What are the best and worst basics/value/smartprice own brand products out there?

trinidadone

Redleela wrote: »

I've now tried the ASDA Smart Price multi-purpose cleaner and it works just as well as other multi-purpose cleaners (recommended).

Small correction too please - it was Smart Price passata (not pasta) that I recommended.

Oh and I recommend the Tesco value white chocolate - yummy.

Thank you for the list it's made rediscover more value/smart price products.

hey Redleela, I have included the cleaner and choc to the front page. Also thanks for letting me know about the correction, I have changed that also. Thanks again and really nice to hear you have rediscovered more products, its nice to hear others are benefitting also

trinidadone

onlyroz wrote: »

You've got Tesco value yoghurt on your don't buy list but I think it's pretty good, along with the value chocolate mousse. Great for lunch boxes.

thanks for the recommendations onlyroz, I have included those on the front page of this thread. thanks again

trinidadone

Smiley_Mum wrote: »

I usually buy Cadbury's instant hot chocolate from Poundland, 400g jar for £1.00 compared with the same in Tesco for £2.57.

Nearly out of Cadbury's and wasn't prepared to pay £2.57 at Tesco for it so I tried...

Tesco Value Instant Hot Chocolate Drink for 400g at 48p

I made it up using 3 heaped teaspoons, instead of 5 as thought it may be a bit strong, put a splash of milk in the cup too, stirred it up as I hate getting air bubbles of dry powder, poured in the hot water, and another splash of milk. Was reasonably ok for price paid.

thanks Smiley_Mum, I have included the hot chocolate on the front page of this thread, come back with more recommendations if you can, thanks again

trinidadone

frugalfrancesca wrote: »

I wont buy asda sp mince as its terrible.. but love lemon curd! sorry if these are repeats xx

thanks frugalfrancesca, I have included the mince and curd to the front of this thread. Dont worry about repeating, it streagthens the recommendations if more people recommend them. thanks again, and come back with more if you can, thank xx back

trinidadone

Hi All, I went into my local asda this afternoon. I went to the bread aisle as I wanted to stock up on bread. I could not find the Smartprice brown bread at 47p, so I asked a asda worker, and was told the product has been removed. The store did have the white Smartprice price. dont know if this is wide spread or just my local store, but was disapointed with the news, and drove to sainsburys instead. there basics brown bread is also 47p.

kathie1101

I am not a regular Sainsburys shopper but having read that a lot of their basic items are pretty good I have been trying some of them out lately, and have to say that I have been pretty impressed by a lot of them. I am sure most of these have already been mentioned but I'm sure it helps to have more people saying if products are good or not. So the following are all Sainsburys basic items.

Good:
Creme Caramel - 5 year old likes these (but only he likes creme caramel anyway)
4 pack of peach/strawberry yoghurts - these are much better than Tesco equivalent
Tea bags - make quite a nice cuppa. I tried the Mr T ones the week before and I thought they were not bad, now having had the Sainsburys ones I think Mr T's are pretty bad lol!
Mild grated cheddar - not bad (under £5 a KG) especially good for using in sauces and cooking etc and I'm using it in kids lunchboxes mixed in with a bit of salad to make sandwiches - goes a long way
Pine toilet cleaner - as good as any other
Instant tinned custard - Not quite the same as Ambrosia, but not bad - would have again
Syrup Sponge Pudding - Tastes totally different to the Heinz one so can't really compare - had loads of syrup on and would definitely buy again
Clear Honey - 5 year old loves honey and no complaints from him with this
Scones - as good as any of the other supermarket value ones - ideal for kiddies lunchboxes. A bit on the dry side but add a bit of butter & jam and you don't notice.
Syrup Pancakes - as good as any of the other supermarket value ones
Baby bath - love this and can't go wrong at 11p - I decant it into dispensers and use as hand wash too
Raisin fruit slab cake - very nice
Mayo - was good - wished they did it in a bigger size jar though
Meatfree chicken style burger - I was pleasantly surprised by these. At half the price of the Quorn ones they were very good. They have a slightly different texture to them than the Quorn ones, but not necessarily in a bad way. If you don't eat chicken or are looking for a cheaper/healthier alternative I would say try them, you might be surprised.

