The Verdict on Vladimirsky Standard's Bavarian Sausages: Are They Worth the Hype?

I've been a fan of Vladimirsky Standard for the past five years. Their products used to be hard to find, but now the brand's really taken off and they've got a solid presence in the market. In fact, there's even a dedicated store in my area with a decent selection. But I've only just tried their Bavarian Sausages. Will they become a regular fixture in my fridge? We'll see.

Vladimirsky Standard Bavarian Sausages.I'm a sucker for sausages with ketchup and green peas, so that's what I've got in these pics. Of course, there are loads of ways to prepare and enjoy them, but I'm a fan of pan-frying them to get a nice crispy crust. My dinner with Bavarian sausages.The ingredient list is pretty standard for this kind of product, but it's way more complicated and confusing for the customer - who's going to stand in the store for 30 minutes reading out all these unpronounceable names like "maltodextrin, pyrophosphate sodium, dextrose" and so on? The ingredient list on the label takes up 12 lines! And it's all tiny text on a dark background, in a poorly lit store aisle, while you're wearing gloves and a mask and carrying a shopping cart and your phone in the other hand, and people are pushing past you everywhere. It's just impossible. Now I'm sitting at home with a magnifying glass trying to figure out what I actually bought. The label with the information.That's what the packaging from Vladimirskiy looks like on the other side. There's only one label: the production date and batch number. The shelf life is standard when it's sealed, but after opening it's a bit longer - make of that what you will. The packaging with the date.I bought 12 standard-sized sausages (maybe a bit thinner than usual), packed in a vacuum bag made of thick polyethylene (or whatever they're using these days), each wrapped in a thin cellophane bag. The sausages are connected in packs of four, I have no idea why, and they look nice and appetizing from through the packaging. But that's just through the packaging - in reality, the cellophane bag isn't transparent, it's pink, apparently to add some flair to the product.

Sausages in a large package look pretty great, whether you're looking at them from afar or up close.I was worried that opening the long package and pulling out the sausages would be a hassle, but it's actually super easy. Have you noticed the faint white streaks on the ends of the sausages in the package? It's not a deal-breaker, but it's still kinda weird. The package's open.They look great, all rosy and appetizing – you really want to dig in. And there's a ton of them, so you could feed the whole family, although there's only about half a pound of sausage in there. It's a pretty misleading appetizer. The whole package on a plate.But after a few minutes, things take a turn for the worse: white spots appear, and the sausages without their casings don't look as great. They do smell pretty good, though – that smoky aroma is a nice touch.After spreading them out on the plate, there were even more of those white things. I think it's just a result of interacting with the air, but it's still kinda off-putting. That's one of the reasons I knocked off a point from my rating.

Wrapped in plastic.They look pretty on the plate, especially when they're nicely browned and slathered with ketchup. I served them with some plain macaroni, cooked in a pot and then pan-fried with some spices. To be honest, Bavarian sausages aren't that tasty, even with the added glutamate and my culinary tricks. They're just your average, mass-produced cooked sausages – and the price per pack says as much. Plus, they're made under Technical Specifications, with the manufacturer coming up with their own rules, and it's all clearly stated on the packaging: Category B. So, I'd give them a score between 3 and 4. In certain situations, you might want to buy Bavarian sausages. They're okay for a quick solo dinner or a simple snack, but I'd recommend a different product for kids. Bavarian sausages in bulk.I'm not claiming to be the ultimate authority, especially since Vladimirskoye has even better and, I hope, healthier sausages that I've been buying for years now – I'll be reviewing those in future posts.

Enjoy your meal! Choose with your heart and buy wisely! And, for goodness' sake, analyze what you're eating!

If you're looking for a similar product from the same city, but made by a different manufacturer, check out Bavarian Sausages.