Good and Bad Buys at Lidl and Aldi stores (***Please don't expire***)

Desmond_Hume

harz99 said:

Also in Aldi today I had my first experience of trying the vacuum packed minced beef, the 10% version.

Aldi claim it's the same mince, it  maybe the same meat grade, but it's been over minced into an ultrafine mass, compared to the stranded meat that the old packaging contained and cooks up like a slurry, as I've just found out.

I'll reserve final judgement until we've eaten it later, but I've a feeling minced beef will be another Aldi product we no longer buy... 

Was the colander for this post or is it a regular thing? Just curious of its purpose? 🤔 

harz99

Desmond_Hume said:

harz99 said:

Also in Aldi today I had my first experience of trying the vacuum packed minced beef, the 10% version.

Aldi claim it's the same mince, it  maybe the same meat grade, but it's been over minced into an ultrafine mass, compared to the stranded meat that the old packaging contained and cooks up like a slurry, as I've just found out.

I'll reserve final judgement until we've eaten it later, but I've a feeling minced beef will be another Aldi product we no longer buy... 

Was the colander for this post or is it a regular thing? Just curious of its purpose? 🤔 

I cook the mince in oxo stock, drain to get rid of fat residues, then make up and add whatever sauce or gravy I'm using, plus blanched onions or whatever else im adding in, simmer the lot for 5/6 minutes then finish off later when needed. That's why the colander... 

Clowance

Interesting, I fry it then put in colander and pour boiling water over it to remove even more fat but I like your idea.

maman

It seems, from the photo @harz99,  another downside with this vacuum packed mince is that you're going to have to replace the colander with a sieve to avoid literally throwing your money with your meat down the drain!🤣

General_Grant

Do you often have to unblock your kitchen waste pipe?

Desmond_Hume

Why not just buy 5% mince?  I didn’t realise people washed cooked mince. It’s something I’ve not come across before. 

Doc_N

Desmond_Hume said:

Why not just buy 5% mince?  I didn’t realise people washed cooked mince. It’s something I’ve not come across before. 

Nor me. I’m no expert, but my wife tells me it would wash away a lot of the flavour and the ‘goodness’ in the meat.

username

Doc_N said:

Desmond_Hume said:

Why not just buy 5% mince?  I didn’t realise people washed cooked mince. It’s something I’ve not come across before. 

Nor me. I’m no expert, but my wife tells me it would wash away a lot of the flavour and the ‘goodness’ in the meat.

Neither have I, a little fat adds to the stock and flavour. Granted, the vacuum packed mince does require more agitation in the pan to break it up, I tend to stick with Waitrose/M&S mince as it isn't vacuum packed into a block.

harz99

General_Grant said:

Do you often have to unblock your kitchen waste pipe?

Why, I hardly ever fry anything, don't chuck breadcrumbs down the sink and so on. 

PLRFD

harz99 said:

General_Grant said:

Do you often have to unblock your kitchen waste pipe?

Why, I hardly ever fry anything, don't chuck breadcrumbs down the sink and so on. 

I think GG meant the fat from the mince going solid.