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Original poster

£50 to spend in M&S food department: any good store cupboard recommendations?

81 replies

pattihews · 01/02/2023 21:34

I've been given a £50 M&S voucher and tomorrow I'm going past a flagship food store. My local M&S food department is small and limited so I thought I'd ask MN's advice.

I'm a good cook and rather than spend the money on ready meals that I can produce myself, I'd prefer to buy some store cupboard items that I can use when I'm short of time or to introduce new flavours and ingredients to my standard repertoire. What would you recommend?

OP posts:
OxanaVorontsova · 01/02/2023 21:36

Their frozen veg and ingredients are great eg ready chopped garlic, ginger, onions etc.

LubaLuca · 01/02/2023 21:37

I like their ketchup much more than any other, it's really dark and thick and I think it's only £1 a bottle. Not exactly a revolutionary item, but worth recommending.

OxanaVorontsova · 01/02/2023 21:39

Baking ingredients also worth looking

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Mum2jenny · 01/02/2023 21:40

Like their raspberry jam

WandaWonder · 01/02/2023 21:41

Tea, coffee, biscuits, jams/spreads

PurpleFresias · 01/02/2023 21:41

Hollandaise sauce!

Bluepanda86 · 01/02/2023 21:41

Their staple biscuits like custard creams and shortbread are lovely. So is their ketchup, triple cooked chips (frozen) and sometimes buy their sausages/ bacon for cooked breakfasts. Their fresh fruit and veg ain't bad either.

Floralnomad · 01/02/2023 21:42

They have some lovely Easter bits in now if you have children to buy for , aside from that the actual meat / fish is lovely it’s not all ready meals . I will say that the Barbers cheese fondant in the gastro meal section is lovely . Their frozen triple cooked chips are the best oven chips and they have some nice frozen desserts .

Seventhcupisfree · 01/02/2023 21:43

Their frozen vegetable spring rolls are actually better than the chill cabinet ones.
Their Florentines are to die for. Same as the chocolate coated nuts etc (I think they still have some even at this time of year).

LubaLuca · 01/02/2023 21:43

WandaWonder · 01/02/2023 21:41

Tea, coffee, biscuits, jams/spreads

Yes, I like all of these. Their butter biscuits and cinnamon palmiers are some of my favourite biscuits. Gold tea bags. Raspberry jam.

Seventhcupisfree · 01/02/2023 21:44

Yes the Gold tea bags are as good as Yorkshire tea. Also Honey is obviously a good buy.

LittleOwl153 · 01/02/2023 21:44

Chilled custard... and you can freeze it! (Yeah I know too many yellow sticker new year shops!)

showgirl63 · 01/02/2023 21:45

Their Collection range of soups and pasta sauces in ambient glass jars are really luxurious treats - wild mushroom and truffle soup yum!

ThePoshUns · 01/02/2023 21:46

Chilli jam

Despairingof · 01/02/2023 21:47

Their fresh macarons are amazing and good value for the quality

PrincessHoneysuckle · 01/02/2023 21:48

Crinkle cut sliced gherkins

Original poster
pattihews · 01/02/2023 21:52

Not sure I can manage frozen stuff tomorrow but I've taken note and will pick up some triple-cooked frozen chips in the future!

Is the hollandaise sauce good enough for eggs Benedict? Like the sound of that ketchup. Must check out the sauces etc.

Have a good small fishmonger and greengrocer locally so won't buy fruit and veg or fish unless there's something exceptional, but I will pick up at least one salad pot with sugar snaps and green stuff and a lovely lemony minty dressing.

OP posts:
postitpatty · 01/02/2023 21:57

The microwave curries are better than take away curries!

The smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich filler spread is delicious on a toasted bagel.

The Viennese biscuits dipped in chocolate are yummy.

The cherry brandy is very yummy !

OceanbreezeSun · 01/02/2023 21:59

I love the jams and spreads from M&S, particularly the Sicilian lemon curd.
They do really good chutneys too - the caramelised red onion one is 👍🏼

reluctantbrit · 01/02/2023 22:04

Jam and their white/milk chocolate and cookie spread
Tea
Biscuits (and not just the "bites" pots)
Chocolate boxes in case you need some as gifts

The fresh dessert options are lovely.

I wouldn't go for their wines, overpriced in my opinion.

evtheria · 01/02/2023 22:08
  • ketchup
  • frozen 'almond & chocolate' croissants
  • currently sell a dark treacle and fruit loaf (looks like a roundish one sliced in a waxy bag), it is soooooo gooooood I may have eaten half toasted and buttered in one go...
  • chocolatey rounds biscuits
  • Turkish delight bar, the only nice-not-sickly one you can buy in a supermarket
  • bulk pack of meat of choice
  • the ready made slow-cooked ragu in a black box
  • earl grey teabags
  • nutty granola
evtheria · 01/02/2023 22:09

*almond & hazelnut croissant, not chocolate!

Lancasterel · 01/02/2023 22:11

Dreamy teabags! Sound boring but taste delicious!

Also their peanut rice noodles, although these are fresh and not store cupboard as such (we freeze them though).

Lancasterel · 01/02/2023 22:12

Oh and my kids love the cheese straws! They come in a good—value 2 pack 😂

ThereIbledit · 01/02/2023 22:13

Everything. Ever. It's all great. Get it all. I'm so excited for you!

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