to automatically ignore value brands

[somedayma]

I probably am BU because I could definitely do with saving some cash on my grocery shop. But I've had some v bad tesco value items in the past (soft rice crispies, plasticky tasting chocolate etc).

I was looking at value chicken breasts today, thinking 'they're probably going to taste the same as the other slightly more expensive ones once it's in a stew anyway'. but for some reason bought the more expensive ones anyway.

Value ready salted crisps taste the same as branded ones. Just FYI

Whoops Lidl

@seeker is always on these things slamming people for not wanting to spend half their pay check (ok I am exaggerating bykwim) on spiritually balanced chickens.

My basic rule is that anything processed is probably not going to be as nice as the non-value.

I won't compromise on meat. I only buy free range (blame Hugh Fernley-Watsit and his chicken experiment. Just thinking about the fat difference is yuk).

I sent dh back when he put Tesco Value cheddar in the last shop we did together because it looked a funny colour and just a bit pale. I like my cheese to taste of cheese because it's been allowed to become cheese. Not messed about to make it cheap and artificially flavoured. Turned out the non-value stuff was cheaper!

Veg, rice and other incredients that I can see and check the quality are fine. I'm not bothered about organic or whatever.

tardis

I dont tend to buy value cheese but I have used the Morrisons one and it tasted fine, they generally have a branded one on offer which works out cheaper. Mmm I want some Cathedral city now.

Tesco value tortilla chips v good, about 25p too, just a bit more broken than Doritos. Once all your mates are having some beers and they're in a big bowl, who knows?

This is bloody brilliant! Thanks! I'm gonna get the value washing powder, tinned tomatoes. Value meat is a no no- I have been convinced!

Also tesco value tortilla chips are brilliant

As has already been said, I will put the welfare and needs of my family above an animal reared for food. God forbid you have to make the choice between having food or having the cash to cook it in the first place Nigel.

I buy quite a bit of value stuff. Sainsburys value weetabix don't look quite the same but drench them in milk and mix it up a bit and you won't taste the difference. They are also lower in fat and salt than branded ones.

Value Jaffa cakes - the same taste

Value veg etc - mostly good.

Re: chicken welfare, I agree with all those concerned at value packs ... just can't bring myself to contribute to the demand for meat which has been reared in awful conditions. Yes ... I know the price of free range chicken is horrendous in the supermarkets, but there's no law which says you have to eat chicken so I don't buy it.

However ..... Lidl does free range chickens for about £5 to £6, which can make 2 meals with a bit of imagination and bulking out (risotto, chicken & veg stew, chicken, leek & mushroom pie etc). Unfortunately, don't live near enough a Lidl to justify the petrol but when passing will stock up and freeze.

Lidl also do a fab 2 in 1 washing liquid and conditioner for about £2.50 ... can't remember exact price. It washes well and smells lovely on your clothes. Yes, Lidl can be a bit of a shambles but you do get some very good deals on known brands too, though nowhere near as much choice as most supermarkets. They also have a suprisingly good range of fruit and veg and that's noticeably cheaper for most items .... at the end of the day a lemon's a lemon - don't see what's not to like.

Glitter. You can have both. I was always brought up with the mentality of buy best quality just less of it. I'd rather my dd had no chicken than chicken that had sat in its own piss and poo for its entire life, and then pumped with water and crap. Or rather than a chicken breast at £4 she could have thigh meat for the same price but the free range type. But that's me, and I'd prefer to feed her things that are good for her health than just feed her regardless.

Weetabix has fat?!

"@seeker is always on these things slamming people for not wanting to spend half their pay check (ok I am exaggerating bykwim) on spiritually balanced chickens."

I must be posting in my sleep then. Or maybe your conscience is troubling you and you're having bad dreams??

I haven't slammed anyone on this thread. I just think that weshould not eat things that have not been humanely treated. Chicken is not essential to the human diet. Better a humanely raised chicken once a week or a fortnight than cruelly treated chicken every couple of days.

I am old enough to remember when chicken was a treat. Maybe it should go back to that.

Didn't know that about Waitrose- thank you.

There is only realy 2 types of chicken sold in uk supermarkets.

Standard refers to your bog-standard ?broiler? chicken and Higher welfare birds which are your free range, organic or freedom foods birds.

The value bird will be a standard bird which will be the same as their mid price range bird. So unless you are going to buy the higher welfare one there is no difference between value chicken breasts and sainsburys own chicken breasts.

RSPCA Freedom Food endorsement is not much of an endorsement really.

St Hugh made two excellent programmes about chicken farming. We eat a lot more pasta these days rather than eat cheap chicken.

Linky for anyone interested www.channel4.com/programmes/hughs-chicken-run

Tesco do very low priced free range, corn fed chicken. But it is Tesco of Workfare and low wage fame which may not sit well with your ethical conscience. So it's still a mine field.

Buy whole chickens or cheaper cuts like quarters or thighs. Anyone who buys chicken breasts pays the same price as a whole bird virtually but for a lot less meat. Very wasteful.

Not a welfare thing per se but I won't buy mince with less than 10 per cent fat.

It looks and tastes like extruded cardboard.

I like fat. It has flavour. It also sticks things together which is handy if you want to make meatballs or burgers.

Tesco value chocolate caramel wafers same points as WW version, taste better and cost less than half the price.

Value meat is rank in the big supermarkets but Lidl and Aldi meat is fab and so are their cheeses.

Ready meals in lidl and aldi are usually about the same price as the main supermarket ones but are usually a lot tastier

katie

I made four meals out of a chicken and had enough stock from the bones for four servings of wholesome vegetable soup. It would have been more if only my family weren't such greedy bastards.

About Waitrose chicken

Waitrose essential chicken welfare

Interesting.

Agree about value chicken. I'd worry more about what has been done to the chickens than the taste.

I think unless you are buying free range/organic all chick is much of a muchness isn't it?

I have never seen seeker bang on about the subject of chickens on MN. I am sure you must have mixed her up with someone else.

Gold star for limited

I made a box of Tesco corn fed chicken thighs and drumsticks bought of £3.90 last 6 meals. I thought of you lot