ALDI & LIDL Food and Drink Worth Trying?

ALDI & LIDL Food and Drink Worth Trying?

Author
Discussion

Riley Blue

20,915 posts

225 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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I had a Wagyu burger last ngiht. O/H grilled it in the oven, turning in every few minutes for the time on the pack; I think it was 15 minutes in total. She said a lot of fat came out but it didn't taste at all fatty or salty as some have said. I rarely eat burgers so I'm not in a position to rate it in comparision with others but I thought the flavour was good, it wasn't fatty or salty and overall good value - pity she didn't do me another one...

21TonyK

11,494 posts

208 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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Popped in to pick up a couple more burgers for a proper test another day and spotted a wine I have been drinking regularly in Spain.

Valdepanas Pata Negra Reserva @ £5.29

and

Valdepanas Pata Negra Gran Reserva @ £5.99

both perfectly nice wines (IMHO)

just rather be paying the price over there!


IanA2

2,762 posts

161 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
quotequote all
21TonyK said:
Popped in to pick up a couple more burgers for a proper test another day and spotted a wine I have been drinking regularly in Spain.

Valdepanas Pata Negra Reserva @ £5.29

and

Valdepanas Pata Negra Gran Reserva @ £5.99

both perfectly nice wines (IMHO)

just rather be paying the price over there!
Is it a lot cheaper over there? My experience of Italy is that "loose wine" or "vino sfuso" was very very cheap, but "imbottigliato" could be expensive. Years ago when I returned to this country for a few days I was shocked that I could buy some Italian wines cheaper than in Italy...times change though I guess...

21TonyK

11,494 posts

208 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
quotequote all
IanA2 said:
Is it a lot cheaper over there? My experience of Italy is that "loose wine" or "vino sfuso" was very very cheap, but "imbottigliato" could be expensive. Years ago when I returned to this country for a few days I was shocked that I could buy some Italian wines cheaper than in Italy...times change though I guess...
Yep, massive difference. I can't remember the exact price but ISTR the reserve was about 4 euro so £2.80.

Most days were big family gatherings so a lot of wine was drunk, everything from 1 euro upwards and even that was better than most stuff sub £5 over here. Quite a few of the Ribera Del Duero wines were <6 euro and there were a couple that I have bought in the UK for circa £20 that were less than 10 euros so <£7.

UK tax and import duty frown

IanA2

2,762 posts

161 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
quotequote all
21TonyK said:
IanA2 said:
Is it a lot cheaper over there? My experience of Italy is that "loose wine" or "vino sfuso" was very very cheap, but "imbottigliato" could be expensive. Years ago when I returned to this country for a few days I was shocked that I could buy some Italian wines cheaper than in Italy...times change though I guess...
Yep, massive difference. I can't remember the exact price but ISTR the reserve was about 4 euro so £2.80.

Most days were big family gatherings so a lot of wine was drunk, everything from 1 euro upwards and even that was better than most stuff sub £5 over here. Quite a few of the Ribera Del Duero wines were <6 euro and there were a couple that I have bought in the UK for circa £20 that were less than 10 euros so <£7.

UK tax and import duty frown

Quite a difference indeed. I have fond memories of student eating places in Italy where the wine (surprisingly drinkable) was free but the water was not!!

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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Because of this thread, we tried the Waygu burgers.

By far the best shop bought burger I have ever had and IMO certainly comparable to restaurant burgers. We also make our own too, b ut we only tend to make lamb burgers at home.

We had ours with brioche buns, fake american cheese and streaky bacon. Was very tasty smile

I never thought I'd go for any of the food in Aldi, but my opinion has completely changed. We get cereal, cheese biscuits, cereal bars and lots of other stuff in there. I recon the prices are the same as Tesco Everyday value if not cheaper smile

We have two in the neighboring town and they can get very crowded and its hardly a relaxing place to shop, bit who cares smile

Mobile Chicane

20,740 posts

211 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
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Mobile Chicane said:
tog said:
Like burgundy? Near a Lidl on Thursday?

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/aug/2...
Noted. Thank you.
I nabbed Leatherhead Lidl's last two remaining bottles of Fleurie at lunchtime. Hopefully this will be restocked.

21TonyK

11,494 posts

208 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
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Looked at the Wagyu burgers again today and cooked one without any seasoning and just ate it with a few chips for lunch.

I'm not a convert.

Firstly when you look at the salt content its 1.4% which for me is too high. I used to use 5g of 9:1 salt and white pepper blend to 1Kilo 80:20 vl mince. That's 0.45% so the Aldi burger is nearly 3 times what I think is right and twice what a competing "Finest" burger is.

