PriceWatch, and we really wished we hadn't.

Verdict:Not recommended at all

Star rating: *

Nice Price Fish Fingers €2.09 for 450g €4.64 per kg

Highs:Available from SuperValu, these are a real find. They are the cheapest of the fish fingers tried, have a higher percentage of cod fillet and taste as good as, if not better than, the rest. The utilitarian packaging does not do these any favours and someone in search of a good fish finger might overlook them in favour of better-known, pricier options when there is little or no difference in quality.

Lows:The presence of hydrogenated vegetable oil among the ingredients is a definite minus, and their availability might be limited.

Verdict:Nice and nicely priced

Star rating :****