Chicken & meat from Aldi?

jma21

Just been on my first visit to Aldi - only popped in for carrots, runner beans and rice and only ended up there as my tesco didn't have runner beans. Anyway, i was pleasantly surprised and ended up buying a few other things which i needed later in week. Spent £7.66 and just worked out tesco equivalent was £11.74 and sainsburys (where i normally go) was £13.98!! I know it's only a few pounds but imagine the savings on my £130 shop done yesterday in sainsburys! Sorry, have been very long-winded but the reason i am posting is because i buy a lot of chicken breasts and lean mince and wondered whether these are worth trying in aldi? I am reluctant to try as the chicken breasts i was buying from sainsburys and tesco (frozen) just shrink to half the size so i think this is false economy. I am currently buying the fresh sainsburys breasts on offer at 3 packs for £10 then freezing and they are massive - often have to cut them in half as there is too much. Can anyone recommend the aldi ones and would you go for fresh or frozen? Also any other good recommendations? For example, I don't fancy the tinned tomatoes as once bought morrisons cheap brand and they were disgusting. How about cooked meats like ham? I imagine cheese is fine. They also had some kids yoghurts - how do they compare nutrition-wise to petis filous and frubes? Sorry for all the questions - you all seem so well informed and i'm hoping to learn from your experiences, rather than make costly mistakes myself

santer_2

Have only bought a whole chicken from Aldi, £5 not their basic range and it was among the best chickens I have bought for taste and moisture retention

vax2002

Both aldi and lidl are considered high quality food outlets in their respective countries, meat, lobster, fish, fruit and veg they really excel at

GlynD

Their chicken and meats are just as good as anywhere else. Their tinned tomatoes are not a cheap brand either, they're good quality but priced very well.

flipper_72

Tomatoes are great.
Normal mince is not so good - just like other normal beef mince i get, lots of fat. Not tried the lean one.
Chicken is good.

mumkey

I do the majority of my weekly shopping at Aldi, only things like guinea pig food I get elsewhere.

Their meat is very good, both raw and cooked - their salami and hams are very good value.

I hate to think what I would spend if I went elsewhere - I have converted a friend too - she is a big wine drinker and now even gets that from there. Worth giving a go!

StaffieTerrier

I recently started doing the majority of my weekly shop in Aldi and top up the rest in Tesco. If find the shelf life of the meat and fruit and veg much better than Tesco/Asda/Sainsbury's/etc. I'm saving around £20 per week. The cakes and biscuits are really yummy, and cheap enough to justify popping one or two packs in my trolley.

BusyGirl

I can recommend:

whole chicken £2.99
pizzas about £1.50
pork sausages 8 for 95p
steaks braising and sirloin -sorry cannot remember prices but very reasonable
gammon/bacon joints about £3
big pies £2.40ish
humous 65p

plus loads more as I do about 70% of my weekly shop in Aldi:D

jma21

Thanks everyone - really good to hear everyone's opinions. Keep the recommendations coming - am already making my list for next shop!

lovebargainshatewaste

1kg mince (2.2lb) - £2.42 - excellent value and not too greasy (enough for 10 portions)
Chicken is great (whole chicken)
The extra virgin olive oil in a green glass bottle is brilliant at £2.45 (I think) - has won foodie awards
Cereals are great (usually buy their equivalent to weetabix, but honey nut flakes and strawberry crunch are fab as a treat)
Veg can be excellent - just keep an eye out for special offers
Tinned tomatoes are wonderful - very tasty
Baked beans are delicious
Wine - £2.99 for white/rose Baron summat or other - nice and easy drinkable.
Washing powder - can't remember the price but very good value
Fruit cider -£1.99 - a current offer - very tasty although quite sweet
Austin's - £5.49 - tastes just like Pimms. Later in the year, it's usually reduced to under £4
Cola max - £1.09/6 cans or 35p for a 2ltr bottle - tastes like Pepsi Max
Lemonade is excellent - the diet version is only 18p/2ltr bottle

I could go on....

flipper_72

Balsamic vinegar is very reasonable price - and we love it.
Agree on the cooked meats ranges - very good.
Tampons £1.64 for 50/60ish - just like lilets.
Oaties biscuits - like hobnobs, half the price.
Not so keen on the salad cream - seems thin and oily.
Specially selected curry sauces - with the dry powder seperate from sauce are lovely £1.10ish