ALDI & LIDL Food and Drink Worth Trying?

[dickymint]

soupdragon1 said:

I also had a quick look at a typical meal I would make for the kids on a Saturday when the missus is at work. The easy peasy spag bol. A grand total of £2.69 for the basic ingredients from Tesco, mince, Bolognese sauce and spaghetti. Cheaper than Aldi. Plus, I've better selection of quality in Tesco, I can go cheap on some items, more expensive on others. I would usually go for the best quality mince for example, and Tesco is cheaper for that too. The trick is to shop some promo items in the bigger supermarkets when making your basket.

We're creatures of habbit and when the credit crunch hit, Aldi and Lidl had massive increases in customers. The landscape has changed massively since then and that big gap doesn't exist anymore.

Same goes for Amazon, eBay etc....The go to place for cheap goods. In needed some Maguairs products for my car. Google shopping, Amazon, eBay all were checked. Cheapest products were from carparts4less. 5 mins work, saved £8, got free delivery. I'll always shop smart to get best value, rather than shop using 'perceived' value, or assuming some places are cheaper by default, without checking

Totally and utterly agree with this

[twing]

New sauces in, the hot chilli one was lovely but should have come with a warning! Hope this one’s a lot milder as I’m marinating a load of chicken in it now. Their bog standard Pinot is down to £3.35, decent enough for glugging.

[Gretchen]

soupdragon1 said:

I also had a quick look at a typical meal I would make for the kids on a Saturday when the missus is at work. The easy peasy spag bol. A grand total of £2.69 for the basic ingredients from Tesco, mince, Bolognese sauce and spaghetti. Cheaper than Aldi. Plus, I've better selection of quality in Tesco, I can go cheap on some items, more expensive on others. I would usually go for the best quality mince for example, and Tesco is cheaper for that too. The trick is to shop some promo items in the bigger supermarkets when making your basket.

We're creatures of habbit and when the credit crunch hit, Aldi and Lidl had massive increases in customers. The landscape has changed massively since then and that big gap doesn't exist anymore.

Same goes for Amazon, eBay etc....The go to place for cheap goods. In needed some Maguairs products for my car. Google shopping, Amazon, eBay all were checked. Cheapest products were from carparts4less. 5 mins work, saved £8, got free delivery. I'll always shop smart to get best value, rather than shop using 'perceived' value, or assuming some places are cheaper by default, without checking

I posted similar above. I don’t have time to shop around but still manage it! It’s just me, I have to work, shop, cook and clean mostly. Kids help with a few chores.

As for your quick Spag Bol, this is something my kids make for themselves while I’m at work. You’ve not posted your comparative quantities. I’m curious. 500g of Aldi Mince is £1.45 (although £1.35 atm as on offer). They like the spicy Tomato and Peppercorn Sauce .65p (there are cheaper varieties), and Spaghetti or a bag of Pasta (which would cover several meals) varies from .30p - .80p. So this meal could be anywhere between £2 with a cheaper sauce/pasta - £2.90 with the more expensive options. And the quantity would feed four people.

With regard to B&M (and similar stores) it looks cheap therefore it is isn’t always the case. I bought some spray weed killer in B&M last week for £4 - the spray action is broken on it. Whilst in B&Q (over the road from B&M) this week the same product was £2.97.

[soupdragon1]

When I looked last night. I would personally choose the Angus mince, way tastier.







I couldn't even find regular spaghetti on Aldi website, or Bolognese sauce so I couldn't even make 'true' spag bol, would need to substitute ingredients but as shown, the main ingredient, mince, is cheaper in Tesco.

[gregs656]

What does any of this have to do with what Aldi food is worth trying? If you like Tesco shop at Tesco. Not complicated.

The medium Peri Peri is lush. The hot is proper hot. Haven’t tried the other one.

[TheFlyingBanana]

Gretchen said:

SmoothCriminal said:

Did anyone get the Halloumi fries?

Can you let us know what they're like before I go trecking about for some.

Yep. Posted above. Last two boxes early afternoon yesterday. Cooked last night served with salad. They’re very salty, dry. Needs the Pomegranite Molases/dressing/dips to cut through that. We used two boxes between five of us, although I think only four ended up eating them. I’m not in a rush to buy anymore. Not sure how the others feel.

