The 20 best supermarket foods (and how to pick them)

The next time you push a trolley along the produce aisle at the supermarket, remember: Food is like women. Then apply these guidelines:

1. The best isn't always the prettiest.

2. Imperfections can be attractive, hinting at surprising sweetness and depth of character.

Too many supermarkets sell produce bred not just for taste but to withstand shipping - it's well-shaped but not flavourful. You want your fruit to be naturally voluptuous - the farmer's daughter, not the plasticised porn star.

Employ your senses. Look: Prime fruits and vegetables are often irregularly shaped and blemished. Touch: Heavy, sturdy fruits and vegetables with taut skin are freshest. Smell: Many fruits can be sniffed for ripeness. And shop seasonally. A lot of the produce we get is imported, so it's useful to know when they are in season. These foods are tastier and cheaper.

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