To think that although Aldi and Lidl fruit and veg is good, the meat is often of a really poor quality

[Shelly32]

I've been put off from buying meat/fish from Aldi and Lidl as I've had a few bad experiences (horrid tasting tuna steaks (frozen) and rank tasting steak). Chicken and other meat is so expensive in most supermarkets. I'd like to give the cheaper supermarkets another chance. What do you guys think about the meat/fish from these places?

after extensive research shopping and comparing prices and quality ASDA is the winner in my opinion.

agree with you op.

I nearly wept when I did a 'big shop' at Asda after using Aldi for months. The difference in total cost was shocking (at least £25-30 dearer) and the quality was often poorer. IMO obviously.

Lidl sausages are really nice (and very high in pork content) as is their Parma ham and pork steaks. I buy all my biscuits from them - much cheaper (and nicer). The fruit and veg is variable, but the bags of rocket are cheaper than anywhere else, and their packs of peppers are good value.

Surprised to read this as we only ever buy our meat at Lidl now - supermarket meat is just too expensive. Plus side of this is that we now only eat meat twice a week at most and feel a lot better for it - but we happily buy chicken and pork at Lidl and it's just fine. Can't see how you'd know the difference - if there even IS a difference. Their free range eggs are also as good as they get - lovely dark yellow yolks and only 99p for 6. I love Lidl - and I really hate to go into the mainstream supermarkets now.

I like Aldi meat and regularly buy:

Chicken breasts
Pork steaks or joint
Mince
Lamb
Sausages
Bacon

All good in my opinion and cheaper than average supermarket.

My only advice is to always go to the back of the shelf and get the date furthest away.

I also like the frozen meat/fish in particular:

Salmon (packs of 5)
Haddock
4 bird roast
Battered cod

I've yet to but frozen chicken but it does look good value for money.

I've recently discovered their frozen veg section- in particular the corn on a cobs are fab (about 9 in a bag, 5 min in the microwave and you can bung on the BBQ or George Forman for a nice taste - bargain at 99p for the bag)

I have limited what I buy in Aldi fruit &veg (now mostly bananas and carefully checked weekly offers) after a couple of really manky buys. I can't see any dates on it, am I missing something?

I buy their processed meats and have found them to be v.good.

i find the fish really good and the chicken

i like the fruit and veg too

and the cheese and ham

and the big chocolate brioche is delicious

The aldi beef joint is lovely, £6 I think but does at least 2 meals, chicken is fab, bacon good. Never had any problem fresh meat from there.

Ok, ok I have to ask. Is the meat ethical? As in properly ethical, not just UK raised?

Usually buy our meat from the farmshop, but I do have a local Lidl and I'm curious. Ethical rearing is more important to me than price, though.

From what I remember the meat in Lidl is all supposed to be reared in the UK so in theory should be more ethical than the likes of Tesco. I found the fruit and veg went off quicker, they probably have less procedures in the source chain to stunt ripening outside the supermarket. Tesco are pretty good at that. I suppose it's also possible the Lidl fruit n veg have less chemicals, could be more organically grown which typically means they will go off quicker.

aldi fresh meat is great free range chicken 1.5kg for 4.99 cheapest have found. rib eye steaks bout £4 each again cheapest found. aldi is our nearest shop not even corner shop nearer so use it loads.

Lidl ham is awful. All formwd and processed

And I have to admit im not impressed with their fruit and veg. Sometimes ok but on the whole bruised and tasteless.
Everything else is fantastic though, believe it or not I am abig fan

Had a great pork joint from Aldi tonight. A 1kg joint was about £3.50 and was really nice with loads left after me, DH, DS and DD (though they are 2 and 3) had some.

I think the fruit and veg Is rubbish but I've never had a problem with the meat!

I bought some pork belly slices from Lidl, roasted them in the oven and they shrank like crisp packets used to! Wouldn't have fed a gnat!

Overall I prefer Aldi. We have a friend works for a biscuit company, they make a branded, individually wrapped chocolate biscuit which they sell under their own brand name. They also make a very similar, slightly cheaper ingredient cost biscuit which M&S sell under their name at a higher price and another very similar biscuit which is sold cheaper by Aldi despite having higher quality ingredients and higher cost

Hmmm...saw this on facebook today but not sure whether to believe...

I just got a phone call from an advertising agency that are shooting a tv advert for Lidl.

Man: "Hi there, My name is Paul and I working for in Belfast and we are about to film an advert for Lidl. We are looking for an idyllic farm to put in our advert to reflect our new up market, northern Irish produce range."

Me: "Emm, ok. So why don't you go and shoot it at the idyllic farms that you source your meat from?"

Man: "Well this is the thing, as you know yourself, they aren't very nice. I don't want to film there. I want to film outside showing animals moving around"

Me: "Emm, well, as an idyllic farm who actually produces proper meat, reared outside in the idyllic countryside, I would rather shoot myself in the face than let you come here, with you cameras and bastardise everything I have ever work for, to lie to your consumers about the meat you are selling."

Man: "Well you know what advertising is like, its all a lie really isn't it?"

Me: "Well only because you make it that way."

Awkward silence...

Man: "Do you know anywhere that would let me come and film at their farm for the advert?"

Me: "I can't think of one artisan food producer who would let the very supermarkets who undercut them come onto their land and produce an advert that makes our customers think we are expensive and you are great value. Maybe some who keeps pigs as a hobby?

Man: Ok, no worries.

I know the farmer from that facebook post (family friend) so it is genuine.

I have just bought a half leg of lamb from Aldi without wearing my reading glasses....bad move....when I got home I found that the Use By date was 29th October (3 days ago) and when I opened the package, it STANK!!..... Memo to self and warning to others: Do not buy meat from Aldi (without checking dates)..... Why do they even have the stuff on their shelves when it is so far past the Use By date? ..... When I called the Customer Services the (barely literate) staff said in an uninspiring voice that we should take it back (well of course) ....but why was the meat on the shelf in the first place? Annoyed of Bath.

Have just had a bad ALDI experience with STINKING half leg of lamb, three days past its Use By date. Why do Aldi even have this on their shelves?

No experience of Lidl but have never had an issue with Aldi meat. However, I've found their fruit and veg seems to go off much quicker than that from other mainstream supermarkets.

Depends on where each country's Aldi and Lidl source their meat from but here in Holland they did a test and Aldi and Lidl meat came out way above any of the other supermarkets for quality and taste as well as being best value. I don't like Lidl mince though that said! But we shop there all the time now and the fruit and veg is great. And the wine!

3 euro 50 for a really nice bottle of prosecco not that I can drink it right now anyway sigh

Oh and our Lidl has an organic meat range as well which we by from. I find Lidl on the whole much better stocked than Aldi but it does vary from store to store.