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Original poster

Too Good to Go, pointless?

123 replies

Runnersandtoms · 09/04/2025 10:25

Anyone successfully use Too Good to Go? I like the idea of it but the times I've tried it, I've just found it annoying. The places that get offered round here are Starbucks, which is just buying a load of sweet stuff I don't need, or Aldi or Co-op. Thought Aldi might yield some useful stuff. Got a massive box including 4 bags of broccoli/cauliflower and two huge bags of kale. All dated the day of collection. Collection was at 9pm. How can anyone use that much veg within a day before it goes off? Plus got some ready-made sandwiches (something we'd never buy and have no use for). Surely they shouldn't be able to give you piles and piles of duplicate stuff?

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 09/04/2025 10:26

Well the whole point is that it would otherwise go in the bin, so if you get some use out of it, that's better than it just being thrown away.

AppleKatie · 09/04/2025 10:27

It’s always going to be short date stuff or they wouldn’t need to put it in.

the veg would have been absolutely fine next day- batch cook and freeze.

the sandwiches are a treat for whichever meal is closest to the pick up time.

MiddleAgedDread · 09/04/2025 10:28

I've only used it a couple of times in local supermarkets and wouldn't bother again, I got a load of yellow stickered items that didn't make a meal and wouldn't have been stuff I'd choose to buy (like 3 loaves of cheap white sliced bread). Never tried the coffee shops because what am I going to do with a load of pastries and sandwiches in an evening?!?

Moonshinerso · 09/04/2025 10:29

Some are great like Wenzels - you generally get a filled agate, couple of sandwiches, loaf and some sweet treats.

DuskyPink1984 · 09/04/2025 10:30

Tried it once after someone recommended it and had received a box full of pastries from a cafe. I ended up with 20 boxes of mushrooms from Aldi. Worth it if you have enough people to share it with and if you collect from the right places, I guess.

BigDahliaFan · 09/04/2025 10:33

Well veg doesn't go off on the best before date...you can use it till it goes manky. Or freeze it - or make soup.

CeeJay81 · 09/04/2025 10:34

I occasionally use it for Greggs but you have to be quick. The boxes go real fast. It's unhealthy but it's an occasional treat and its a suprise knowing what your going to get.

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 09/04/2025 10:34

I get a Wenzel’s TGTG which is pretty decent. Usually a whole loaf and a variety of sandwiches and cakes. I also use another bakers and they were decent too. Costa was rubbish, not tried the supermarket ones as they are late collections and I’m in bed by then 😂

MrsSkylerWhite · 09/04/2025 10:34

You can freeze fresh veg.

Just blanch for a couple of minutes.

PsychoHotSauce · 09/04/2025 10:40

Do you genuinely believe you only had 3 hours to eat it all before it went off? Confused

Sofiewoo · 09/04/2025 10:42

Surely they shouldn't be able to give you piles and piles of duplicate stuff?

It’s not a free food shop though, it’s the stuff they have an excess of before it goes bad.

Duh · 09/04/2025 10:43

You think you can’t eat vegetables after their date?

Sesame2011 · 09/04/2025 10:46

I once got one for a local Carvery restaurant. I went in and they gave me an empty tub and sent me to the carvery counter to load up on meat, potatoes, cauliflower cheese, gravy and everything else. For about £3 per tub. Even got some comments from the restaurant goers asking what we were doing as they had paid about £15pp for the same meal. We ate like kings that night 😆

mde2 · 09/04/2025 10:47

This is my Aldi one, and the carvery one
Carvery always looks messy as it’s rammed in to a box but I got 2 meals out of it for about £3.29

Too Good to Go, pointless?
mde2 · 09/04/2025 10:48

Sesame2011 · 09/04/2025 10:46

I once got one for a local Carvery restaurant. I went in and they gave me an empty tub and sent me to the carvery counter to load up on meat, potatoes, cauliflower cheese, gravy and everything else. For about £3 per tub. Even got some comments from the restaurant goers asking what we were doing as they had paid about £15pp for the same meal. We ate like kings that night 😆

I use the carvery one pretty regularly
Last time they filled it and I got 4 full size sausages plus a bit of every meat plus all the sides and 6 Yorkshire puddings
Very happy!