Then I read a little more and see that the meat content is actually 86% so that means 86% beef and 1.4% salt leaving a "mystery" 12.6% filler, preservative, seasoning and "Flavouring". But taking the ingredients in order of magnitude water is the second largest component after the beef! Three different types of flour, two types of salt(?) Sugar! and vitamin C.

Add in the fact that (for me) they are far too finely ground and my personal opinion is that they are a sloppy, fatty burger with the flavour having to be boosted because they are using lesser quality beef cuts than you anticipate from the name "wagyu".

I think Aldi are trying to hit a price point and using the Wagyu name to sell something that doesn't live up to expectations. After all they aren't making these our of minced Sirloin, they are being made from all the trim like most other burgers and Wagyu or not its still low quality meat.

I'd rather pay more and get a better quality non-Wagyu burger or keep making my own (which is what both my kids said they would rather as well).

For me it's a novelty and if you haven't got time or the inclination to make your own then fine, but my advice "don't believe the hype" wink

Edited by 21TonyK on Thursday 3rd September 18:08

IanA2

2,762 posts

161 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
quotequote all
21TonyK said:
Looked at the Wagyu burgers again today and cooked one without any seasoning and just ate it with a few chips for lunch.

I'm not a convert.

Firstly when you look at the salt content its 1.4% which for me is too high. I used to use 5g of 9:1 salt and white pepper blend to 1Kilo 80:20 vl mince. That's 0.45% so the Aldi burger is nearly 3 times what I think is right and twice what a competing "Finest" burger is.

Then I read a little more and see that the meat content is actually 86% so that means 86% beef and 1.4% salt leaving a "mystery" 12.6% filler, preservative, seasoning and "Flavouring". But taking the ingredients in order of magnitude water is the second largest component after the beef! Three different types of flour, two types of salt(?) Sugar! and vitamin C.

Add in the fact that (for me) they are far too finely ground and my personal opinion is that they are a sloppy, fatty burger with the flavour having to be boosted because they are using lesser quality beef cuts than you anticipate from the name "wagyu".

I think Aldi are trying to hit a price point and using the Wagyu name to sell something that doesn't live up to expectations. After all they aren't making these our of minced Sirloin, they are being made from all the trim like most other burgers and Wagyu or not its still low quality meat.

I'd rather pay more and get a better quality non-Wagyu burger or keep making my own (which is what both my kids said they would rather as well).

For me it's a novelty and if you haven't got time or the inclination to make your own then fine, but my advice "don't believe the hype" wink

Edited by 21TonyK on Thursday 3rd September 18:08
Agreed.

V8mate

45,899 posts

188 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
quotequote all
Right with you,Tony.

Tried them last week and thought they were very meh. No better than the 'Finest' types peddled by the supermarkets. Way too finely minced; all they tasted of was hot fat and salt.


Mobile Chicane

20,740 posts

211 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
quotequote all
Mobile Chicane said:
Mobile Chicane said:
tog said:
Like burgundy? Near a Lidl on Thursday?

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/aug/2...
Noted. Thank you.
I nabbed Leatherhead Lidl's last two remaining bottles of Fleurie at lunchtime. Hopefully this will be restocked.
Fill your boots with the Hautes-Cotes de Beaune at £9.99.

This is how good white Burgundy should taste, but for £9.99 (or even considerably more) never does.

steveo3002

10,493 posts

173 months

Friday 4th September 2015
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theyve got buffalo burgers in on the 10th

Parabola

1,848 posts

196 months

Friday 4th September 2015
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Bought the wagu burgers last week for a BBQ. Were good. Had them in Aldi ciabatta rolls (Toasted on BBQ) with some Aldi Gorgonzola cheese.
Everyone seemed to thing this was the most amazing combination ever and none believed me it was all from Aldi. Hey ho.


One thing I did notice, was that on the receipt the burgers came up as £1.49 for a two pack. Not the £2.99 shown on the shelf ticket.



condor

8,837 posts

247 months

Friday 4th September 2015
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Mobile Chicane said:
Fill your boots with the Hautes-Cotes de Beaune at £9.99.

This is how good white Burgundy should taste, but for £9.99 (or even considerably more) never does.
There weren't any bottles at the Kempston branch ( near Bedford) - they said they hadn't been sent any. So not all the stores will receive an allocation. I managed to get a couple of bottles of Fleurie as well. Many wines of interest which you don't normally see in a UK supermarket ie Arbois, Savoie, Jurancon, Monbazillac.
Lidl should be applauded for sourcing interesting wines within the affordable £6-£10 range.

As a heads up the half price weekend meat offer is the Lamb shank in red wine/rosemary or mint gravy. They are good value at £3.49 but a stunning bargain at £1.74!


21TonyK

11,494 posts

208 months

Friday 11th September 2015
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steveo3002 said:
theyve got buffalo burgers in on the 10th
Don't bother! frown

Edit: just to explain properly...

