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Original poster

To boycott Sainsbury’s for their mince packaging!!

185 replies

daydi · 23/10/2025 09:55

Light hearted (ish) but I shop at Sainsbury’s and since they changed their mince packaging I’ve always hated it every time I buy it! It’d be a pain to buy only mince from a different shop so thinking it’s time to part ways!! It’s all so compact together and doesn’t cook as nicely anymore. Does anyone else have this issue or is it just me? Grin Or does anyone have any tips for cooking it?!

OP posts:
RobertaFirmino · 23/10/2025 20:57

Can't say it bothers me. I just cut the packet open, press it out onto a plate and leave it for 5 minutes or so. It helps to get the air back into it to aid separation. I read that tip here on MN. Can't tell the difference when eating.

XenoBitch · 23/10/2025 20:56

CrushingOnRubies · 23/10/2025 20:52

I also dislike it. It goes all mushy. It’s fine for burgers and meatballs but when doing bolognese and you want a more defined strand of mince it doesn’t work as well

Yes! Same here. I make a lovely chill con carne, and the wormy mince (you know what I mean) is the best. Not the squashed vac packed stuff that should be renamed paste instead of mince. It makes a huge difference.

Skdj8448djf · 23/10/2025 20:53

CrushingOnRubies · 23/10/2025 20:52

I also dislike it. It goes all mushy. It’s fine for burgers and meatballs but when doing bolognese and you want a more defined strand of mince it doesn’t work as well

Ewww why do you want strands of meat in bolognaise?

CrushingOnRubies · 23/10/2025 20:52

I also dislike it. It goes all mushy. It’s fine for burgers and meatballs but when doing bolognese and you want a more defined strand of mince it doesn’t work as well

XenoBitch · 23/10/2025 20:45

I just did a top up shop in Lidl and had a peek at the mince. It is only beef mince (and beef/pork mix) that is vac packed.
All other meats.... chicken, turkey, pork... are still in plastic trays.

Hankunamatata · 23/10/2025 20:35

BarnacleBeasley · 23/10/2025 10:03

I actually quite like it because it's slightly more convenient to get it into the pan and it doesn't have that horrible wet bit of blood-soaked paper in any more.

This

Portakalkedi · 23/10/2025 20:34

Katemax82 · 23/10/2025 09:57

I only buy mince from Tesco because of this issue

Me too, only Tesco seem to do proper packaging now.

RaymondPeterfellow · 23/10/2025 20:31

Peridoteage · 23/10/2025 10:46

It's to reduce packaging and waste, so it's a bit 'damned if we do, damned if we don't.

Ah but it isn't. Its to reduce plastic packaging tax. They replaced recyclable plastic trays, with non recyclable film, because its reduces the tax. But the film/soft vacuum packaging is not recyclable.... do it is more waste. Its just about profit/tax.

This plastic film can be recycled in store, in their soft plastic recycling bin. I just wash mine off, let it dry and add to my huge bag of bags.

Tiredofwhataboutery · 23/10/2025 20:12

I think the horse mince was in ready meals, lasagna rings a bell.

SheilaFentiman · 23/10/2025 20:07

And it was contamination at the supplier not a decision by Tesco to put horsemeat in the pack.

XenoBitch · 23/10/2025 19:53

Tryingtokeepgoing · 23/10/2025 19:27

Didn’t Tesco mince have horse meat in it at one point? Not sure I’d buy it from them just for the packaging ;)

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Off the top of my head, I think that was burgers.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 23/10/2025 19:27

Katemax82 · 23/10/2025 09:57

I only buy mince from Tesco because of this issue

Didn’t Tesco mince have horse meat in it at one point? Not sure I’d buy it from them just for the packaging ;)

GripGetter · 23/10/2025 19:24

SuperbMum1 · 23/10/2025 10:43

I totally agree! You just have to cook the meat first. I usually fry the block of mince on its own — with just a tiny amount of oil — because the heat from the pan helps break it up really easily and quickly. Then, in another pan, I cook the veg (onions, carrots, celery, etc.) and either add the cooked mince back into the pan with the veg or mix the veg into the meat.
I made a Bolognese sauce the other day using this method, and my mum (Italian Nonna!) said it tasted as good as hers.
By the way, here’s a tip: add a pinch of bicarbonate of soda to the meat while it’s cooking — it helps tenderise it and break the mince down even more quickly.

Edited
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Yy. Also to velvet steak or poultry, soften chickpeas and rough up potatoes for roasties.
If more than a pinch, rinse it off before cooking. Baking soda taste, boak.

EasternStandard · 23/10/2025 18:48

Jc2001 · 23/10/2025 17:19

Yes. That must be it 🙄

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Yep. Bizarre posts below.

Nopenott0day · 23/10/2025 18:08

Skdj8448djf · 23/10/2025 17:17

No they’re not unless you can’t use scissors.

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You do realise that they are a nightmare for people with certain disabilities.

QuickPeachPoet · 23/10/2025 17:34

Katemax82 · 23/10/2025 09:57

I only buy mince from Tesco because of this issue

me too! I hate this new vac pack methods they are all using!

Hoppinggreen · 23/10/2025 17:21

BallerinaRadio · 23/10/2025 17:12

It's the same mince

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So how would someone who hadn't seen it until it was cooked think it had a different texture then?
I didn't realise mince could be so contraversial (unlike washing chicken)

Unicornsandprincesses · 23/10/2025 17:19

Doesn’t bother me at all

Buy frozen? It’s just as good and can be cheaper.

Jc2001 · 23/10/2025 17:19

BallerinaRadio · 23/10/2025 17:18

It seems to be the kind of people who find a lot of things 'woke' that are more sensitive to it than others 🤔

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Yes. That must be it 🙄

BallerinaRadio · 23/10/2025 17:18

Jc2001 · 23/10/2025 17:13

Vacuum packaging does change the flavour and texture due to oxygen content and moisture and compressing the meat tightens the fibres. So it might be subtle but it absolutely changes things. I guess some people are more sensitive to it than others

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It seems to be the kind of people who find a lot of things 'woke' that are more sensitive to it than others 🤔

Skdj8448djf · 23/10/2025 17:17

Nopenott0day · 23/10/2025 17:10

It's really difficult to open. Vacc packs need banning.

No they’re not unless you can’t use scissors.

Skdj8448djf · 23/10/2025 17:16

Bloozie · 23/10/2025 17:12

I don't find it a problem to break it down, and it has a longer shelf life. I prefer it.

So do I

Skdj8448djf · 23/10/2025 17:15

All our plastic is collected now by the bin men. This is expected to be widespread. There are plastic consumption reduction goals to meet.

Good on Sainsbury, Will avoid M&S and Tesco. Even Waitrose is trying to reduce with flow wrap.

Jc2001 · 23/10/2025 17:13

BallerinaRadio · 23/10/2025 17:08

That's on you I'm afraid, not the vacuum packaging

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Vacuum packaging does change the flavour and texture due to oxygen content and moisture and compressing the meat tightens the fibres. So it might be subtle but it absolutely changes things. I guess some people are more sensitive to it than others

Bloozie · 23/10/2025 17:12

I don't find it a problem to break it down, and it has a longer shelf life. I prefer it.

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