What do you buy off the Supermarket deli/fish/meat counter?

[condor]

I was wondering how many PH people went to the deli/fish/meat counter when visiting their local supermarket instead of the pre-packaged stuff in the aisles.
I appreciate the proper response is that some only go to the butcher, fishmonger, farm shops etc but when given little choice have to make do with supermarket offerring... what do you go for?


Do you think it's better quality than the prepackaged stuff? How long do you think it lasts in the fridge? do you think it's cheaper than packaged stuff or more expensive?


I like that you often get a chance to try a small bit before you buy something new...and often buy ham or cheese on a taste session. It's usually suggested that you eat it within a couple of days.
I like to buy fish from the counter rather than packaged ( though I did get food poisoning a few months ago, and haven't since then).
I like to check the meat prices and sometimes just buy 2 sausages to go with breakfast, now they've become so expensive.

Over to you

[GWC]

It's generally much better value than the prepacked stuff. I still find that a good butcher provides far superior meat at less than the supermarkets sell for. Unfortunately for buying fish, you often have no choice.

[Changedmyname]

Nothing ,I will use a proper fishmonger.

[condor]

Changedmyname said:

Nothing ,I will use a proper fishmonger.

We're not lucky enough to have a proper fishmonger, the few shut down many years ago.

[Changedmyname]

Aren't there any markets ,there's a good scorce.

[hornetrider]

Waitrose do cracking pork pies topped with chutneys

[escargot]

Not a great deal really. A lot of it is bks as its still prepacked, just in bigger packs. Mince being a prime example.

[calibrax]

I generally avoid deli counters where possible.

My reasons are that many years ago when I was in my University years, I had a Christmas job at a small Co-Op store. The manager was paranoid about the levels of stock wastage, and so it was common practice at that branch to take any out of date prepacked cold meats/bacon, and instead of throwing them away, open them up and put on the deli counter.

So people would buy bacon from the deli thinking it was better than the packet stuff, but it WAS the packet stuff, only from the previous week...

Of course I'm sure nowadays nobody indulges in such shady practices. But regardless, the stuff on the deli is basically in the open air all day, and exposed to anything airborne. I'm not a germophobe by a long shot, but given the choice I'll take the prepacked versions every time.


EDIT: Fish/meat for cooking, I usually get from a butcher/fishmonger.

[Mr Roper]

I usually only buy cooked meats and cheeses....always have a wide selection.

[dmitsi]

Worth buying whole side fillets of salmon. A pack of two fillets is usually £2-3, yet a large side will give you 8-10 fillets and cost £6-8. Just descale, cut to portions and freeze on the day you buy it.