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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that a lot of shop bought sandwiches are a bit crappy and expensive?

87 replies

PaxUniversalis · 09/12/2017 12:02

Just that really. They usually have plain white or brown bread only, no wholemeal or rye or spelt or anything more adventurous.
Too much mayonnaise, not enough ham or cheese between the bread slices, not enough veggie or vegan options. They're expensive too.
Some of Waitrose and M&S sandwiches are OK. Some of their wraps are not too bad but delicious, mouth-watering veggie/vegan sandwiches are hard to find in supermarkets I think.
Oh well, best to make them yourself. Or have salad instead.

OP posts:
GinIsMyXmasSpirit · 09/12/2017 12:47

The Pret chicken and bacon baguette is also delicious.

For a veggie option, the cheese and pickle baguette is really nice, too.

Roussette · 09/12/2017 12:49

YANBU.

I think sandwiches have gone really really downhill and I doubt I'll buy another one again after quickly grabbing the M&S Christmas one last week. It was turkey, stuffing, sausage, cranberry on good bread (supposedly) and it gives 50p to Shelter.

I love sandwiches and I'm a gannet but I am not kidding when I say it was disgusting. Soggy, tasteless, horrible.

This was now cured me and I'd rather make my own. Ham from a joint, picallili, or ham and gherkins, or bacon lettuce and tomato. Pumpernickel or tasty brown bread. I don't care if it's a chore, I refuse to buy a sandwich again (unless it's Pret!)

I bought a Boots one at the airport the other week and the cucumber in it was frozen. I kid you not, I nearly shot through the roof with my teeth, frozen hard cucumber is not nice.

maddiemookins16mum · 09/12/2017 12:49

I only ever buy Greggs chicken and bacon, always fresh, decent filling and reasonably priced. But then again it's a crime to leave Greggs without a hot sausage roll so I get one of those too.

zonkin · 09/12/2017 12:50

Spudlet, I read that article and also found it a good read!

JonSnowsWife · 09/12/2017 12:53

Pret ones are the best.

I've took to taking packed lunches with me whenever I have to go anywhere. Save myself a fortune.

Jacksons bread from Waitrose is really nice.£1.40 for a week of really nice sandwiches. (obviously the fillings will be more but you'll save yourself a fortune anyway).

Triskaidekaphilia · 09/12/2017 12:53

Sandwiches I make at home tend to either be amazing or incredibly dull depending what I have in/how much planning was involved, shop bought are usually in between.
Tesco have a Philly cheese steak wrap that's amazing though, and I quite like thier cheese and ham, my local shop also sells a really nice two cheese and onion chutney one by Urban Eat.

expatinscotland · 09/12/2017 13:06

They're all minging. Bring your own, especially if veggie or vegan.

becotide · 09/12/2017 13:09

It's because the bread is crap and the bread HAS to be crap, or it won't keep for the 5+ days needed for a prepacked sandwich. The salad is deliberately poor - underripe tomatoes aren't juicy and won't make the sandwich soggy. Mayonnaise is used as a barrier between the bread and the filling, when is why they often contain mayonnaise.

Far more attention is paid to the appearance and shelflife than the flavour. And they are all made in the same factory, by the same agency employed people, none of whom get sick pay, and therefore many of whom turn up to work sick.

And I know, because I used to work in that factory!

Melony6 · 09/12/2017 13:13

I think the chiller shelf they are on means they are too cold to have much flavour. Room temp makes a lot of difference

Pinkpeppermintteaforme · 09/12/2017 13:14

They are vile.
Cant believe the price for soggy bread with way to much fat and salt .
Homemade bread with cheese and tomato -not refrigerated to death Smile

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 09/12/2017 13:14

Yes,agree expat. I’m veggie and the premade sandwiches in shops are howffin

festivedinosaur · 09/12/2017 13:17

I get so excited at the promise a shop bought sandwhich gives on the packaging.

Every time without fail I am disappointed.

Bland, soggy, stale, or stingy on the fillings.

I never learn and as soon as I'm in front of them the next time I get taken in by their promises once again

Eminybob · 09/12/2017 13:25

I think the Boots ones are really nice, and good value if you do for a meal deal.
They do a fair few veggie and vegan options too. I had a vegan parsnip fritter with butternut squash (or something) one the other day that was lovely, and I’m not even vegan or veggie.

Eolian · 09/12/2017 13:27

Pre-packaged sandwiches are crap. Pret ones are delicious because they are made fresh each day and not kept for days on end.

Itsnotmesothere · 09/12/2017 13:28

YANBU. For some reason, the look of pre packaged sandwiches makes me feel sick so I prefer not to eat them. The ones from Pret are quite good (for packaged)

YesThisIsMe · 09/12/2017 13:33

That’s why Pret (and Eat) sandwiches are edible and all the others aren’t - they don’t have to make any compromises in the interests of longevity. Also Pret put a lot of effort into their vegetarian/vegan range, up to the point of opening up all veggie branches.

Buildalegohouse · 09/12/2017 13:36

I like Greggs sandwiches, the chargrilled chicken oval bite is my preferred choice.

I prefer wraps over sandwiches in most supermarkets though as they have less/no mayo. I like the Tesco southern fried chicken wrap. If no wraps then a BLT is usually fine in most places (they tend to be salty but I quite like that!)

MikeUniformMike · 09/12/2017 13:39

Some shop bought ones are wonderful and some very disappointing. There are other options for the same price like quiche, salad, pie, bag of chips, and so on, and I know what I would prefer if I was out and about and hungry.
I rarely eat sandwiches.

slightlyglittermaned · 09/12/2017 13:40

"they are all made in the same factory, by the same agency employed people, none of whom get sick pay, and therefore many of whom turn up to work sick"

This is pretty depressing @becotide Sad but not really surprising.

Am lucky enough to live in a city where I have multiple choices for lunch sandwiches - the independent sandwich shops or bakers are both cheaper and much, much nicer.

whataboutbob · 09/12/2017 13:42

Back in the 90s I thought M and S was great and Pret a Manger awesome. Now I make my own bread (granary in breadmaker, sourdough by hand once a week- it lasts for ages) and I would only eat shop sandwiches in an emergency. It's true, their bread is just disappointing. PS: I fully realise some people will think this sounds poncey.

RavingRoo · 09/12/2017 13:43

Pret, Eat, Crush, and Waitrose’s / M&S premium ranges are the best. They are even nice. But they definitely aren’t all healthy - some of them have close to 700 cals and a huge amount of salt.

whataboutbob · 09/12/2017 13:46

Also the price- I can easily spend £5 on a sandwich and a yoghurt at M&S whereas if I bring my own meal in to work it must be about 2-3 pounds max.

Rudgie47 · 09/12/2017 13:48

I totally agree, I will only eat one if theres no alternatives.
Theres better lunches than sandwiches, basically anything's better.

deptfordgirl · 09/12/2017 13:51

I love pret. Other than that I don't buy them.

Nyx1 · 09/12/2017 13:51

I find them really grim
even when I worked really long hours I would try and pack a lunch, mostly to save money, but on the rare occasion I had to buy a sandwich, most aren't good

what is the obsession with putting onion in with cheese?!

Also, went to a picnic in the summer and one family said "why don't we just buy sandwiches when we get there" - I said "hey, I don't mind if you don't want to make anything but we will bring our own, thanks".