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

Doc_N

Having been avoiding 'brands' for most of my life - basically after the big supermarkets (Sainsbury's was the first) beefed up the quality of their own label products to compete seriously with the brands - my line would be to forget the idea of trying to find something that's identical. Once you forget the concept that the big brand is 'best' (it isn't necessarily but its aim is to convince you that it is) you can happily stick to Aldi/Lidl/whatever own label without even worrying about whether it's identical or not. Ketchup is the classic - people MUST have Heinz. It isn't the best though - it's just that Heinz have cleverly convinced people that it is, and the price is ridiculous!

Rosa_Damascena

Lidl Class 1 strawberries 600g appear to have a very dynamic pricing structure. Over the past week they have been £2.49, £2.29, £1.99 and £2.99.

HouseMartin567

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098873#Comment_82098873

My husband likes the Aldi version; isn’t so keen on those from Lidl.

HillStreetBlues

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82099725#Comment_82099725

For me both Lidl & Aldi are better than Walkers as they don't have sweeteners in Prawn Cocktail crisps like Walkers do.

HillStreetBlues

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098910#Comment_82098910

Supermarket own brands have improved so much over the years.
Use to have Heinz beans, as the supermarkets were like bullets in red water, now I have the Asda ones, about third of the price and more tomatoes.

Rosa_Damascena

This caught my eye (available from Sunday). Honest responses - are they a big faff to clean?:

flaneurs_lobster

Stand-alone espresso machines are not too bad at all to clean.

The machines that can be dreadful are the full-on bean-to-cup - the grinder will always produce excess dust & powder that can get trapped and mouldy.

PLRFD

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82099912#Comment_82099912

I've had a bean to cup machine for over 5 years never seen mould in it once the convenience is excellent and fantastic coffee. The expresso machines are ok but can be a faff with the grinding tamping etc take a look at youtube for videos there are hundreds it may help your decision i can highly recommend Delonghi bean to cup machines good luck.

Doc_N

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82099944#Comment_82099944

We’ve had various bean to cup machines from Siemens, Gaggia and DeLonghi for around 20 years now, without any cleaning, mould or other problems. The latter have been the best, and cleaning consists of a straightforward descale procedure every 6 weeks or so. It’s a semi automatic process which takes little involvement. Wouldn’t be without one for espresso, or any other type of coffee.

PLRFD

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82100123#Comment_82100123

same as you but in addition i smear a little silicone grease on the rubber washers of the infuser about once every six months.