73% buffalo followed by water as the second ingredient and then flour and dried onion.

Texture is very soft and the onion aroma is very noticeable. Not very nice to cook or eat really.

Be interesting to see what the actual lean meat content is as there was very little flavour. Minimum requirement is 62% of which a maximum 25% can be naturally attached fat. Even at 73% with a typical 20% fat and connective the actual lean meat content would be less than 60%.

Based on meat content alone, compared to Sainsburys "British Ultimate Steak Burgers" with a meat content of 93% and fat at 10% the Aldi burgers are more expensive as well.



Edited by 21TonyK on Saturday 12th September 09:04


Edited by 21TonyK on Saturday 12th September 09:07

matchmaker

8,463 posts

199 months

Saturday 12th September 2015
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V8mate said:
Right with you,Tony.

Tried them last week and thought they were very meh. No better than the 'Finest' types peddled by the supermarkets. Way too finely minced; all they tasted of was hot fat and salt.
Friday night is burger night for us. Last night as a change we tried Tesco "Finest" Pulled Pork Burgers.

hurl

Rank. Greasy, foul tasting & inedible. I could't eat mine and neither could my wife or our son. Give me Aldi Wagyu Burgers any time over these.

Tip - as I posted earlier. Oven bake the Wagyu burgers. Cooks them evenly and gets rid of a lot of the fat.

21TonyK

11,494 posts

208 months

Saturday 12th September 2015
quotequote all
matchmaker said:
Friday night is burger night for us. Last night as a change we tried Tesco "Finest" Pulled Pork Burgers.

hurl

Rank. Greasy, foul tasting & inedible. I could't eat mine and neither could my wife or our son. Give me Aldi Wagyu Burgers any time over these.

Tip - as I posted earlier. Oven bake the Wagyu burgers. Cooks them evenly and gets rid of a lot of the fat.
Never tried a pork burger. I don't like pork cooked less than medium and lean pork dries out very quickly so you need a high fat content in the mince. So for me a pork burger would be very fatty and probably overcooked for my taste. A pulled pork burger is basically meat cooked twice so I can see that being worse!

A rare lamb burger though yum

Du1point8

21,604 posts

191 months

Saturday 12th September 2015
quotequote all
matchmaker said:
V8mate said:
Right with you,Tony.

Tried them last week and thought they were very meh. No better than the 'Finest' types peddled by the supermarkets. Way too finely minced; all they tasted of was hot fat and salt.
Friday night is burger night for us. Last night as a change we tried Tesco "Finest" Pulled Pork Burgers.

hurl

Rank. Greasy, foul tasting & inedible. I could't eat mine and neither could my wife or our son. Give me Aldi Wagyu Burgers any time over these.

Tip - as I posted earlier. Oven bake the Wagyu burgers. Cooks them evenly and gets rid of a lot of the fat.
Here is a tip... make your own.

get some 5% fat mince and 20% fat mince in a ratio of 75/25
add some ketchup, worcestershire sauce, oyster sauce, thyme, oregano, mashed coriander seeds, salt, pepper, blah blah blah...
Mix fusing hands or 5-10 minutes, then make into burgers... store in fridge for 2-3 hours.

That will produce burgers better than anything you can buy from a shop... only thing better is making your own mince.

matchmaker

8,463 posts

199 months

Saturday 12th September 2015
quotequote all
Du1point8 said:
Here is a tip... make your own.

get some 5% fat mince and 20% fat mince in a ratio of 75/25
add some ketchup, worcestershire sauce, oyster sauce, thyme, oregano, mashed coriander seeds, salt, pepper, blah blah blah...
Mix fusing hands or 5-10 minutes, then make into burgers... store in fridge for 2-3 hours.

That will produce burgers better than anything you can buy from a shop... only thing better is making your own mince.
I frequently do - just mince and seasoning. smile

Gompo

4,396 posts

257 months

Saturday 19th September 2015
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Far from an Aldi fan here, I like their variety but personally feel a lot of their range is a little or no better than most supermarket's budget ranges (but usually more expensive), obviously there are some items that my taste is more attracted or accustomed to but usually coincidence rather than judgement. I'm not picky with food though; 8/10 I'd probably be content with the cheapest/budget item from any range.

However, I wanted some tinned fish that was not in tomato or a basic olive/sunflower oil; which can be quite difficult. Opted for some Herring with Pineapple in Curry Sauce from Aldi's Ocean Rise range. It's bloody lovely. Going tomorrow to buy more, I don't understand why some supermarkets are so averse to variety and spread (ok, there's probably heaps of research out there suggesting that I am in a minority and they're doing the best to maximise profits etc). Frustrating.