We are very recent converts to Aldi, but I really like the place. It’s not too big, there is some quirky stuff, and the prices seem very fair. Not had a single thing from them we haven’t liked yet (apart from ther coleslaw).

Still use Tesco and Waitrose, but a bit less now.

[Evanivitch]

soupdragon1 said:

When I looked last night. I would personally choose the Angus mince, way tastier.

The Tesco is 21% fat. The Aldi is 10%.

You're not comparing the same quality, just a name.

[soupdragon1]

Evanivitch said:

The Tesco is 21% fat. The Aldi is 10%.

You're not comparing the same quality, just a name.

But aldi is £7.18 for the 'good' mince and Tesco is £6.60 (both a angus)
Point being, if shopping for price, Tesco is cheaper. If shopping for quality, Tesco is cheaper. And the Aldi cheap mince isn't even beef, it's pork. Maybe better choice in store perhaps, I don't know.

[twing]

gregs656 said:

What does any of this have to do with what Aldi food is worth trying? If you like Tesco shop at Tesco. Not complicated.

The medium Peri Peri is lush. The hot is proper hot. Haven’t tried the other one.

Here here, start a Tesco thread.
That hot sauce had me sweating like hell. They’ve started selling loads of El Paso Mexican kits now, same sort of prices as when the bigger shops have them on offer

[Evanivitch]

soupdragon1 said:

But aldi is £7.18 for the 'good' mince and Tesco is £6.60 (both a angus)
Point being, if shopping for price, Tesco is cheaper. If shopping for quality, Tesco is cheaper. And the Aldi cheap mince isn't even beef, it's pork. Maybe better choice in store perhaps, I don't know.

You're right they're both Angus, but one is 20% fat and the other 10% which means they've used significantly different quality of cuts to produce them. With Aldi likely using the better quality.

The cheapest Aldi beef mince is £3.59 per kg. Still.more expensive that then value Tesco product but I'm willing to bet it's better quality. Because value products generally abandon all quality.

Edited by Evanivitch on Saturday 19th May 12:37

[gregs656]

twing said:

Here here, start a Tesco thread.
That hot sauce had me sweating like hell. They’ve started selling loads of El Paso Mexican kits now, same sort of prices as when the bigger shops have them on offer

I accidentally picked up one hot and one medium last week. Didn’t notice until I added the hot...it was a bit of a lesson.

The flavour is lovely though I think. Just had it for lunch - Aldi mini fillets, piri piri sauce with added tomatoes, a pepper and onion, steamed broccoli and sweet potato fries.

The Aldi fajita kits are good. Better than the branded ones IMO. The included salsa is decent. Their chilled soured cream is also decent.

I’ll have a 25g bar of their 85% chocolate now. Its a shame they don’t do anything with a higher percentage but it is still low sugar and tastes good. FWIW I’ve got two bars of montezumas 100% in the fridge I haven’t really bothered with.

Last edit - I buy the 5% Aldi mince to make spag Bol (no jar of sauce required) and 500g is not much more than £3 iirc. Good stuff.

Edited by gregs656 on Saturday 19th May 12:51

Edited by gregs656 on Saturday 19th May 12:52

Edited by gregs656 on Saturday 19th May 12:53

[soupdragon1]

Evanivitch said:

You're right they're both Angus, but one is 20% fat and the other 10% which means they've used significantly different quality of cuts to produce them. With Aldi likely using the better quality.

The cheapest Aldi beef mince is £3.59 per kg. Still.more expensive that then value Tesco product but I'm willing to bet it's better quality. Because value products generally abandon all quality.

Edited by Evanivitch on Saturday 19th May 12:37

I've no idea which is the better quality, as I live in NI and we get Irish beef in our stores which I buy. The counter mince in particular is one of the highest quality you can buy. My sister worked in meat wholesale industry and basically, Tesco bought all the best meat, with the same Angus beef also being retailed across Europe and sold alongside Argentinean beef as 'worlds premium beefs.

She also previously worked for a manfaturer as sales manager and told me some stories. During a real pork price increase issue around 5 or 6 years ago, wholesale pork was getting increasingly expensive. She met all the buyers of their pork range and basically said, we need to charge you more. The only alternative was to change the recipe. Only Tesco and M&S paid the price increase, I'll leave you to guess who changed the recipes to keep the price down.