Disliked:
Pork Pies (4 pack) Hubby said these weren't too good
Chocolate Mouse (4 pack) Both children disliked these, although hubby said they were alright.

I'm sure there are more things we have tried, but that's all I can remember for now - will let you know as we try more.

Oh, one thing I can really recommend - it's not a basic item but it is lovely. Sainsburys pizzas that they make up in store, they are delish and far better than any of the other supermarkets. We get the large one, it's either 14" or 15" (sorry can't remember which) and it's only £3.49. That does 4 of us 2 adults, teenager (huge appetite) and 5 y.o, along with salad and/or chips.

jpscloud

I tried Tesco value savoury rice (golden vegetable) tonight - 27p and absolutely lovely! I put a small knob of butter in and added some leftover turkey drumstick shreds.

Linda32

Hi, I recently bought some Sainsburys basic cleaning wipes, about 80p. These are the sort that come in a pouch and you take one out and seal it back up again.

I never normally buy anything like this, so had no idea what they were like. They were just for work, to wipe the table and I was quite impressed.

To give you an idea, they were used for cleaning compost and bird poo of a table :eek: so pretty good

trinidadone

kathie1101 wrote: »

I am not a regular Sainsburys shopper but having read that a lot of their basic items are pretty good I have been trying some of them out lately, and have to say that I have been pretty impressed by a lot of them. I am sure most of these have already been mentioned but I'm sure it helps to have more people saying if products are good or not. So the following are all Sainsburys basic items.

Good:
Creme Caramel - 5 year old likes these (but only he likes creme caramel anyway)
4 pack of peach/strawberry yoghurts - these are much better than Tesco equivalent
Tea bags - make quite a nice cuppa. I tried the Mr T ones the week before and I thought they were not bad, now having had the Sainsburys ones I think Mr T's are pretty bad lol!
Mild grated cheddar - not bad (under £5 a KG) especially good for using in sauces and cooking etc and I'm using it in kids lunchboxes mixed in with a bit of salad to make sandwiches - goes a long way
Pine toilet cleaner - as good as any other
Instant tinned custard - Not quite the same as Ambrosia, but not bad - would have again
Syrup Sponge Pudding - Tastes totally different to the Heinz one so can't really compare - had loads of syrup on and would definitely buy again
Clear Honey - 5 year old loves honey and no complaints from him with this
Scones - as good as any of the other supermarket value ones - ideal for kiddies lunchboxes. A bit on the dry side but add a bit of butter & jam and you don't notice.
Syrup Pancakes - as good as any of the other supermarket value ones
Baby bath - love this and can't go wrong at 11p - I decant it into dispensers and use as hand wash too
Raisin fruit slab cake - very nice
Mayo - was good - wished they did it in a bigger size jar though
Meatfree chicken style burger - I was pleasantly surprised by these. At half the price of the Quorn ones they were very good. They have a slightly different texture to them than the Quorn ones, but not necessarily in a bad way. If you don't eat chicken or are looking for a cheaper/healthier alternative I would say try them, you might be surprised.

Disliked:
Pork Pies (4 pack) Hubby said these weren't too good
Chocolate Mouse (4 pack) Both children disliked these, although hubby said they were alright.

I'm sure there are more things we have tried, but that's all I can remember for now - will let you know as we try more.

Oh, one thing I can really recommend - it's not a basic item but it is lovely. Sainsburys pizzas that they make up in store, they are delish and far better than any of the other supermarkets. We get the large one, it's either 14" or 15" (sorry can't remember which) and it's only £3.49. That does 4 of us 2 adults, teenager (huge appetite) and 5 y.o, along with salad and/or chips.

many thanks for the list, including the recomendations and dislikes, i have included these to the front page, thanks again

trinidadone

jpscloud wrote: »

I tried Tesco value savoury rice (golden vegetable) tonight - 27p and absolutely lovely! I put a small knob of butter in and added some leftover turkey drumstick shreds.

thanks jpscloud, i have included the rice on the front page of this thread, thanks again