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Original poster

Since the packaging changed Sainsburys mince is awful

198 replies

Ifeelabnormal · 23/02/2025 13:11

Just that really. Mince is now in these vacuum packs and it's horrid and lumpy - hard to get out the pack to start with, but doesn't break up properly while cooking so it ends up full of lumps and really disgusting.

I appreciate the new packaging is probably for environmental reasons but it's making the mince inedible! I think I will stop buying it even though it's one of my easy go-to meals.

Are other supermarkets using the same? I haven't checked.

OP posts:
YourGreenZebra · 23/02/2025 13:12

I 100% agree. I've stopped buying it and get it from the butcher now. Its been moved to a smaller shelf and is reguarly reduced in my local store as I think they struggle to sell it.

Notgivenuphope · 23/02/2025 13:13

Totally agree.
I only buy it in Tesco now. Can’t stand the vac packed stuff.

AppleCelebration · 23/02/2025 13:14

It doesn’t bother me, in fact when I put it in a pan you can “unfold it” (it looks folded) and it looks pretty normal. I can’t get hung up about it

Gatekeeper · 23/02/2025 13:15

I bought mince from Morrisons last week and it was still in the old style packaging. I hate the vacuum packed stuff as it doesn't break down properly

Original poster
Ifeelabnormal · 23/02/2025 13:18

AppleCelebration · 23/02/2025 13:14

It doesn’t bother me, in fact when I put it in a pan you can “unfold it” (it looks folded) and it looks pretty normal. I can’t get hung up about it

Glad you've found a way to cook it so it turns out ok

OP posts:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 23/02/2025 13:18

We stopped buying Sainsbury’s mince after the first time we tried it packed this way - it ruins the texture and makes it woolly, and tasteless too. I have complained to Sainsbury’s but got a ‘no-one else has complained’ sort of non-answer.

At least one other supermarket has switched back to the old style packaging - Aldi, I think - so hopefully others will realise how unpopular it is, and switch back too.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 23/02/2025 13:19

Tesco is the only place around here that still do the "normal" packaging. I hate the vacuum packed mince. It has the texture of being boiled no matter how I cook it

BIWI · 23/02/2025 13:19

I genuinely don't understand people who say they can't break this mince up. It's exactly the same as when it used to be in a plastic box, it's just been vacuum-packed to compress it. All you do is break it down with a spoon in the pan.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 23/02/2025 13:20

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 23/02/2025 13:18

We stopped buying Sainsbury’s mince after the first time we tried it packed this way - it ruins the texture and makes it woolly, and tasteless too. I have complained to Sainsbury’s but got a ‘no-one else has complained’ sort of non-answer.

At least one other supermarket has switched back to the old style packaging - Aldi, I think - so hopefully others will realise how unpopular it is, and switch back too.

Our Aldi have just started using the vacuum packaging. They were my go to until last month!

Honeyroar · 23/02/2025 13:22

You get used to it! Just chop it a bit with a knife. They take up a lot less room in the freezer, which is good.

Jc2001 · 23/02/2025 13:24

Same with Lidl since they packed it that way. I bulk buy Aberdeen Angus meat from Costco now. So much better .

Danceswithweasels · 23/02/2025 13:26

Yes! I made Bolognese the other day, it turned into meatballs. The Co-op have started this nonsense too, I briefly contemplated buying a mincer to 're mince it. I now buy frozen as it's free flow but it's often out of stock as I imagine others are buying too. I also cook in an air fryer to keep costs down and do not want to ruin the pan by pounding with a wooden spoon to get some sort of mince texture back.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 23/02/2025 13:26

Use it all the time and the end result is no different to when it came in a plastic carton.

theonlygirl · 23/02/2025 13:32

Yep, thanks Sainsburys, it's completely changed the texture of my spag bol so that now no one will eat it and I have to go out of my way to find "normal" mince. Tesco and I think Asda still ok.

Original poster
Ifeelabnormal · 23/02/2025 13:34

I'm genuinely puzzled by those who say it's no different. I'm not saying I don't believe you, but how are you cooking it? I try hard to break it down but it's still lumpy and has the texture of boiled meat, like someone else said.

OP posts:
Caterina99 · 23/02/2025 13:35

I don’t find it changes the taste or texture or anything of the finished meal, but I do find it’s a lot more work to break it all up when cooking. Annoying for sure!

Candleabra · 23/02/2025 13:36

Lidl do this too. I just accepted it and got on with it until i had some normally packaged mince from Asda and it was so much nicer.

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 23/02/2025 13:37

Yes it is awful. Don't shop at Sainsbury's anymore. Tesco is still normal, Waitrose have reduced packaging without making dog food.

Bbq1 · 23/02/2025 13:44

Thought it was just me! It's horrible, you have to stand there for an age chopping it with a knife. Never breaks up properly. I stick to butchers mince if given a choice.

IDoWhateverItTakes · 23/02/2025 13:46

Co-op has done the same with theirs. While I do understand why they're doing it, it makes it much harder to work with and doesn't taste quite the same imo.

It's like grating cheese; more oxygen exposure changes the taste imo

DustyMaiden · 23/02/2025 13:47

I much prefer the texture of the frozen mince 5% fat.

tanqueray10 · 23/02/2025 13:47

Yes! I think it smells weird too. Has put me right off.

Hotafternoon · 23/02/2025 13:49

I've started buying mince and other meat from a local butcher. It costs more but the mince is much nicer than the supermarket ready packed stuff I was buying.

I do have a small pack of the vacuum packed mince in the freezer but I've yet to use it. It just looks horrible.

Bibbitybobbity70 · 23/02/2025 13:50

It's horrible, tried a few times & noone would eat it due to the texture. I refuse to buy it now. Coop, sainsburys & aldi have all switched packaging. I buy from Asda, Morrisons now.

MilesOfMotivation · 23/02/2025 13:51

It's horrible, I've stopped shopping at Sainsburys now as I won't use that mince.