You also have the common myth that butchers are better quality than regular retailers. The reality is, most butchers are simply retailers in the same/similar supply chain, buying wholesale meat, with a butcher sign on the shop window. Unless you know the supply chain, this is another common myth you see rolled out with no real foundation to the argument.

I'm fortunate enough to know the supply chain of my fruit, veg and meat and know where most of it comes from, as NI is quite a small country. It good to know stuff like this, I find it quite interesting

Oh, and that fat content as a view on quality. The NI Angus beef is very fatty, that's why it's so good! All depends on if the fat is the outer fat, or the marbled fat within the meat. Massive difference! That % fat indicator certainly isn't a quality guide.

Edited by soupdragon1 on Saturday 19th May 12:57

[FiF]

I look my beef dinner in the eyes when out with the dog. Reckon that big black bugger is destined for Christmas lunch, a right moody git he is, thinks he's the boss. Less so when in a pie.

[Gretchen]

twing said:

Here here, start a Tesco thread.
That hot sauce had me sweating like hell. They’ve started selling loads of El Paso Mexican kits now, same sort of prices as when the bigger shops have them on offer

They’ve had these for a while. Typically half the price of other stores (like you say unless on offer). They’re handy for quick Tacos, Burritos etc as store cupboard essential.

Have a couple of bottles of Aldi’s Austin’s Summer Cup (Pimms) in the fridge. It’s £5.99 compared to around £12. When loaded with fresh fruit and ice I can’t say I notice the difference. Not that I’ve had Pimm’s for a while as have bought this (or the Lidl equivalent) the past few years.

[soupdragon1]

gregs656 said:

What does any of this have to do with what Aldi food is worth trying? If you like Tesco shop at Tesco. Not complicated.

The medium Peri Peri is lush. The hot is proper hot. Haven’t tried the other one.

The thread title ends in a ? so I think it's on topic. Just adding some views to the discussion, that's all

[BrabusMog]

soupdragon1 said:

gregs656 said:

What does any of this have to do with what Aldi food is worth trying? If you like Tesco shop at Tesco. Not complicated.

The medium Peri Peri is lush. The hot is proper hot. Haven’t tried the other one.

The thread title ends in a ? so I think it's on topic. Just adding some views to the discussion, that's all

It says food worth trying, not, “let’s extol the values of Tesco over Aldi.”

And for what’s it worth, some stuff at Aldi is cheaper, some at Tesco. But we save a fortune now when shopping in the uk compared to when we used to go to Tesco for our “main” shop.

[soupdragon1]

BrabusMog said:

It says food worth trying, not, “let’s extol the values of Tesco over Aldi.”

And for what’s it worth, some stuff at Aldi is cheaper, some at Tesco. But we save a fortune now when shopping in the uk compared to when we used to go to Tesco for our “main” shop.

Ok, so maybe I should apologise for my posts that are off topic and of no value to this thread then?

[V8mate]

soupdragon1 said:

BrabusMog said:

It says food worth trying, not, “let’s extol the values of Tesco over Aldi.”

And for what’s it worth, some stuff at Aldi is cheaper, some at Tesco. But we save a fortune now when shopping in the uk compared to when we used to go to Tesco for our “main” shop.

Ok, so maybe I should apologise for my posts that are off topic and of no value to this thread then?

Please.

[technodup]

I was in Lidl in Spain last week and it seemed better. No bread (in bags) we could find, but they had a cooler thing with loose langoustine and big prawns you could just scoop up like pic and mix. Probably followed us down from Scotland seeing as we don't seem to like them.

Sadly we were in a hotel with no cooking facilities. So we made do with wee stubbies of lager at 25c and red wine at 99c. And jamon. Lots of jamon.

[RammyMP]

technodup said:

I was in Lidl in Spain last week and it seemed better. No bread (in bags) we could find, but they had a cooler thing with loose langoustine and big prawns you could just scoop up like pic and mix. Probably followed us down from Scotland seeing as we don't seem to like them.

Sadly we were in a hotel with no cooking facilities. So we made do with wee stubbies of lager at 25c and red wine at 99c. And jamon. Lots of jamon.

The Lidl’s in Portugal are the same. They do a pork bread which is mega!