To boycott Sainsbury’s for their mince packaging!!

[daydi]

Light hearted (ish) but I shop at Sainsbury’s and since they changed their mince packaging I’ve always hated it every time I buy it! It’d be a pain to buy only mince from a different shop so thinking it’s time to part ways!! It’s all so compact together and doesn’t cook as nicely anymore. Does anyone else have this issue or is it just me? Or does anyone have any tips for cooking it?!

I only buy mince from Tesco because of this issue

I hate it. All clumps together. Iceland changed their mince packaging back to the old style because they had so many complaints about the new packaging.

I hate it. Aldi do the same.

There have been threads before and loads of people will say "just break it up a bit", but it's so compressed that it's like using a giant burger!

You have to bash it about so much it turns to mush.

I dislike it too I know someone will be along to say just break it up but it’s texturally wrong now. Ihave noticed cubed beef in Aldi is the same price as lean minced beef so have switched to thst and am doing more stews.

I dislike it too but put up with it.

I find the best way to deal with it is to tip into a bowl firstand use a couple of forks to break it up before putting it in the pan, instead of going straight in the pan with it like you can with normal mince. That helps but I still think you don't quite get the same texture.

It isn't just mince they are doing this too. We have bought some diced beef that DH is intending to mince up in the food processor to make his own hamburgers and that has been vacuum packed too. Hoping it won't be such a pain with diced rather than minced.

I actually quite like it because it's slightly more convenient to get it into the pan and it doesn't have that horrible wet bit of blood-soaked paper in any more.

Don't have a Sainsbury's near me, could someone please explain what they've done to their mince?

Its annoying i'll agree. The vaccuum packaging they use now compresses the mince too much, so its like a block of mulch that doesn't crumble nicely. Ive persevered and tried to get used to it but am nearing tipping point.

It’s rank. I had it once when it turned up in my online shop and never will again. I nip to the butchers now, it’s not even that much more expensive.

I really don’t see the fuss about the mince. It doesn’t make a difference to the finished meals at all.

I work in a (different) supermarket where we also do this. It's to reduce packaging and waste, so it's a bit 'damned if we do, damned if we don't. I still buy it but I have to confess that I don't use mince very often and haven't really noticed much difference.

It’s a first world problem but I completely agree, it makes for a clumpy dish and adds lots of time to de-clump! I buy from Asda now because they don’t do this

I get a weekly online sainos shop but I buy beef and other meat from the butchers. I like it lean for health reasons so get the butcher to mince about a kilo of chuck or braising steak for me and then batch cook bolognese, chilli, cottage pie or whatever. Really useful quick meal in the week from the freezer and best way to make a lasagna IMO.
It’s a bit more £ but I think it’s actually more economical as there’s little fat or other “liquid” that I used to get from supermarket mince and it’s just packed in a plastic bag.
I like to support local shops where I can and all the butcher’s meat is fairly locally sourced too, some within a few miles, so better carbon footprint. Much better flavour too!

im amazed people can’t tell the difference- I thought it was revolting and I cook a lot

They have changed the packaging to use less plastic. The new packaging is smaller but the mince is compressed inside. It's the same mince but it takes a bit of effort to break it up compared to how it used to be.

Agree 100%, it's grim and I stopped my online deliveries with them because of this one item. I use about 4 packs a week and can't be doing with having to do a 10 min work out to get the clumps out only to have it taste odd anyway.

I work for Asda and can confirm all mince is vacuum packed.
Can’t see the issue to be honest.

I open it to let it air out and then put it in the hot pan. Doesn’t take that much effort to break it down

I buy most of my meat from a local farm shop, it’s all vacuum packed. It doesn’t bother me. It is a bit harder to break mince up but the texture is fine when cooked.

I didn’t like it at first either (ours is from Aldi but the same) but now I leave the mince out out of the fridge to come to room temperature before frying which makes it softer, and I got myself one of these tools. Honestly one of the best things I’ve ever bought and so satisfying to use!
https://amzn.eu/d/2gy7N3b

Thanks @Aaron95
I must say that the new packaging makes the mince look very unappetising and so.ewhat like the fake vegan meat

It’s absolutely grim. The last lot I had in my online shop was actually folded in half in the box and was so wet and compressed it was almost a lumpy meat gel. Since then I’ve avoided it and the delivery person told me most people with home deliveries send it back.

It isn't just their mince. They've changed their wrapping paper and yes, I understand, it's so it isn't wrapped in plastic anymore but the Sainsbury's wrapping paper stickers are IMPOSSIBLE to get off so it just ends up ripping about 10 inches off the roll so I'm paying for wrecked wrapping paper. M&S wrapping paper is much better, the stickers are really easy to get off and it doesn't rip as easily nor does it rip when wrapping presents either. A wee thing, but annoying.

Me too, I think it's the only place that hasn't changed packaging

Co op are the same. Hate it. Cooks all clumpy 😞