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?

Aldi meat has been fine for me so far. The frozen mini lamb shoulder joints are lush! I shop there every week now and save 30 to 40 quid and the quality is far better than tesco. I am just cooking a fresh pork joint from there so will report back after dinner.

I have found Lidl meat excellent.It is locally sourced [some of it] and very lean and tasty-especially the pork steaks and the free range chickens.

think all the meat is fine.
steak needs to be brought out of the fridge at lunchtime wherever you buy it - it makes it much more tender.
fruit and veg is only meant to last a few days. not weeks and week on end.

Don't shop at either Aldi or Lidl that often as the nearest branch of each is a 24 mile round trip. However, did, as it happens, shop in an Aldi last weekend and have been very impressed with the lamb mince I got - tasty, and didn't exude much water or any white stuff. Also bought a box containing 2 huge pork schnitzels from the freezer for about £2.60 (think it was on offer). It fed four easily as the pieces were so large and they were really nice and flavoursome.

I buy all of my shopping at Aldi, the only thing I can't get there is tins of different types of beans for stews.

I am not a big fan of meat in general but have found their fresh meat to be lovely.

I do prefer Lidl nappies though as they seem to be a bit bigger.

I want to try Lidl meat and see. I was in there the other day and saw some nice organic looking stuff. But weren't the cheap supermarkets the worst in the horsemeat scandal?

I get my main shopping from Ocado and am very fussy about meat - usually buying free range or organic. But recently we have started shopping in Aldi more for some things and have slowly been trying their meat. The outdoor reared pork (higher priced than the regular) is really good quality and good value. I have tried the pork tenderloin, the pork shoulder and the pork mince. All good. Last week we tried a beef brisket which was excellent. Cost around £12 but was very large and did at least three dinners for a family of 5. I have also bought their frozen chicken roast (not high welfare standards) which are very convenient as can be cooked from frozen and I then slice and use instead of deli meat.

I think their fruit and veg is really disappointing and we do most of our shopping from there. The lack of BB dates should be enough of a warning. Not a huge meat eater but I'm unimpressed with the chicken breasts. I just eat less of them.

We got mince from Lidl last week, and when DH cooked it it filled the whole house with a horrid, sour smell. It was in date and looked fine, but we had to bin it, and open all the windows. Usually don't have a problem with Lidl, but that was the first time we had tried the mince.

i go to my local fruit and veg shop3 x a week and it has pretty much halved what i used to spend at the supermarket (sainsburys and ocado) on fruit and veg,and its always lovely quality and ripe enough to eat,i do the same for meat if i have the time,its much cheaper than the supermarket and you can get the exact amount you need.

Our aldi stocks free range chicken, (whole and boneless breasts) and the steak mince is amazing! Pork tenderloins that are freedom food that are far cheaper than tesco...I have been pleasantly surprised at the quality of the meat.

I live in Ireland so it might not be the same...

I prefer Aldi over Lidl and shop there regularly. I still do a lot of my shopping in Tesco. I agree that the fruit & veg are good particularly the super 6. However after some bad experiences I stay away from chicken, mince,milk and sliced bread. I dont know what it is, I had wondered if it was logistics or how they store things that maybe they spoil easier but I love their sausages and bacon (specially selected range) and the steak they do in the vacuum pack is amazing. Yet I've opened chicken to find it immediately smells off, mince (even "less fat" pack) is gristly and the milk often smells iffy after just a couple of days. I was delighted when they started stocking 50/50 sliced bread as I'm trying to wean the kids off white bread, and while it tastes great and is much cheaper than the branded stuff, it goes stale within a day of opening it (and if you freeze it, it defrosts stale too)

So I think its a case of trial and error for each person. Its a right pain because I'd love to do all my shop in one place but I've gotten used to going between the two now and I reckon I do still save a few bob by doing so.

No experience of Lidl but the nest I have bought at Aldi is fantastic.

Meat

I came on to say something, them realised I said it on July, and the previous August!
Zombie thread

Pork joint was very tasty.

Yesterday I bought a bottle of Gigondas from Aldi. Was a tenner but so much cheaper than would have been elsewhere. Am currently fighting the urge to check if it's any good...

You're all the reason my weekly shop takes longer than 15 minutes now.

Aldi used to a lot quieter when I started shopping there.

Aldi does have BB dates on their fruit and veg but it is a code (julian code??). I overheard a sales assistant telling a customer which code they were on for that week so she could work out which was the freshest. Obviously it would be easier for us to habe dates but he didn't seem to mind telling her.

Good tip, thanks. I'll ask next time I'm in.