Good and bad buys from Aldi and Lidl

paulineb_2

Aldi, bought a packet of their four seasons summer fruits, frozen, raspberries, blackcurrants, blackberries and redcurrants. I like the small fruit pots you get in tesco but at £2 a time I rarely buy them, too expensive

I do have a cheap fruit and veg co op near me, but they dont do these kinds of fruits, so for 500g I thought this was a bargain and I'll definitely buy it again.

Grouchy

A few more things I've tried and would recommend:

Lidl's OceanTrader 4 Premium Chunky Cod Fillets in Batter - proper fillets, not the reformed pieces which are IMO unpleasant, much better taste and quality than Birds Eye or SM brands and cheaper (can't remember price sorry).

Bellarom French Blend and Italian Blend ground coffee. Both excellent, £1.79 for 227g I think.
Lidl Rich chocolate dark chocolate 5 small bars in a pack - good quality chocolate, good taste, 99p I think.

I posted before complaining about the Nixe sardines in olive oil because of poor content, but I must have had a duff tin, bought others and they are excellent,

Gradually trying more things with each shop and generally very pleased with quality and price.

Don't know about anyone else but it is not really all about price/quality though that's important, but prefer shopping where you don't need an olympic gold in walking to get around in a reasonable amount of time. Also like the fact there are a few good options for each type product rather than 25 different (but actually the same) sorts of toilet rolls or crisps etc. Less bling and better prices and none of the bogof nonsense encouraging you to buy more than you want to use.

bean55

Don't normally shop in Aldi as I'm a Lidl fan but was in there for something on offer the other week, can't remember what.

Anyway, I asked about instant mash, which I usually buy in Lidl. I know it's not to everyone's taste but I live alone and it's a faff to make mash for one, and I quite like the Lidl brand. Anyway to get to the point turns out Aldi don't sell instant but they do sell frozen mash. It's sort of in small cylindrical portions so you can use as much as you like and keep the rest.

It was really nice. Afraid I can't remember how much I paid for it but it was cheap. I have a vague recollection it may have been about 69p for a bag. Highly recommended

maman

bean55 wrote: »

Anyway, I asked about instant mash, which I usually buy in Lidl. I know it's not to everyone's taste but I live alone and it's a faff to make mash for one, and I quite like the Lidl brand. Anyway to get to the point turns out Aldi don't sell instant but they do sell frozen mash. It's sort of in small cylindrical portions so you can use as much as you like and keep the rest.

It was really nice. Afraid I can't remember how much I paid for it but it was cheap. I have a vague recollection it may have been about 69p for a bag. Highly recommended

You might want to try the Aldi tinned potatoes @ just 14 p a can. I use them for frittata/Spanish omelette or slicing and frying with a cooked breakfast. They keep well in the fridge once opened.

Grouchy wrote: »

Don't know about anyone else but it is not really all about price/quality though that's important, but prefer shopping where you don't need an olympic gold in walking to get around in a reasonable amount of time.

Someone had been moaning on here that they didn't have enough time to shop at Aldi as they'd get wheel clamped because of parking restrictions. So I checked last week. There's a 90 mins restriction at my Aldi but I was in and out just over 30 minutes (and that included wasting a bit of time browsing the middle tables and waiting for some fresh veg from the stock room).

mcculloch29

At our local Aldi people tend to park their cars, then wander up into the town centre, which is adjacent. I normally visit with my (adults') pedal trike, so this doesn't affect me, but if I'm in the car it does if all the disabled spaces are taken, as I cannot walk very far at all without support. We're remarkably lucky with the parking spots usually, but not always. I have little sympathy for anyone clamped, as it's a car park for ALDI customers.
The longest I've been in Aldi was 55 minutes on the day it opened, I challenge anyone to spend 75 minutes shopping in there.

mcculloch29

bean55 wrote: »

Don't normally shop in Aldi as I'm a Lidl fan but was in there for something on offer the other week, can't remember what.

Anyway, I asked about instant mash, which I usually buy in Lidl. I know it's not to everyone's taste but I live alone and it's a faff to make mash for one, and I quite like the Lidl brand. Anyway to get to the point turns out Aldi don't sell instant but they do sell frozen mash. It's sort of in small cylindrical portions so you can use as much as you like and keep the rest.

It was really nice. Afraid I can't remember how much I paid for it but it was cheap. I have a vague recollection it may have been about 69p for a bag. Highly recommended

Thanks for this. I knew Aldi didn't do instant mash, but I normally get my frozen veg from Heron Foods, so hadn't investigated.

mcculloch29

Before I forget, the Hydro- Urea foot and hand creams are back on Specialbuys at Aldi from Sunday. These creams are hypoallergenic and fantastic quality. They haven't been available for a year, so I'll be stocking up.

Clowance

it is indeed 69p for a bag, I buy loads for easy meals after work for a family of 3 would stretch to 4 if not as greedy (started buying frozen mash after Delias how to cheat!)

However it may be seasonal as last year I could buy in the winter but not in the summer.
Other supermarkets sell it, asda being next cheapest if desperate.
HTH

[Deleted User]

Aldi's :I love their yoghurts especially the greek with honey.I use it over puddings instead of fresh cream.I also like their seseme seed crispbread which I think is around 59p.I bought a chicken in there a few weeks ago and cooked it in my slow cooker Got a jug full of stock, and managed to get 8 meals plus a couple of sarnies for under £4.00.It tasted really nice as well and didn't dry out.I would probably say around 60% of my shopping is now done in Aldi's.If I go to Maidstone I will go into Lidls and have a good look around I bought some delicious oranges in there two week ago & in a bag for 1.79 and they were very sweet and a good size as well I would have had to pay £3.00 for 4 in Mr T or Sainsbbobs.I am always pleasantly suprised when I am at the checkout at how much less it costs for stuff.I also bought a small gammon joint for £2.99 which is in my freezer at the moment but it looked very lean and I will use it slow cooked for making some sandwiches later on when the weather improves for a picnic with my DGS.far cheaper than buying ready sliced stuff.Even a big bag of sweet potato's only cost me 89p and I had 6 in there.So MrT may have their points but I have definitely become a fan of Aldi's and Lidl's

System

My mum bought Aldi's own Calgon tablets and powder (uses the powder for small washes) and they have stopped selling them.

Asked a couple of staff at a couple of stores and deny selling them!