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.

Try separating it a bit with your fingers before adding to a hot pan, brown it well and use a spud masher to break it apart. Works for me. Can't afford much better tbf so make do.

I only buy from a butchers

The only word for sainsbury's new mince packaging is discusting and not fit for purpus. I have complained and they gave me money back however this did not improve my Chilli Con Carn. I will never buy it again and if this is the response from their maketing department then I wiil not shop there again. If you want a slab of glue go to sainsburys and thats what you will get. If we all stopped shoping there then I am 100% sure that they return to the wonderfull mince we used to get. Sainsburys are full of we are matching Aldi prices and yes they are. But at what cost to us the consumer, well they have cut the cost but have also reduced the standard of food to what I only say is poor, I for one wiil not shop there again.

I know this is an old thread, but just to let @MaxcMON know, it isn't just Sainsbury's that have replaced their mince with pet food. Aldi have as well, as have most of the supermarkets I think. The only place I've found where you can still buy mince is Tesco.
We've gone from it being a staple weekly buy, to having only had mince twice in the last 8 months.

I don’t have any problems with it at all and I love the vac pack as it takes up less room in my very small freezer. I just chop it with the spatula while I’m cooking it and it’s exactly the same.

Morrisons started using the new packs a while back but I can only assume sales fell off as the old style mince packaging is back.

What I can’t understand is that they’ve made the mince awful, but things like chicken breasts and pork chops which could probably be shrink wrapped with no issue are still in the old packaging. You’re not being unreasonable. It’s awful.

That’s great, better for you and the environment.

Yeah I love it. Less space and less plastic. Makes zero difference in my cooking.

We like it and I was disappointed to see the old style plastic version in Tesco so got it from my usual, Lidl!! 🤢 The packaging keeps it fresher as well, and my dc are happier that it no longer looks like worms!

I agree. It's like a solid block of reconstituted muck now.

The old packaging kept some air in the mince so it broke up easily. Now it's like trying to cook a massive lump of playdough.

It def different texture and no one in our house is keen using it in bolognaise etc but good for burgers
do not have time for breaking up mince as to me mince is an easy quick cook ( may be long time cooking if want extra flavour) several people at work have been saying same thing as well

DD shopped at Aldi at uni, she is convinced it is the same mince as Sainsbury. I use Tesco which is still regular packaging.

ICELAND mince is in proper packaging I Think

If you want good mince do what my mother used to do. (I'm vegetarian so no applicable.)

Go to a good butcher and buy a bit of steak. Ask him to mince it. You'll get what you buy and no eyeballs/lashes/intestines.

Now it's like trying to cook a massive lump of playdough.

Lol - this nails it!

Good to read that more people are buying from their local butcher as a result of this as well.

Amazed at the number of people insistent that 100% minced beef is somehow a different substance from 100% minced beef.

Baffling.

Go to Tescoes still selling it in the normal pakaging and looks wonderful. Bought some yesturday.

Agree. It’s definitely more solid and difficult to break up. Another daily annoyance along with bottle tops that won’t come off and cartons that won’t open 🙄

God you're right, the hours nay days I've spent breaking up mince my God it's taken up oh... Literally minutes of my life 🙄

TBH I don’t have a problem with it at all. I use it a lot for batch cooking and homemade burgers. For the batch cooking (Bol, chilli etc.) I part break it up with 2 forks, and then squash further lumps against the side of the pan with a wooden spoon.

I just wouldn’t touch it. It seems tainted somehow, in those awful bricks.

M&S still looks good - I use Sainsbury’s for lots of branded non fresh bits ( and using nectar points) but find most of the fresh stuff underwhelming - and the mince works well for burgers etc but is not great in actual recipes, the YO one is good though !’

Should say ‘Yo range’

Sainsburys have started doing it with other products now.
Had some diced lamb the other night which had been vac packed - not only could you not really see the quality of the meat before you bought it, it had a strange texture and didn't taste the same.
I really hope they don't do this will all their meat...