Aldi Christmas food was well rubbish.

[AlphaBravoHenryFoxtons]

The roasted parsnips with honey and mustard dressing (Aldi) were roasted for a good 20 minutes more than the time stated and they were STILL rock hard and revolting (I checked my oven temp using a separate thermometer and the temperature was correct). The Aldi goose fat roast potatoes were not nearly as good as Aunt Bessie's goose fat roasts (I know because I roasted a packed of Aunt B's and a tray of true Aldi g/f roasties and served them in a dish together, the Aldi ones were a horrible grey colour and the aunt bessie's ones were lovely and golden, no surprises for guessing which remained leftover).

I bought a few things at Aldi and many were very disappointing.

Anyone else?

RustyParker - Very little white meat. Collapses on cutting. A confusion of taste (overly rich to my mind). And far too much pork which wasn't a bird last time I looked.

Aldi stuffed duck is very good though. But don't use the glaze.

Aldi panacotta was delicious, as was the chateau du pape wine at under £10

Ah well, thanks though Alpha

I think in any supermarket you'll find stuff you like, and stuff you're not so keen on. This year from Aldi we had some great wine, fresh turkey crown, special cranberry sauce, the Irish handmade chocolates, brilliant Christmas pud, clotted cream, chocolate cheesecake (to die for!), pate, cheeses... loads of lovely stuff.
We like the frozen goose fat roasties better than Aunt Bessies, they never look grey when we cook them, but each to their own.

What I like about Aldi is that the prices are really good, if you try something once and don't like it you haven't lost much, and there is some really nice, tasty, food and drink to be had.

But Op, I'm thrilled that you weren't impressed because it's getting too bloody busy in there. Also to many people who insist on thinking they are clever by packing at the checkout instead of the shelves.

I disagree all pre prepared veg is rubbish. For the first time this year I bought m&s pre prepped parsnips, they were absolutely identical to ones I make every single year, but freed up both my time & another saucepan/roasting dish. They were £4 but worth it.

Why wouldn't a parsnip roast? I mean does it have any choice? Fid they just need longer?

Op, did you not check that your veg was ready before you served it up?

I use cooking guidelines on packets as just the minimum.

I'm not convinced it's an inferior parsnip. Surely it's just an undercooked one?

Yabu. We have always found Aldi meat and fresh veg lovely. Any prepped and frozen veg will be below par, wherever it's from.

I got all my turkey from there for less than a tenner and it was great. Generally I find their stuff good, but would shop for veg elsewhere.

Not Aldi but Lidl gammon which I cooked and glazed was really good, but a bit salty.

We must be really greedy because god knows how many packets of frozen roast pots or parsnips I would have to buy to feed my lot... far cheaper and easier to do it myself, by the time I've found my glasses and read the packet what to do, I could have peeled a load of veg.

And doesn't putting all that frozen stuff in the oven bring the temperature down if you're cooking anything else in there? Also, we like leftovers and I can't imagine they would taste as good next day. With the ones I prepare myself, next day I spray them with oil, shove them back in the oven at a high temp for 10 mins and they are just like freshly cooked.

The riccarelli (sp?) biscuits were yummy. As was the stollen and panetonne. Frugal January

Should have gone to Lidl

I bought the trimmings from aldi last year: stuffing, pigs in blankets etc, and it was the worst Xmas dinner we've ever had. I buy their fresh meat and veg but never the processed stuff nowadays.

Most of our food came from Aldi this year as usual. No problems as far as I can remember (apart from the cranberry and orange stuffing which was very sweet but I suppose I should have expected that!).

I don't understand how preparing parsnips is hard work though. I peel my spud and parsnips the day before, leave them in water overnight and then cook them as needed. All the hard work is one in advance - the only issue is room in the oven and you are going to have that problem either way.

I got cheese, prosecco, mince pies, cranberries, parsnips, cream, chicken, potatoes, parsnips, bagels, gammon, salad, caviar, candy canes and chocolate from Aldi.

I went elsewhere for sausages, sausagemeat, celeriac, sage, bacon, pate, blini, prunes.

My dinner was delicious.

And Aldi goose fat.

I liked their mince pies.
Why anyone would buy pre prepped parsnips is beyond me. (they are food of the devil in any form)

Our turkey was superb. The wine delightful and the Aldi duck delicious

u cant compare gucci to reebok.

Why resurrect a bloody Christmas thread in July?

Hahaha how bizarre!

How odd.

Fwiw my last two Christmas's have been Aldi and they have been amazing!

By someone with more money than sense blinded by labels and marketing.

Jeeze it's only July. Can we at least wait until September or preferably the end of November before we start talking about Christmas?

Well. The sprouts at least need to go on now