Soontobe60 · 09/04/2025 10:50

Sandwiches can be frozen and are fine for lunches. Veg can be cooked up into a soup or thrown into the freezer.

Flutterbyby · 09/04/2025 10:52

PsychoHotSauce · 09/04/2025 10:40

Do you genuinely believe you only had 3 hours to eat it all before it went off? Confused

People do genuinely believe this. As if it gets to midnight and everything wilfully becomes poisonous, instantly!

TheSnootiestFox · 09/04/2025 10:59

MiddleAgedDread · 09/04/2025 10:28

I've only used it a couple of times in local supermarkets and wouldn't bother again, I got a load of yellow stickered items that didn't make a meal and wouldn't have been stuff I'd choose to buy (like 3 loaves of cheap white sliced bread). Never tried the coffee shops because what am I going to do with a load of pastries and sandwiches in an evening?!?

I usually get a pret one as a treat when I have no kids at home - I eat the salad or sandwich for dinner, there's usually a smoked salmon and egg roll, pastry or yoghurt and granola pot for breakfast the next day and if there's a few sandwiches then that's lunch taken care of too. What a daft question!

The only thing you absolutely mustn't do is rely on them if you're skint. I tried that once the night before payday after a really expensive month, and I'm still feeling guilty that my teenage son was on dry scones for an evening meal 😂. That wasn't pret, I hasten to add!

Saz12 · 09/04/2025 10:59

It's OK if you treat it as a bit of fun, and have freezer space! I dont rate the supermarket ones (£3 worth of elderly green peppers is just irritating), but there's a fancy cafe near me that has some nice treats.

Ohnobackagain · 09/04/2025 10:59

@Runnersandtoms I’ve had some brilliant stuff but the best stuff goes quick or is even reserved the day before

MiddleAgedDread · 09/04/2025 11:03

TheSnootiestFox · 09/04/2025 10:59

I usually get a pret one as a treat when I have no kids at home - I eat the salad or sandwich for dinner, there's usually a smoked salmon and egg roll, pastry or yoghurt and granola pot for breakfast the next day and if there's a few sandwiches then that's lunch taken care of too. What a daft question!

The only thing you absolutely mustn't do is rely on them if you're skint. I tried that once the night before payday after a really expensive month, and I'm still feeling guilty that my teenage son was on dry scones for an evening meal 😂. That wasn't pret, I hasten to add!

Show quote history

which might suit you, but a sandwich for dinner wouldn't fill me up!

Allswellthatendswelll · 09/04/2025 11:07

M and S petrol station ones around us are quite good but mainly sandwiches so depends how many sandwiches you want to eat!

MattCauthon · 09/04/2025 11:08

I haven't done it yet but am looking at it if I can get myself organised. But while I think it IS annoying if you get a huge glut of two vegetables, for example, please don't think they magically go off at midnight on the "use by" date. That's the whole point - for regulatory and safety purposes, all food sold in shops has to have a specific date. That date GUARANTEES that the food is still fresh and good to eat by that date. It doesn' tmean it CAN'T be eeaten after, just that after that point the store doesn't have to take on the responsibility of ensuring the food is good.

So if I got a bunch of broccoli and kale, I know the broccoli would most likely be good for DAYS, giving me time to think about a broccoli cheese or something. The kale might need to be used a bit quicker so we'd be having kale salad for a few days!

MattCauthon · 09/04/2025 11:09

But this thread is useful - I'm in the city quite often at the moment so must check if there's good ones on my way out at the end of the day.

HauntedBungalow · 09/04/2025 11:11

Yeah we've got a couple of carveries on the list - they're spot-on. Easily get enough for roast dinner for two. Also quite a few breakfast boxes where you get loads. Groceries are more hit and miss but one shop puts it together really well - always has a selection you can cook for a meal on the night, a pudding, and a bunch of stuff to freeze like sausage rolls etc.

I think it can work very well as a way of adding extras, or for a cheap alternative to takeaways - and given the price of takeaways that is great. It's not a reliable method of shopping regularly but I don't think it was intended to be.