Every fortnight, Which? free account owners are given an exclusive glimpse behind the curtain at some of our members-only product reviews.
This week, we've put a selection of kitchen rolls to the test, assessing how well they absorb liquids and how effectively they wipe up sticky messes.
One of the rolls we tried wiped away the competition, soaking up spills with ease and staying strong even when wet – it's a nailed-on Which? Best Buy. A rival brand, however, struggled on almost every task and made the mess worse rather than better.
| Costco Kirkland Signature Kitchen Roll Towel | Asda Just Essentials | |
|---|---|---|
| Which? test score | 100% Best Buy | 37% Don't Buy |
| Price | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50018667 | Asda (£1.19) |
| Sheets per roll | 80 | 240 |
| Absorbency | ||
| Strength | ||
| Cleaning ability |
Average price in the past six months: £17.71 | Cheapest price in the past six months: £16.98
We like: Best at absorbing liquids, perfect at cleaning sticky jam, large tough sheets
We don't like: Plastic packaging
If you're shopping for a tough kitchen roll that keeps spills under control with minimal effort, Kirkland Signature sets the standard. In our tests, it outperformed every other brand for liquid absorption.
It excelled at tough jobs, too. Whether you’re wiping up spilt jam or crumbs from messy bakes, these sheets will keep the mess off your hands, saving you from a frustrating clean-up.
Our experts were also impressed by the strength of these sheets. Wet or dry, the Kirkland roll remained sturdy.
You’ll often get the best value buying direct from Costco if you’re a member, although Amazon may be more convenient.
For Which? members only: read our Costco Kirkland Signature Kitchen Roll Towel review.
Available from: Asda (£1.19)
We like: More sheets per roll
We don't like: Doesn’t retain liquids, jam transfers to the hands, weak sheets
While the Kirkland kitchen roll above delivered exceptional results in our in-depth tests, this Asda option didn’t come close.
Yes, you get lots of sheets for just over £1, but the low price comes with clear compromises on performance. During our tests, Asda's kitchen roll absorbed almost no water, and what little it did soak up simply spilled back out when lifted.
The sheet did pick up some jam, but most of it transferred straight on to our testers’ hands, making the clean-up messier. Strength was a problem, too – these were among the weakest kitchen rolls we tested, tearing with minimal pressure and struggling to handle even light scrubbing.
For Which? members only: read our Asda Just Essentials review.
'Absorption and strength are the two qualities people rely on most in a kitchen roll, and our test results show just how wide the differences can be. Without consulting our reviews, you risk buying kitchen roll that smears liquids around or tears the moment it gets wet.
'The Kirkland Signature roll handles spills, splashes and sticky stains with ease, while Asda's offering simply isn’t up to the task. In this case, paying more upfront saves you a lot of frustration.
'We found other Best Buys at a range of prices – make sure you check our full guide to the best kitchen roll for even more options to suit your needs and budget, including environmentally friendly picks.'
Hardeep Channa, Which? kitchen roll expert
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