Things I’m never buying from Lidl again....

[ShouldHaveCouldHaveWouldHave]

I like Lidl a lot. I like that there’s little choice of brands which stops me dithering. I like that there’s only about 5 aisles so it’s quick but there’s definitely things I’ll never buy again.

1. tortilla wraps. They stick together in the pack and tear when you try and separate them.

2. and the main reason for this thread. The sanitary towels! Awful, so awful for many reasons and I’ve only been using them for today. Never again.

Anything else I need to swerve??

To get the wraps to seperate esily, microwave them for a few seconds, don't heat them. Doing this makes them come apart easily.

Danepak (fake Lurpak) Not good. Aldi’s version, Nordpak, is much better.

Lidl Cheddar cheese however is fantastic (even though it comes from Ireland so I’m not sure if it can actually be Cheddar!) Also our store has an amazing in-store bakery.

Ooh also their watercress salad is really nice.

Always are horrible

Bodyform and comfy and unscented. I really don't know why always started making scented pads... Horrible.

I avoid the razors and shower gel, but find their cleaning products pretty good.

Tbh I mostly go in there for the bakery and the cans of pre mixed rhubarb gin

I usually get things like olives, sun dried tomatoes etc great value. I like their conserves, orange juice, chocolate, fake Mars bars, yoghurt and dairy generally. Home baking is good but limited. Got some very nice, and reasonably cheap rioja this week. Plus jars of Italian sour cherries in syrup, lovely. DH says beer is fine and much cheaper than branded. Face cream seems nice for £1.45 a tub!

I don't buy their fruit and veg unless I'm using that day, even then, I'm choosy eg never bananas. Coffee is awful, garlic bread - vile. Dont buy bagged salads.

If I go to Lidl I always feel I save money. But I have to go somewhere else as well. E.g. no brown sugar apart from demerara and no mixed dried fruit. These aren't particularly niche items.

I find Lidl are good for some things but Aldi better for some others.

Lidl fruit and veg is ok. Aldi’s wasn’t great but seems to be improving a bit.

I’ve only ever had one nice bottle of wine from Lidl and could never find it again. Aldi wine a bit more reliable I think.

Lidl Assam tea bags are better than Aldi. Lidl instant coffee (similar to Nescafé azeera) in the silver tin is good.

Meat is hit and miss, Lidl ok if you buy the more expensive stuff

Aldi loo roll better.

Lidl croissants are yum, as are the seeded flatbreads

Lidl organic eggs are good, Aldi meh

I could go on...

Their Bolognese sauce is grim. Not a patch on Lloyd Grossman.
Ready meals not great - I find their deluxe pizzas ok though.
Everything else I think is great including the fruit and veg. I save £100s shopping there and in aldi rather than the big four supermarkets. I can never bring myself to do a full shop in Waitrose again. it is so, so expensive and their fruit and veg is not all that in my opinion. Much is tasteless because it's out of season/grown in polytunnels.

I'll never buy fish fingers from lidl again, they had fish bones.

Oh and Lidl rosemary crackers and the others in the same range are lush. Peanut butter, jam and honey is good. Fromage frais ok, not too sugary.

Aldi Italian style round pizzas are good

I always wash bagged salad anyway - it’s fine

I’d love different, more healthy, less wheat based cereals but do buy the protein granola.

Only use bodyform which I buy elsewhere as well as oatibix and ecover laundry liquid and softener (have eczema in the family). Dog biscuits are rubbish in both - our dog is fussy, tend to get those from Waitrose 😆

Steak... Tough as old boots!

whatwouldscully do... "Cucumbers taste strange". Our local one's stocking ones from the brilliantly named Thanet Earth, same as the M&S over the road. Do you think they employ a line of cucumber sniffers to check the cucumers they think are going to taste dodgy, and slip those into Lidl condoms instead of M&S ones? Perhaps someone in your local branch is abusing them in some way. Have often had the spinach, though sadly so far have missed out on the free escargot offer.

Agree about the various negative coffee comments, the only decent one I've found is the blue bag Colombian ground (comes in a mixed box with the red bags, there's often only the yucky red stuff left). The raisin and almond granola is good (we think) and is about the only one available without palm oil. Am slightly bemused that their perfectly good tomato puree could apparently ruin a meal, I think the blame might be being wrongly apportioned. Have never had a problem with the better quality meat, even when reduced and nearing its best before date, though have sometimes left it on the shelf if it's looking a bit elderly. Their parmesan is wonderful, their frozen fish fingers revolting.

Lidl is my go to for tinned/dry food - pasta, tomato sauce, pickles , cereals etc. They also have nice cheese. I don't mind their fruits and veggies, but I absolutely can't stand their meet and fish. Plain awful.

*meat

Haven't rtft, but whole Bri's. They don't melt in the oven, no matter how long you put them in for.

Their tampons are really awful.
They leak and the blood wicks down the string.

I buy coffee beans from there which are fine.
Also, the pull ups were great and really cheap compared to pampers which I used previously.

Ii also bought a bag of potatoes and had to throw away as all rotten

@PattyPan

I use reusable sanitary pads, much cheaper in the long run, better for the environment and best of all you don’t feel like you’re wearing a nappy!

I've tried reusables. Rinsing them out after use is like a crime scene. No thank you

@wellthatsunusual

I'm wondering if Lidl is very different based on where you are. Lidl falls under the Lidl Ireland brand where I am and the meat is really fresh, from local suppliers, the dairy products are from local suppliers etc Lidl here is really great quality, it does sound like the descriptions here at all.

I've lived in Ireland and also the uk . I do find food in Ireland to be generally better quality and fresher than the uk. Reflected in the higher prices though.

Agree with PPs that the fresh tomatoes have no flavour and bagged lettuce goes watery within hours of purchase. Frozen wild salmon turns mushy textured once cooked. The Camembert does not melt in oven. We do however like the frozen tuna steaks, frozen raspberries, salmon gravalex, quilted toilet rolls, extra long panty liners, pasteis de natas and stuff for crafts when available.

I disagree with all of this! I've never had an issue with their fruit or veg or meat or tomato purée??! The deluxe coffee is delicious. I always buy their deluxe Christmas food too and it's lovely. Quite a bit of snobbery here I feel.

Cien products.
Own brand coffee and tea
BUT the chocolate is very good!

@Baconking

Fresh fruit & veg....it always goes off quickly.

The last time my DH bought a bag of potatoes in there we had to throw the whole lot away as they were manky and rotten

We have never had a problem with freshness. I do think there is a big discrepancy from store to store for some reason

@Harrykanesrightsock I agree, I'm wondering if that's why in some stores the meat doesn't keep either.

I like our lidl but don't use ready made sauces so can usually get everything I need for a week. Haven't been in ages as I'm doing online at the moment but need to go as am missing their lazy garlic which at 89p is a bargain!