Since the packaging changed Sainsburys mince is awful

[Ifeelabnormal]

Just that really. Mince is now in these vacuum packs and it's horrid and lumpy - hard to get out the pack to start with, but doesn't break up properly while cooking so it ends up full of lumps and really disgusting.

I appreciate the new packaging is probably for environmental reasons but it's making the mince inedible! I think I will stop buying it even though it's one of my easy go-to meals.

Are other supermarkets using the same? I haven't checked.

I but all my meat from the butchers as it lasts longer than the prepacked meat so saves me money. I've opened up prepackaged meat and it's already gone off so had to throw it out. Not had to do this with meat from the butchers.

Its awful and I no longer buy it.
There have been threads on here before about it and some people claim that it is no different and if you object to the new packaging you basically want to exterminate penguins or some nonsense.
Last time I used it DS (who would have no idea what packaging anything came in) asked why the texture was funny
Nothing will convince me to buy it, although to be fair I don't buy much meat anyway

We tried it and it tasted horrible. Teen didn’t know anything about the new packaging but after the first mouthful asked if the meat had gone off! They knew straight away that it was different and couldn’t eat it.

Tesco is the only one at the minute that are doing the normal packaging round here. They are always sold out but if I pop into another supermarket they have loads in the new packaging. Think a lot of people feel the same.

Completely agree, it's disgusting. I get mine from m&s now which is more expensive but better than eating vacuum packed shite.

I couldn’t agree more, it’s disgusting the way it cooks in clumps, no matter how much you try to break it up. I won’t buy it anymore even if I’m desperate.
I also don’t understand how it’s more environmentally friendly. The old packaging I could recycle the plastic tub, and threw the plastic top. Now 100% of the package goes to landfill. I don’t know why they’ve changed it.

I've found getting it out of the fridge a while beforehand reduces the time you need to spend stabbing lumps in the pan. Still much prefer the old packaging.

I agree! I had a hell of a time trying to break the mince down last night making a shepherd's pie.

Don't get me started on their ridiculous new barriers that require receipts to be scanned.

SHOPLIFTERS ARE NOT DETERRED BY RECEIPTS

I find it a bit more annoying to cook with because it's a faff to break it all up nicely at the start, but I think it's a bit much to say it makes it inedible.

You just have to spend time breaking it down. I have a wooden spoon with a flat edge which does the job.
I’ve not noticed a change in taste but then again I do tend to overdo seasoning. Everything has chilli in it when I’m cooking 🥵

Break it up with your hands. While cold I mean, obviously not in the pan.

just empty into a bowl and use your fingers.

I agree it's horrible. I can't seem to make a decent spag bol with it. What suprises me is that sales must be down but Sainsbury's haven't caught on (I'm sure there's lots of us thinking the same). I only buy waitrose essential mince (not expensive) or tesco now.

Agreed it's awful.

I literally have no issues with it at all. And will go so far as to say, I think it tastes much better. Sainsburys are our go-to shop for gorceries.

I just treat it exactly the same as the previous packaged mince. I always break mine down with a fork and mix with herbs, spices and seasonings or whatever I'm using, in a bowl and then leaving it in the fridge to marinate for at least an hour before using. Always comes out amazing.

Also, snip the label and then peel back the top to open from the corner tab thingy. It's very simple.

It's manky. It's hard to get the same texture in spag bol, pies and chilli con carne. The vacuum packed stuff makes the neat too hard and dense, so it also doesn't look appealing as well as tasting wrong.

I don't bother with mince much these days but if I fancied some I would also go to the butcher. I don't waste any because I'm buying exactly the amount I need and it looks and tastes better.

It seems fine to me.

My DH bought vac pack mice recently and it ruined my spay bol to the point it was inedible. Never ever would I use it again.

I don't k ow about saints it Aldis mince is really good since the package changed, no idea why but so much nicer.

I honestly can’t see any difference at all.

I’m confused, it sounds like many of you don’t know to cook mince because the packaging doesn’t change the texture or effect the taste.

I must admit it did take some time to get used to the new packaging but breaking up mince with a spatula so that every part of the mince comes into contact with the bottom of the pan is how you brown mince properly. A lot of people overcrowd the pan and instead of frying mince, boil it instead.

If I am making a chili or any other mince based meat sauce, I make it a day in advance so that I can put it in the fridge, which makes it easy to remove the fat once it has fully rendered, which only happens if it’s cooked long enough.

If you open it and release the vacuum a couple of minutes before cooking it puffs back up and you can cook it just the same as the non vacuum packed mince.

Tastes the same, takes up less storage space and is better for the environment. What's not to love?

I used some yesterday to make bolognese and it was absolutely fine.

I've not had a problem with the mince being vacuum packed, I just break it up as I'm cooking it. What I am having issues with is the quality of it. I always buy 5% fat mince and recently, whichever supermarket I've bought it from, it's been gristly, which puts me right off. Think I'm going to start using our local butcher again.

I’ve seen videos of Americans using a special gadget to separate vacuum packed mince meat, a prodded type thing with a pronged cross on the end. Maybe Sainsbury’s and other supermarkets that see mince in this type of packaging could sell them next to the meat?

I order online from Tesco who still use the old style packaging so far.

I just use my hands to break it up into the pan and it tastes exactly the same to me!

It’s grim. Plus it makes me think of pouches of blood or organs for some reason. <boak>