Since the packaging changed Sainsburys mince is awful

I don’t buy mince anymore because of the new packaging. It’s disgusting.

Sainsburys turkey mince is still in the old packaging thank god
I gave up beef mince years ago and just add shit loads of marmite & beef stock so no one notices

"So all the people who don't like the new packaging, are either bashing it to an inch of it's life, using poor quality meat, or unable to cook?!"

Yes, that's exactly my opinion. I feel some places have lessened the quality, and it isn't the packaging. All the packaging does is vacuum pack it, which I have found keeps it fresher. Just gently warm on a very low heat and it'll break up gradually, because it has been compressed so it needs gradual heat. I do think there are some bad quality packs out there. Some places have taken the packaging change as an opportunity to cheapen, eg. Asda turkey mince would fit the criteria on here of what pps are saying as being a mushed block. A top chef couldn't make that edible.

Same. I'm a good cook (if I do say so myself) and I hate the texture, so I won't buy it. Thankfully there are lots of other options. 🤷‍♀️

So all the people who don't like the new packaging, are either bashing it to an inch of it's life, using poor quality meat, or unable to cook?! All those negative reviews online, the papers etc must be because they can't cook as well then.

That's what I'm taking from all the slightly sneary, condecsending, posts from those who don't mind it.

I hate it, i hate the look of it, I hate the fact it is compressed and flattened. It tastes different, not in flavour but texture and I don't like it (and don't eat much mince anymore).

I won't buy vacuumed packed mince. I can cook really well, I love cooking, just not with this mince. If mince was meant to be compressed and sold like that, a butcher would sell it like that but they don't.

Bashing meat around, mashing, squidging with hands like play doh etc. No wonder it is becoming over mushed, or like corned beef/dog food to some of you, then this mush is solidifying to lumps after such rough treatment. Some even advocate for bags or frozen worms broken up mince bits! 🤢

I haven't tried the sainsbury's beef mince, so I have no idea, but maybe the quality of the meat is the issue here. I often find some places that use a change in packaging as a bonus way to cheapen the product within.

Only too often did the old packaging fail, never kept the product fresh for long, and the flimsy plastic lid was never great for keeping it air-tight.

I buy good quality, low fat percentage steak beef mince, Lidl's is amazing since they have changed to vacuum packed. The meat is so fresh, much better than it ever was in the old trays, and high quality. The sealing in process retains the freshness much better.

I don't make a point of separating it, and I just put it in the pan, just as I used to with the old packaged mince. When I'm gently moving around the pan sautéing, it naturally starts to break up itself (behaves like the old one). I'm not bashing it within an inch of it's life, or concentrating on separating it so much, or no wonder there are issues later. I then just let it gently simmer away on a low heat. It breaks down beautifully and is tender when served.

I wonder if some people are bashing it and frying it on too high of a temp. If you're cutting it up into pieces then blasting with heat, his will cause lumps. I would say either the quality of the meat you're buying is the issue, otherwise it is your prep/cooking method. It isn't the packaging.

It is honestly worth buying it from somewhere else, and to look at the meat quality and fat percentage as well. The quality is definately to blame if it isn't the cooking. I had a bad pack of turkey mince from asda, mushy, poor meat quality, and that sounds a lot like what some of you describe on here.

I've stopped buying it in Sainsbury's, Tesco & M&S have original packaging.

I like it! Love how it takes up less room in the freezer. I don't notice any difference with taste or texture either. I just bash it about a bit when cooking it and it breaks up and looks and behave exactly like any other kind of minced beef!

Totally agree
Don't buy it anymore

Yes! Corned beef ! That's what it's like!

I’ve stopped buying it like that, our local Sainsbury’s, Aldi & Lidl have all gone to vacuum packed mince. It’s like mushed up corned beef! 🤮
I go to Tesco’s to get mine now, no local butchers here either 😞 just hope Tesco doesn’t go down the same route as the others!

I don't think there are any and we don't have meat often enough really to investigate (just a spag bol or lasagne every so often!). Luckily I do live in a town wit a choice of Tescos or M and S over Sainsburys. Everything in my Sainsburys has gone downhill so they have lost my custom. I ahve never considered myself fussy - we are such basic 1980s eaters!

Have you tried online for any that deliver? I haven't used one personally but I've heard of a few.

I don’t buy the vacuum pack mince either, it’s awful. Tesco, M&S, and I think possibly Iceland sell in regular packaging.

Same. I don't get the issue at all. It's a tiny bit more effort for the same result. Mine doesn't end up lumpy at all.

I don't have a butcher anywhere near me , sadly...some of us only have a supermarket. It's a long car ride to a butcher for me!

Honestly I can't recommend enough that you buy your meat from a butcher. Supermarket meat is absolutely shit and these days the prices are virtually the same as butcher prices.

The chicken breast from supermarkets especially is just inedible, but there has to be a reason it can stay in date for so long. I just buy a couple of weeks worth of meat at a time from the butcher and freeze it in portions.

But I don't want to remince (ie mash) already minced meat!

Other people keep referring to worms - I expect my mince to look like worms! Anything not wormy looks like that really chap value frozen mince to me.

Minced meat tool

Your welcome.

I don't normally have to mash my mince to smithereens when cooking! It normally just falls apart in the pan - spoon for stirring and light agitation only! I wonder if some of us have different ideas about what cooked mince looks like?

Yes it's gross! It tastes so different as well

Can't say the squashed mince bothers me. I just use two forks to pull it all apart before frying. Job done. Certainly doesn't taste any different.

Tesco and M&S both still have the old style packaging.

I think a lot of people are not cooking the mince for long enough. I always do my bolognese and chilli in the pressure cooker. Never has lumps or clumps in it.