What do you recommend in Lidl & Aldi?

[ifonly4]

In an effort to cut back, I'm checking out Lidl this week. Also, occasionally drive past Aldi, so will pop in there when I can.

What can you recommend (food, cleaning products or toiletries) which you feel are equally as good or better than the more expensive rivals.

Lidl: all fruit and veg, bakery stuff, most cheeses, deli meats, frozen food, big tubs of yoghurt, nappies and wipes if required, crisps, nuts, crackers, booze, and Saskia fizzy water which is the best anywhere.

We haven't got an Aldi so don't know about that.

The washing up liquids are great. Bin liners too. I find their fruit and veg lasts much longer than other big supermarkets and is cheaper. Blocks of cheese, fancy cheeses, yoghurt and puddings are all nice. Their premium range of sausages are delicious. Cat and dog treats. Some of their wines are incredibly cheap and drinkable. Fruit juices too. Some of them have in store bakeries too now which are fab. Wipes and nappies are good. I've not tried any ready meals, and I do not like their deli fish such as mackerel or trout but otherwise, they're fab!

I recommend the cheese dippers - Dip Itz, i think they're called - from Aldi. 99p for a packet of three. Absolutely delicious and the cheese actually tastes like cheese (unlike the Dairylea equivalent which tastes like plastic).

We shop mostly at Aldi. Pretty well everything is OK IMO. Some things like the cheaper yoghurts are a bit underwhelming but if you are hard up you might not mind! People will come on here and say the meat is vile and the vegetables rot in minutes but honestly I don't find it much better or worse than Asda or Tesco. But cheaper and way quicker.

Also, if you have a Home Bargains near you, pop in there to look at toiletries and cleaning stuff and cupboard food. I've found them to be cheaper than Aldi/Lidl on a number of things.

Oh yes, Lidl choc is all good. Too good I cannot let myself buy their Snickers dupes anymore.

Aldi meat and veg is brilliant, and their bread is much fresher than our local tesco. We only shop at Aldi now, the quality is great and lots cheaper.

Tinned tomatoes in Aldi though not Lidl same goes for sugarfree beans

I only really do Aldi. Our Lidl is stuck in the most awkward place with fuck all parking so I avoid it.

Aldi- Bread. The thick slice in the orange bag. Soft, fluffy, toasts great! No plasticky taste that I've found some of the brand names to have now.
DP swears by the deli meats.
Fruit and veg. Especially how much we go through.
Juice/squash. ASD Ds can't tell the difference and he is the biggest critic.
Their pure orange juice is to die for. Smooth but not too sharp.
General toiletries/cleaning stuff. It all works.

I have never managed to do a full shop at Aldi/Lidl as we're a bit fussy about our meat, cheese, eggs and milk but have found a few products we like...

Aldi chocolate mousses - Just 86 calories per pot but they taste really chocolately and the'ye suitable for vegatarians.

Aldi frozen thin pan pizzas at just £1.50 each.

Have a look at their fresh breads and rolls too. I love their crusty rolls.

Stock up on basics like loo roll, kitchen roll, cling film, bleach and other cleaning products as that's where you make a good saving.

Lidl: friut and nut muesli and Greek yoghurt. Also Bixies (Weetabix). I try the pizzas every so often, but only to see if they've improved!

It's quicker to tell you the things I've not liked.

Aldi frozen venison burgers and hills bourbon biscuits. Aldi own bourbons are fine if you can find them.

I did have a pack of salad tomatoes go furry the other day but it's the first time in 5 years so I will overlook it.

Pretty much everything.

List of items bought from Lidl currently in the house:

• Bin bags
• Washing powder
• Stain remover powder
• Fabric conditioner
• Washing up liquid
• Cling film
• Tin foil
• Crisps
• Cereal (not a fan of coco pops though)
• Biscuits
• Tinned fruit & veg
• Mince
• Meatballs
• Pork
• Chicken
• Pasta
• Rice
• Pizza
• Ice creams (their version of magnums are AMAZING! Always sell fast!)
• Yoghurt/desserts
• Cheese
• Sandwich meat

I could go on for ages. We usually go to Lidl every week or so as they tend to get new things on a Thursday (books, clothes etc.). Also the bakery is a hit with us. Fresh rolls and pastries... Mmmmmmmmm!!!!

Can't comment on Aldi but just back from Lidl and could happily have bought every item in the bakery section and as previously mentioned their fruit and veg is always good.
I can't actually think of anything that I've been disappointed with still regretting not buying the inflatable kayak.

Turkish yoghurt in Lidl is absolutely fantastic

we're a bit fussy about our meat, cheese, eggs and milk

fussy how? do you mean organic?

only an Aldi but again it is quicker to tell you what not to buy.

• the washing liquid - it reeks. Tesco or Sainsbury own brand no pictures stuff much better, almost no smell. Other than that, all the cleaning stuff is the same, look at the bottles.
• the very cheapest tinned tomatoes; same as Tesco cheapies, watery. Pay 2p or so more a tin and get the good stuff.

most of their stuff is BETTER than the other supermarkets, as well as cheaper.

Lidl
Formil concentrated laundry liquid. Lasts for ages.
Limescale tabs
W5 dishwasher tabs
In fact whole W5 cleaning range.
Free range eggs
Baking supplies
Baked goods, pain au chocolate is divine and 39p
£5.99 prosecco.

Lidl cheese twists from the bakery and their own kettle chips. I haven't tried actual food from there, just the junk

I love the fresh bread in Lidl. (& the double chocolate cookies)

The meat & fruit is good too

I don't like the washing up liquid much & the yoghurt is OK

The mini cornetto type ice creams are yummy. (Not sure if they are Lidl or Aldi)

Aldi mayo is the best I have found in a British shop.

Chutneys are excellent

their better brand of chocolate is one of the best. Far superior to cadburys, mars etc.

their bread, croissants etc are much better than Tesco's

Whooshbang - Yes, generally organic but like to know the animals that the produce has come from have been responsibly farmed.

I don't think its fair to say what not to buy. Were all used to different things. The only way to know for sure is to try for yourself. If you don't like it its not the end of the world and its not too expensive either.

I love the premium range caramalised onion quiche from both of those shops.

Aldi-
green pesto
fake areo
butter
extra mature chedder, mozzerella and parmesan
red tractor meat
passatta and premium tinned toms
nappies and sensitive wet wipes
Q10 serum
thick and creamy yogs
all in 1 dishwasher tabs

Lidl
washing powder
rinse aid
buckets of full fat greek yog